Upon graduation, the service can serve as a link for new alums to maintain their ties to the University. According to the promotional literature, it gives students "resources to manage their lifelong educational and professional growth." The program will help prevent former students from being isolated from the University and, in the process, will expand the University community beyond campus boundaries.
In providing a link to graduates, UM Online is narrowing the communications gap between individual alums, alumni organizations and the University. These groups provide millions of dollars in donations and scholarships each year - UM Online can facilitate fund raising because the University's computer network serves as a central communications hub.
The service will allow alums to maintain their membership in the University community far beyond graduation, thus increasing their devotion to the University and - the administration hopes - the size of their contributions.
Another group that stands to benefit is the parents of present students. In an effort to maintain a cheap communication route between parents and their children, many families pay for commercial Internet access providers and use e-mail. Though the rates for in-state and out-of-state residents differ, the program is cheaper than most commercial services. UM Online offers an opportunity to not only save money, but to access the superior technology resources the University has to offer.
The program includes e-mail software and Netscape Navigator - providing users with many of the same features that present students have. However, UM Online has unique features, such as access to online museum exhibits and live sports broadcasts. The service features are user-friendly - an advantage for beginners on the information superhighway and recent alums who are comfortable with the services they already know.
Students can also access the additional services for a charge of 16 cents a month - ITD would deduct the fee from the student's account.
With its vast technology resources, the University should commit itself to distributing computing and communication technology to those who may not already have access to it. UM Online is a positive step in the right direction. The service provides alums, parents, retired faculty and others the opportunity to be - or stay - connected with the University community.
UM Online will not only make communication with students and alums easier and cheaper but will help support alumni networks. Its features will distribute technology to many people who may not have access otherwise. ITD deserves commendation for developing a service that provides many benefits and fits so many users' needs.