We just received an update from Jim Franceschelli on the transition to Live@EDU. See below.
I just wanted to give you a quick update on the email conversion. We continue to run into delays because of continued issues with the implementation of the Identity and Access Management (IDAM) system. The latest technical challenges put the email project time line in direct conflict with the Banner ERP migration to Linux. As you can guess, the Banner ERP migration takes priority. Conversions into the Live@EDU environment won’t start until the August time frame. That means everyone stays in Thunderbird through July. We hope that the Email team will take the leap into Live@EDU in August with general users following in the fall. We are working on revised time lines and I will get notices out to the user community as the progress is made on the IDAM issues.
It is worthwhile to note that the problems we are having and the delays that we face don’t have anything to do with the email/calendar system. Our work and testing confirm that the Live@EDU system continues to provide a sound and robust email and calendar system. The problems surround the applications that are being built to provision accounts, manage access, centralize passwords, etc. This IDAM system is being written by an external vendor and ties to the corporate database for automatic management of accounts. Unfortunately the Live@EDU system is the first of many systems that will have the accounts setup and managed by the IDAM and we are forced to modify our implementation schedule because of the delays.
Given the current schedule, collision with the Banner ERP migration dates, and technical difficulties with the IDAM, I don’t foresee the window of early faculty adopters in the summer months. I would be ecstatic if we could, but I also have to be realistic on how we can effectively roll this out. New staff and faculty arrivals are likely to be given accounts in the existing email system, Thunderbird, and corp time. Student conversion will also be delayed, possibly until the end of the Fall 2011 term. I also need to be conscious of the academic calendar and the havoc the begging of the fall term brings for both faculty and staff. Much of this is in flux, if progress is made quickly on the IDAM issues the implementation calendar can swing back in a more positive position.
I will continue to keep you updated and as I get more solid information I will provide the University Community an update on the project time line. If you have any question, please let me know.
Thanks
Jim
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