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Google@SAS FAQ

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In the summer of 2012, the School of Arts & Sciences will begin offering Google@SAS services to our students.  Google@SAS will include both email and collaboration apps (calendar, docs, and more).  See below for important information about the  Google@SAS service.

Google@SAS is only available to approved Beta testers. 

Newly admitted students will be offered Google@SAS accounts later this spring.   During the summer of 2012, all College, LPS, and graduate students will be able to sign up for Google@SAS. SAS will issue an announcement later this year with additional details about how to sign up for and use the new service. 

About Google@SAS

Making the Switch to Google@SAS

Using Google@SAS

About Google@SAS

What is Google@SAS?

Google@SAS is a suite of email and collaboration tools customized especially for Penn students.  It is based on the popular GMail and Google Apps services that many students already use.   With Google@SAS, your account will be based on your SAS email address (e.g. ).  Google@SAS consists of two main components:

  1. GMail@SAS This is the familiar Gmail service, but without advertising and directly linked to your SAS email address (e.g. ).  When you sign up for GMail@SAS all mail sent to your SAS address will be delivered to your GMail@SAS account; when you send mail it will come from your @sas address.  GMail@SAS can be accessed through a web browser, a mobile device or mail client program such as Thunderbird, Outlook or Apple Mail. 

  2. GoogleApps@SAS This is the popular Google Apps suite, including Google Calender, Docs, Sites, Groups, and Contacts.  Since accounts are based on SAS email addresses, it will be easy to collaborate with other SAS students through GoogleApps@SAS.  

Why should I want to use Google@SAS?
Even if you already have a regular GMail account, Google@SAS offers several advantages:

  • Your account name will be based on your SAS email address.  Your account will be automatically configured to send mail from your SAS address. You can easily share docs and other Google resources with classmates; if you know their SAS email address, you know their Google@SAS name.
  • You can keep your school and personal email accounts separate, but you can easily link your personal and Google@SAS accounts if you choose to do so.  With linked accounts, you log in once and can easily switch between your accounts.
  • Penn’s agreement with Google provides strong assurances for the security and privacy of Google@SAS email accounts. 

Is a Google@SAS account required?
No; Google@SAS is optional.  You can choose to use either GMail@SAS or GoogleApps@SAS or both.  For example, you may want to use GoogleApps@SAS to facilitiate collaboration with classmates, but have your SAS email routed to another account you already have.

Who is eligible for a Google@SAS account?
All SAS graduate and undergraduate students who will be actively enrolled after May 15, 2012 are eligible to use Google@SAS. Students graduating in May 2012 should see below for additional information.   Faculty and staff are not eligible at this time.

Will people at Google have access to my email, documents and other personal information?
Google is not allowed to exhibit advertising to active Penn students.  Contractually, Google does not receive any ownership of stored data. Google has agreed to protect the confidentiality of Penn's private information with the same standard of care in which they protect their own private corporate information.

What will happen to my Google@SAS account when I graduate?
Your Google@SAS account will remain active until about 6 months after your graduate. However, SAS Computing is investigating ways to provide continued access to your account after graduation and will provide additional information in the future.

 

Making the Switch to Google@SAS

I am currently using Penn Live for email.  What should I do?
We will have an announcement later this spring with information about how to switch from Penn Live to Google@SAS, or chose other options for email.

Can I move old message from Penn Live into Google@SAS?
You can import messages from the Inbox of a Penn Live account into Google@SAS.  This process will only work for messages in your inbox; it will not work for mail in Sent or other folders.  Click here for more information.

I am already forwarding my SAS email to a Google account. What should I do?
If you are happy with your current arrangements, you don't need to do anything.  You can continue to forward mail to your personal GMail account.  If you want to sign up for Google@SAS, you will be able to do so.  It's easy to sign in to both a personal GMail account and GMail@SAS, and move between them  See below for details.

I am currently forwarding my SAS email to Yahoo, AOL, Comcast or other personal account.  What should I do?
If you are happy with your current arrangements, you don't need to do anything.  You can continue to forward mail to the account you are currently using.  If you want to want to sign up for Google@SAS, you will be able to do so.

Will my SAS email address change if I sign up for Google@SAS?
No, your SAS email address will not change. If you sign up for GMail@sas, mail will be delivered to your new account, instead of whatever account you previously used for your SAS email.

I will be graduating in May 2012.  What will happen to my email account?
If you are graduating in May 2012, you will not be eligible to sign up for Google@SAS.  If you are currently using Penn Live, you will be informed later this term on future status of your Penn Live account.  If you are currently forwarding your SAS email to a personal account (gmail, yahoo, AOL, etc.) your forwarding will remain in place for 6 months after your graduation date.

 

Using Google@SAS

How do I log-in?
Go to http://gmail.sas.upenn.edu This is the offical log in page.  Note that on this page you just enter your PennKey in the username field; you should not include @sas.upenn.edu 

gmail@sas login screen

If you log in on a general google login screen, you should enter your full email address as the username

general google login

How do I change my password?
You can change your password at https://emailapps.sas.upenn.edu/configure/provision.php.  This works even if you don't remember your current password.  You will need to log in with your Pennkey user name and Pennkey password.  

I already have a personal Google account.  How can I manage two or more accounts?
You can be simultaneously signed in to both a Google@SAS account and personal Google account, then switch between the two accounts.  See Google documentation on Using Multiple Accounts for details

How do I use Gmail@SAS with a mail program such as Apple Mail or Thunderbird?
You can use IMAP (recommended) or POP to access your email. Instructions for Thunderbird can be found here. Other mail client instructions found here:

See details about how to configure an email client using IMAP
See details about how to configure an email client using POP 

Remember to follow the instructions for Google Apps users, which includes using the full email address (e.g. ) as the user name, and the password you selected for Google@SAS.

How do I use Gmail@SAS on a mobile phone?
You can use IMAP (recommended) or POP to access your email:  

See details about how to configure a mobile phone using IMAP
See details about how to configure a mobile phone using POP 

Remember to follow the instructions for Google Apps users, which includes using the full email address (e.g. ) as the user name, and the password you selected for Google@SAS.

If you have an iOS device such as an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, you also have the option of using Google Sync.  Google Sync makes it possible to fully integrate your Google@SAS email, calendar, and contacts list with Mail, iCal, and Address Book (iOS 3 and above).

See details about how to set up Google Sync for email, calendar and contacts
 See details about how to set up calendar only, using CalDAV

For Blackberry users, to configure your Google@SAS account on your device you will want to:

1. Go to Email Setup and select add an account, select Other.

2. Enter your SAS address but enter an incorrect password, this will allow the device to provide you with the option for manual configuration.

3. When the first attempt fails click on the link that says 'I will provide the settings for the account,' select IMAP/POP, enter your correct password and enter the server imap.googlemail.com. Click Save and your account will be created on the device.

How do I use Google chat with a chat program such as Adium/iChat (Mac OS) or Pidgin (Windows)?

You can use Google chat with any one of the University supported chat programs:

Adium/iChat for Mac OS

  1. If you have no other chat accounts, select Google Talk from the list of account types when you open the program. Otherwise, go to the Adium/iChat menu, select Preferences, Account, and click the plus sign at the bottom left in order to choose the account type. 
  2. Fill in your full email address for the GTalk ID or Account name (e.g. ) and your email password.
  3. Click Done and you should be successfully connected.

Pidgin for Windows

  1. If you have no other chat accounts, click Add when you first open the program and select XMPP from the list of account types.  Otherwise, click Accounts, Manage Accounts, and Add in order to choose the account type.
  2. Fill in just the beginning portion of your email address for the user name (e.g. bfranklin for ) and your email password.
  3. Next to Domain, fill in sas.upenn.edu
  4. Under the Advanced tab, fill in talk.google.com next to Connected Server.
  5. Click Add and you should be successfully connected.

How do I share documents, calendars and other resources with other Google@SAS users?

You can share Google@SAS resources by using the same general process for sharing resources in ordinary Google accounts.  In the "sharing" box, just start typing the name or SAS email address of the person with whom you want share.  You'll see that as you are typing, a list of Google@SAS account holders will appear.  Select your intended person from the list of available choices.  Please note that most SAS faculty and staff do NOT have Google@SAS accounts; for these people, you'll usually need to share to their personal Google account (see below)


See details about how to share Google Docs
See details about how to share Google Calendars


Can I share documents, calendars and other resources with Google users who are not part of the Google@SAS system?
Yes, you can share your docs, calendars or other resources with any valid Google account.  Just enter their Google account in the list of people with whom you want to share.

How can I get help with Google@SAS?
Google has lots of great help available.  Just click the little gear icon google gear icon in the upper right corner of the screen, right next to your user name.  Then select "Help" from the drop-down menu.

If you can't find an answer in the Google docs, or if your question concerns the status of your account, please use the SAS student email help form.