By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Fort Hays State University announced Thursday email accounts for former students, faculty and staff would end next year due to changes from Google, the current email provider for the university.
The announcement was sent to all email users by Mark Griffin, assistant vice president of technology and chief information officer.
"As an FHSU Gmail user (@mail.fhsu.edu email account), the University has been providing long-term access to Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos," he said. "We have been able to do this because Google has provided the university with free access and storage to their services. In July 2022, though, Google will be making a change that is requiring us to make some changes as well."
Griffin said the company will now charge for usage over 100 terabytes, a limit the university is already over.
"As of right now, we are using over 3 times that amount," he said.
With that change, Griffin said the university has decided to only provide accounts to those currently affiliated with the university.
"Beginning on June 1, 2022, FHSU will no longer be able to provide 'lifetime' email accounts," he said. "We will continue to provide Gmail accounts to our current students, faculty and staff. We will also continue to provide Gmail accounts for one year after they last attend FHSU."
Accounts will now only be active for one year after an affiliation with the university ends.
"We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we wanted to provide everyone with ample time to make the necessary change," Griffin said. "Due to the changes that Google is making in the service that they provide to our university, we are unable to continue offering this service."