University alumni will retain access to their Gmail accounts through 2029, the University announced in an email Oct. 30 after receiving criticism from alumni over the decision to terminate access to email accounts.
Will Knoff, a graduate student and undergrad alum, now satisfied with the update, sits on a bench in Eastman Quad.
“You told us your Rochester.edu email has long been a meaningful connection—to classmates, mentors, and to the University itself,” read the email sent out to alumni. “That connection is important to us, too, and after a thoughtful review we have decided to continue supporting existing student-to-alumni Google accounts through the year 2029.”
According to the email announcement, that timeline may shift, as changes in Google’s services, data security standards, or University systems may require adjustments. The University promised to notify alumni of changes as far in advance as possible.
The announcement also reminded alumni of the option to request an alumni email at any point after graduation, and said that from now the option to receive a branded email will be made clear to students as part of the graduation process.
Alumni are appreciative of the change. One alum, Joseph DiGrandi ’25, shared his thoughts:
“I have [alumni] friends who’ve been applying to jobs with these emails, and it was a really awful surprise to learn about because of the poor communication the school gave alumni to properly warn us. I just hope if the school continues with their plan to moonlight these emails in 2029, they make sure to notify alum[ni] repeatedly and in advance.”
