Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Google Apps at USC
Note: Google Apps at USC is available only to currently enrolled USC students.
Google Apps at USC
- Can I sign up if I already have a Gmail account?
- Which browsers can I use with Google Apps at USC?
- Why can't I log into my account through the Google site?
- How come my Google Apps at USC account doesn’t have the same applications as my personal Gmail account?
- What if I want to use a Google program that is not offered through Google Apps at USC?
- What are the policies that apply to my Google Apps at USC account?
- What if I already have a USC-related Google Apps account through the Gould School of Law or DEN?
- Can I opt out of Google Apps at USC if I change my mind?
- Why do I need two passwords?
- How do I change my passwords?
- What happens to my Google Apps at USC account when I leave USC?
Email and Gmail
- What is Gmail?
- Will I keep the same email address with Google Apps at USC?
- Do I have to switch my email to Google when I sign up?
- What will happen to my old USC email account?
- How can I move my old messages to my new account?
- Can I decide to use my new Gmail account at a later date?
- Can I use other email programs, or clients, to access my Google Apps at USC email?
- Can I export my old email address book to my new Gmail account?
- How will I control spam?
Collaboration
- How do I share documents with students or others who have Google Apps at USC accounts?
- How come I can't see the Quick Contacts (chat) box in the left sidebar?
Can I sign up if I already have a Gmail account?
Yes. Google Apps at USC is a separate account that allows you to send and receive Gmail (Google email) using your @usc.edu email address. Your Google Apps at USC account provides the benefits of Gmail in an ad-free environment.
Which browsers can I use with Google Apps at USC?
Google recommends that you use the most recent version of Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, of Google Chrome in order to access the latest Google features. For more information on the web browsers that Google supports, see the Google website.
Note: Using Safari to access your Google Apps at USC account will create minor issues. For example, when you log into your Google Apps at USC Gmail account, you won't see the Quick Contacts (chat) box in the left sidebar. If you have a Mac, using the latest version of Firefox will allow you to see the Quick Contacts box in the left sidebar of Google Apps gmail pages. This display issue only affects Google Apps for Education accounts and not standard Gmail accounts. Google releases features for its commercial Gmail system before it releases features for Google Apps for Education. Google does not provide a list of the different features available in standard accounts and Google Apps for Education.
Why can't I log into my account through the Google site?
Google Apps at USC is USC's installation of the Google Apps for Education software suite, which Google offers to educational institutions and non-profit organizations. Because of account customization and security requirements, users must log in through USC's authentication system.
How come my Google Apps at USC account doesn’t have the same applications as my personal Gmail account?
Your Google Apps at USC account is part of a software suite called Google Apps for Education, which Google offers to educational institutions and non-profit organizations. Google decides which services to include in the Google Apps for Education software suite.
What if I want to use a Google program that is not offered through Google Apps at USC?
If you wish to use a Google program that is not included in Google Apps at USC, such as Google Groups, you can use your personal Gmail account. If you do not have a personal Gmail account, you can sign up for one at www.google.com.
What are the policies that apply to my Google Apps at USC account?
Your Google Apps at USC account is subject to USC’s computing policies, with the exception of the university’s email quota and retention policies. Your Google Apps at USC account will be subject to Google’s email quota policy, which is currently more than 6 gigabytes and constantly growing. Google does not place limits on how long users can keep email. Your Google Apps at USC account is also subject to Google’s terms of service and privacy policies.
What if I already have a USC-related Google Apps account through the Gould School of Law or DEN?
The Google Apps at USC account is separate from the Google Apps at Law and Google Apps at DEN accounts. If you are a student in the USC Gould School of Law or Viterbi School of Engineering’s Distance Education Network (DEN), you may choose to activate your Google Apps at USC account whether or not you have an account through your school or program.
Note: If you are a law student and wish to keep your @lawmail.usc.edu email address, do not change your current email forwarding preferences when you sign up for your Google Apps at USC account.
Can I opt out of Google Apps at USC if I change my mind?
You are free to stop using your Google Apps at USC account whenever you wish.
If you no longer wish to receive your USC email in your Google Apps at USC Gmail account, you will need to change your forwarding preferences through USC Web Mail.
- From your USC Web Mail account, choose Options, then Settings.
- Delete the check in the Enable Forwarding dialog box.
- Click the Save Changes button.
For more information about email forwarding, see the Email Forwarding documentation.
Why do I need two passwords?
There are two passwords associated with your Google Apps at USC account to protect your USC password. You will use your USC password to log into Google’s web-based applications through the USC login gateway, or authentication system. You will use a separate Google password to access non-web-based services, such as getting your email on a mobile phone or with an email program like Thunderbird, Outlook, or Entourage.
How do I change my passwords?
You can change both your USC password and your Google (Google Apps at USC) password on the ITS password change page.
What happens to my Google Apps at USC account when I leave USC?
Your Google Apps at USC account will be disabled approximately six months after you leave USC. If you wish to have access to your Google Apps at USC email or other Google Apps at USC content, you will need to either move that content to another account or save it to your personal computer. For information on how to do this, please see the Google Apps Email/Content Migration information page.
What is Gmail?
Gmail is Google’s email program. Gmail provides more than 6 gigabytes of storage and contains features such as integrated chat and phishing protection. For more information, see Google’s Gmail information page.
Will I keep the same email address with Google Apps at USC?
Yes. You will continue to use your @usc.edu email address to send and receive email.
Do I have to switch my email to Google when I sign up?
You are free to leave your email on USC’s email servers or to forward your email to the Gmail account that comes with your Google Apps at USC account. If you choose to use your new Gmail account, you will have access to more than 6 gigabytes of storage and be able to keep your email for an unlimited length of time. If you choose to leave your email on USC’s email servers, your email will remain subject to USC’s email retention and storage limits. You will be able to change your email settings whenever you wish, provided that you are still eligible for a USC email account.
If you already have a Google Apps at USC account and want to receive your USC email in your Google Apps at USC Gmail account, you will need to change your forwarding preferences through USC Web Mail.
- From your USC Web Mail account, choose Options, then Settings.
- Check the Enable Forwarding box.
- In the dialog box, enter your USC username in the following format: username@gapps.usc.edu.
- Click the Save Changes button.
Your USC email will now be forwarded to your Google Apps at USC account. You will continue to send and receive email with your @usc.edu email address. Note: The @gapps.usc.edu domain name should be used only to set forwarding preferences. For more information about email forwarding, see the Email Forwarding documentation.
What will happen to my old USC email account?
Nothing will happen to your old USC email account. After you have begun using your new Gmail account, you will still be able to access the email stored in your old USC account, provided that the email is less than one year old.
How can I move my old messages to my new account?
At this time, there is no way to automatically transfer your old mail to your Google Apps at USC account.
For information on how you can manually transfer your mail to your Google Apps at USC account, please see Google's documentation on moving mail from another account to Gmail .
Can I decide to use my new Gmail account at a later date?
Yes. You can begin using your new Gmail account by changing your forwarding preferences. You will be able to change your email forwarding preferences whenever you wish, provided that you are still eligible for a USC email account.
If you already have a Google Apps at USC account and want to receive your USC email in your Google Apps at USC Gmail account, you will need to change your forwarding preferences through USC Web Mail.
- From your USC Web Mail account, choose Options, then Settings.
- Check the Enable Forwarding box.
- In the dialog box, enter your USC username in the following format: username@gapps.usc.edu.
- Click the Save Changes button.
Your USC email will now be forwarded to your Google Apps at USC account. You will continue to send and receive email with your @usc.edu email address. Note: The @gapps.usc.edu domain name should be used only to set forwarding preferences. For more information about email forwarding, see the Email Forwarding documentation.
Can I use other email programs to access my Google Apps at USC email?
Yes. You can access your Google Apps at USC Gmail account using IMAP and mobile email programs. See the links below for more information. When configuring your email program, write your username in the following format: username@usc.edu and use your Google password. Once you have configured your email program, you will send and receive email using your @usc.edu address.
Can I export my old email address book to my new Gmail account?
ITS provides documentation on how to export your address book to Gmail from the following email programs: Thunderbird, Outlook, and Outlook Express. It is not possible to export your USC Web Mail address book to Gmail.
How will I control spam?
Your new Gmail account will be protected from spam by Google’s antispam software. Your messages will be scanned by USC’s antispam software before they are forwarded to your Google Apps at USC account. According the university’s email policies, ITS will not forward any message that is tagged as <<SPAM?>>.
How do I share documents with students or others who have Google Apps at USC accounts?
You can share documents with anyone who has a Gmail account by listing the person’s Gmail address in the Share This Document screen. If you enter an email address of someone without a Gmail account in the Share This Document screen, that person will receive an invitation to create a Gmail account.
If you enter an @usc.edu email address for someone who does not have a Google Apps at USC account, that person will receive an error message when attempting to view the message. If you wish to share documents with a USC student, faculty, or staff member who does not have a Google Apps at USC account, you must provide a non-USC email address for that person.
How come I can't see the Quick Contacts (chat) box in the left sidebar?
Google recommends that you use Internet Explorer 7 or Firefox 2 in order to access the latest Google features. For more information on the web browsers that Google supports, see the Google website.
Note: Using Safari to access your Google Apps at USC account will create minor issues. For example, when you log into your Google Apps at USC Gmail account, you won't see the Quick Contacts (chat) box in the left sidebar. If you have a Mac, using the latest version of Firefox will allow you to see the Quick Contacts box in the left sidebar of Google Apps gmail pages. This display issue only affects Google Apps for Education accounts and not standard Gmail accounts. Google releases features for its commercial Gmail system before it releases features for Google Apps for Education. Google does not provide a list of the different features available in standard accounts and Google Apps for Education.
Last updated:
January 31, 2013