OUTLOOK | Outlook to be more secure than Gmail

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Liss said there are a few classes currently piloting Microsoft 365 to find any issues that come along with the new program.

“I think this got kind of lost in the shuffle … was a message to faculty that the administration was going to have grace on them, and they need to have grace on themselves to think about the grading load,” Walston said.

Faculty and administration discussed academic expectations at the Faculty Senate meeting April 27. Walston said some faculty had concerns about these expectations but that the main point was for faculty to think about how much grading they would have at the semester’s end and consider scaling back some of their assignments.

Walston said he thought there was some confusion regarding the wording that late penalties would not be assigned until the end of the semester. The intended message was that no late penalties would be assigned through the last week of classes.

“It was a reminder to faculty to be thinking about their students, to be thinking about themselves and really a message that we as the administrators see the struggles that they’re going through and want to recognize that,” Walston said. “I want them to know that we don’t have to keep on with the status quo because of this event.”

The administration supports the faculty and what they’re doing, Walston said. Faculty members are ultimately in charge of assignments and deadlines. Walston said the message does not mean classes will no longer have finals or tests.

He has not heard any complaints from students about professors not being reasonable regarding the situation, Walston said, though he’s happy to meet with students if they do have them. He also said students can use the grade appeal process if they don’t believe their grade is fair. Whiteboards in the library stated computers, printing and WiFi were unavailable April 24. The provost suggested faculty not assign late penalties for work not turned in on time since April 21. Photo by

Genevieve Tlustos

The recent cyberattack paused Gmail correspondence between all students and faculty. According to Truman’s FAQ website, services were restored Friday, April 28, and all users should have access to their Truman Gmail accounts through the beginning of next semester. Liss said Outlook will be much more secure than Gmail. With some faculty members and students using Outlook, and most using Gmail, it makes sorting the emails more difficult than all members being under one hosted system. When it comes to phishing through Google, Liss said it’s hard to stop junk mail from getting through because it is Google’s territory.

Essentially, Outlook and Gmail are not very compatible, Liss said. Microsoft is much more reliable since Google has recently been stopping or slowing campus communication by sending important emails to spam. It is more difficult to keep Gmail than it is to switch to Outlook because Gmail is stopping communication between the two systems.

Freshman Emma Mathews said she is nervous about the switch to Microsoft and thinks it will be inconvenient.

“I’m just not a fan of Microsoft, so that makes me a bit nervous,” Mathews said. “I guess I can still use Google Docs and Slides, so that’s nice, but the email will definitely take some getting used to.”

Given the recent cybersecurity situation, Mathews said, “I’m definitely a lot more open to switching since the cyberattack. I just hope Microsoft treats us well, I guess.”

Liss said the limited space for other Google services like Docs, Slides and others should be more than enough for students. If the limit is reached or exceeded, Liss said she is willing to figure out ways to ensure the materials have a place to go.

Students’ email addresses will be staying the same through the switch.