The NDSU Information Technology division has announced plans to move all student e-mail accounts to Microsoft's Live@EDU system during the 2009-10 academic year.

"This is the right thing to do for students. Over time, it will provide them more functionality and flexibility than they have on our current system," said Bonnie Neas, vice president for information technology.

The move to the out-sourced service is part of a change that is occurring at many universities nationally and within the North Dakota University System. Currently, Lake Region State College in Devils Lake is using the Live@EDU, and the University of North Dakota plans to implement the same system this fall semester.

The move is supported by a resolution passed last fall by NDSU student government. "A lot of students wanted more out of their NDSU e-mail accounts and so student senate got behind this resolution. We want to make sure that students are getting the best possible tools to make them successful," said Amber Altstadt, 2009-10 student body president.

The new e-mail system will be used for students only, not for NDSU employees. Details on the timeline for implementation and the features that will be available on the new system will be determined by a planning committee with representatives from university units affected by this change.