University of Colorado Student Union
Legislative Council
February 19, 2009 70LCB6 – EMAIL
Sponsored by: Dustin Farivar Tri-Executive
Daniel Oxenhandler Director of Communication & PR
Authored by: Daniel Oxenhandler Director of Communication & PR Dustin Farivar Tri-Executive
A Bill to Officially Announce the Selection of a New Email Service for All CU-Students
Bill History
Since 2007 all University of Colorado at Boulder students have been provided email service through a provider called CULink. The CULink service is an email, calendaring, and contact management solution. The primary means of access is through a web based user interface. Currently, a portion of the technology fee in place subsidizes CULink. This student fee currently pays for 1) hardware: the initial purchase of and renewal, and replacement of 7 mail servers, 14 web front end/mail routing servers and two large back-end storage devices, 2) ongoing support and maintenance of all of the hardware, 3) software licenses for the Mirapoint CULink solution, and 4) staff to operate and maintain the solution. Faculty and staff also contribute a portion from non-student fee funds since they use the service. Once the transition is made from CULink to Microsoft the 1) hardware, 2) much of the ongoing support and maintenance, and 3) software licenses are eliminated. There will still be costs associated with hardware/software for routing the e-mail, providing anti-spam and anti-virus scanning of all email, and staff to manage accounts on the new service.
The UCSU Communications Director, Daniel Oxenhandler chaired the Email Service Steering Committee (ESSC), which was composed of Legislative Council Members, Executive Staff, and students at large. The ESSC has been meeting regularly over the course of the past few months to develop a plan of action for selecting the new email provider. The ESSC evaluated the current email system, provided feedback for desired outcomes, interviewed potential email system providers and facilitated a survey for the student body regarding desired features and utilities of a new email system. This survey was sent out on February 11th to all students via E-Memo, and received a great number of responses. Based on the results of the survey coupled with analysis and deliberation by the ESSC, the determination has been made to use Microsoft as the new email service provider for all students at the University of Colorado – Boulder.
Bill Summary
This bill will serve as an official notification of the selection of Microsoft as the new email service provider for all students at the University of Colorado – Boulder
Whereas: The current email system at CU Boulder, CULink, will be expiring in December 2009.
Whereas: Students should have an email system that reflects their needs.
Whereas: The Email Service Steering Committee took a holistic approach to understanding the current email system, the needs of students, and the services available.
Whereas: A transition to a Microsoft Email Services would reflect the needs of students in an email system
Whereas: A transition to Microsoft Email Services would decrease the dependency on student fees.
Whereas: A transition to Microsoft Email Services would make email for life free for all alumni.
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THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED:
Section 1: The University of Colorado Student Union officially supports a transition from CULink to Microsoft Email Services as selected by the Email Service Steering Committee
Section 2: The associated technology fee to maintain the former CULINK system is to be cancelled in correspondence to the implementation of the new Microsoft system;
Section 3: The Tri-Executives, UCSU Communications Director, and UCSU Finance Director will be charged with creating a transition plan for technology fees and email system with ITS by March 31.
Section 4: The Tri-Executives, UCSU Communications Director and UCSU Finance Director will report on the transition plan upon completion to Legislative Council.
Section 5: This Bill takes effect upon passage of Legislative Council and signatures of the Legislative Council President and Tri-Executives.
Vote Count
2/19/09 Passed Acclamation
2/26/09 Amended & Passed Acclamation
____________________________ ______________________________
Blaine Pelicore Ryan Biehle
UCSU Legislative Council President Tri-executive
_________________________________ _______________________________
Dustin Farivar Victoria Garcia
Tri-executive Tri-executive