Winter Graduates: Action Required to Maintain Microsoft 365 Access & OneDrive Content

By Lisa Efing-Guida, December 5, 2023

As you prepare to graduate or leave Ithaca College, be aware of upcoming changes to your Microsoft 365 account, including OneDrive. These changes will occur approximately 30 days after your commencement date. Following your graduation, your account's license will transition from a student license to an alumni license. This change will affect your access to the IC Microsoft 365 subscription in the following ways: 

  • You will retain indefinite access to your IC email account.
  • Your access to files stored in your Ithaca College OneDrive will be discontinued.
  • Your Microsoft 365 subscription through Ithaca College will no longer be available.

Plan accordingly to ensure a smooth transition of your digital resources. For complete details, refer to Transitioning Your Microsoft 365 Account After Graduation in the Knowledge Base or review a summary of the information below.

Impacted Applications and Services

Email and Calendar: Your IC email account (@ithaca.edu) remains active indefinitely. You can continue to send and receive emails as usual. 

OneDrive: Post-graduation, access to files in your IC OneDrive will be discontinued. Before graduation, transfer your files from your IC OneDrive to a free Microsoft 365 account, a paid Microsoft 365 Personal subscription, or to alternative storage options (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, a physical hard drive, or a flash drive). 

OneNote: Access to data stored in IC OneNote notebooks will cease post-graduation. Transfer data from your IC OneNote notebooks to a personal OneNote notebook via a free Microsoft 365 account or a paid Microsoft 365 Personal subscription. See also: OneNote: How to Transfer Data from One Notebook to Another 

To Do: Microsoft To Do, a personal task management application with Outlook Tasks integration, remains available. 

Other Microsoft 365 Applications: Your Microsoft 365 subscription through Ithaca College will expire upon your departure. Consequently, you will lose access to Excel, OneDrive, OneNote, PowerPoint, Shifts, Sway, Teams, Whiteboard, and Word. Options for continued use include: 

  • Sign up for a free Microsoft 365 account for continued web access.
  • For desktop applications on Windows or macOS, consider purchasing a Microsoft 365 Personal subscription.

Obtaining a free Microsoft 365 account

To maintain access to some Microsoft 365 web applications, register for a free Microsoft 365 account. 

  1. Visit https://account.microsoft.com/account and select Create an Account.
  2. Ensure you transfer any necessary data before proceeding with the next step.
  3. Uninstall Microsoft 365 applications from your Windows or macOS device after completing the data transfer.

See also: 

Purchasing a Microsoft 365 Personal subscription

If you require the desktop applications of Microsoft 365 for Windows or macOS, you need to purchase a Microsoft 365 Personal subscription.

  1. Visit www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/buy/compare-all-microsoft-365-products to compare plans. You will be prompted to log in with your free Microsoft account to proceed with the purchase.
  2. Ensure you transfer any necessary data to a personal Microsoft account before proceeding and then uninstall Microsoft 365 applications from your Windows or macOS device after completing the data transfer.
  3. After purchasing your Microsoft 365 Personal subscription and completing data transfer, install the new version of Microsoft 365 (microsoft.com).

Further Information

Information Technology Service Desk  
ithaca.edu/itchat  
servicedesk@ithaca.edu  
607-274-1000  
104 Job Hall