Frontier Nursing University is transitioning from Google to Microsoft services.
All faculty, staff, students, and alumni will soon be migrated to Microsoft’s cloud services. This change will create a unified digital workspace for all FNU members, supporting improved collaboration, secure data management, and easy access to productivity tools. Through Microsoft 365, we’re bringing you an enhanced experience that keeps all your resources connected in one platform.
Why We're Moving
FNU is making this transition to Microsoft to provide you with a more connected, secure, and efficient experience. With Microsoft 365, you’ll gain access to advanced tools designed to improve communication, collaboration, and accessibility across the university. Key reasons for this change include:
Enhanced Security: Microsoft 365 meets rigorous data security standards, helping protect your information and sensitive university data.
Streamlined Access: Programs like Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and Outlook offer seamless integration, allowing for easy communication and collaboration within the university. With all essential tools accessible through one platform, we hope to provide greater efficiency and accessibility wherever you are.
Cost Savings: With recent changes to storage costs across major platforms, moving fully to Microsoft helps us consolidate resources, reduce duplicative expenses, and better meet our students' needs.
We’re confident this transition will make it easier to work together, stay connected, and accomplish more as an FNU community.
What is Changing
As FNU transitions to Microsoft 365, we will be moving to a new suite of tools designed to streamline and enhance your experience. Here’s what to expect:
Microsoft Outlook will become our primary email platform, replacing Gmail.
Microsoft Outlook Calendar will replace Google Calendar for managing meetings and scheduling.
Microsoft OneDrive will replace Google Drive as our primary file storage and sharing tool.
Microsoft Teams will replace Google Shared Drive, providing a collaborative space for team file sharing, messaging, and meetings.
Microsoft Shared Inboxes andDistribution Lists will take the place of Google Groups to maintain group email functionality and improve team communication within Microsoft Outlook.
These changes will bring a more unified platform to help FNU faculty and staff communicate, collaborate, and stay organized.
How the Transition Will Work
To ensure a smooth transition, we will be migrating users in batches over the coming weeks. Here's how the process will unfold:
Advance Notice: You will receive an email before your scheduled mail and calendar migration date. This email will contain your specific migration date and provide details on what to expect, how to prepare, and where to find training and support resources.
Migration Day: On your assigned date, your email and calendar data will be migrated to Microsoft Outlook. During this time, you may experience brief interruptions in email and calendar services.
Post-Migration: After the migration is complete, you will receive another email confirming the transition, which will include links to training and tutorials on using the new services. It's important that you begin using Microsoft Outlook exclusively (via the web or the desktop/mobile clients) for email and calendar activities. While you will retain temporary access to your Google account, please refrain from using Gmail and Google Calendar after your migration, as they will no longer sync properly with your new Microsoft account.
Files and Other Resources: Files, collaborative spaces, shared inboxes, distribution lists, and other resources will be migrated either alongside or shortly after the mail and calendar migration. You will receive additional communications about these items and their migration. We appreciate your patience as we work to complete the full transition.
How to Prepare
To ensure a smooth transition, here are some steps to help you prepare:
Stay Informed: Keep an eye on your email for updates about your migration schedule and instructions.
Organize Your Files: Review and organize files in Google Drive. Delete unnecessary files and organize important ones into folders to ease the transfer process.
Familiarize Yourself with Microsoft Tools: Visit our Microsoft 365 introduction page for tutorials and guides on using Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, and more. Getting to know these tools now will help you feel more comfortable when the change happens.
Update Your Settings: Note any custom email or calendar settings in Google that you may want to replicate in Microsoft Outlook.
Ask Questions: If you have concerns or need more information, reach out to our IT team at support@frontier.edu or call 859-251-4545. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
Additional Support
Throughout the process, our team is here to help. If you need assistance or have questions at any stage of the migration:
