Colleges are not professional technology providers. But students have long counted on institutions to provide them with reliable e-mail for academic and personal use.
As students place heavier and heavier demands on networking services, college officials have recognized that commercial vendors, such as Google and Microsoft, can provide better e-mail service at a price that’s hard to beat — free. But such deals also give the vendors access to the correspondence that travels between students and faculty members. Do the benefits outweigh the privacy concerns and potential legal liabilities?
Tomorrow The Chronicle is playing host to a live chat on the issue with Wendy Woodward. She is director of technology-support services at Northwestern University, where she is responsible for customer-service interactions between IT services and the students and employees.
Developing online and blended learning programs requires research and collaboration. Learn how top technology companies are partnering with campuses across the country to advance online learning as it becomes an increasingly important aspect of higher education.