Google Changes - Current Staff

What is changing?

• From 1st October 2023 the storage space you have allocated in your University Google Drive is limited to 1GB to allow sufficient space to collaborate on key files created in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
• Your University Google Drive and its contents will be removed when you leave the University - there is no ongoing access to Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides etc.
• You must remove all your Google Photos before you leave if you want to keep your @aucklanduni account. If you don't remove all your content in Google Photos then we will need to delete your entire account to recover the storage, email, drive and photos. We obviously do not want to do this.

What is not changing?

• You will continue to have your Microsoft OneDrive while you are enrolled at the University or affiliated
• You will continue to have your @aucklanduni.ac.nz email address, including when you leave the University (as long as you remove all your Google Photos before you leave).

What do I need to do?

1.  Check how much space you are using. You just need to look at the combined Google Drive and Google Photos amounts and check they add up to less than 1GB. If it says MB then you are under 1GB and will be unaffected by these changes 
2. If you are above 1GB in Google Drive and Google Photos, or close to it, then you will need to tidy up your Google Drive
3. If you still have more than 1GB after a tidy up then you will need to transfer off any files (including Google Photos, Docs, Sheets and Slides) to reduce your storage to 1GB.  Move from the University Google Drive.
   

When do I need to have this done by?

You will receive warning notifications if you are using more than 80%, and if you are using more than 1GB you will receive emails warning that you will need to reduce otherwise your drive will move into a mode where you can only edit or delete content.

If you still don't reduce during this period then your drive will move into a fully blocked mode and your content will then be permanently removed. Each email clearly specifies the timings for each stage.

How do I see how much storage I am using?

Click this link for your own Google Storage information. Note that the 1GB limit will be applied to Google Drive and Google Photos combined. We will communicate to large users of Google Mail, but unless we communicate directly with you there will be no change needed to your use of Google Mail.

How do I do transfer my files?

Move from the University Google Drive

Where do I find out more about the storage options available to staff?

Check out the Storage Services site for more information and a timeline of upcoming changes to staff storage at the University.

Where do I find out more about OneDrive?

The OneDrive information page includes guides, instructions and helpful hints.

Most Google Docs are very small, so you should be able to continue using this. OneDrive is now available within Canvas.

If you have a valid, important business reason for this then you will need to contact us so we can do an audit and investigate your use cases.

Will I still have access to my University Google Drive files when I leave?

We will restrict the ability for you to add content to Google Drive files and Google Photos once you have left the University.  Your files will be removed automatically at least 1 month afterwards. You will receive emails with your deadlines.

Will I keep my @aucklanduni email address and mailbox when I leave?

If you remove all your content from Google Photos before you leave the University then you will be able to retain your mailbox and @aucklanduni.ac.nz email address. This may change in future if Google changes the service it offers to the University. If you don't delete all your content in Google Photos then the University is forced to delete your entire account, including email to recover the storage you are using. We don't want to do that so you must delete all your content in Google Photos.

Will I still have access to my University Microsoft OneDrive when I leave?

No. You lose access to all University storage services, including Microsoft 365 and the University-provided OneDrive once you leave the University.

What happens if I come back to the University?

You will get a new blank 1GB Google Drive and empty OneDrive. You will have lost the contents of both storage services in the meantime, so it's important that you have transferred any files off both services before you leave.

FAQs

Check the Google Changes FAQ page