Road to Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 Project Update
Updated April 22, 2025 @ 9:15 am
The TTUHSC IT Division has been working with the TTU IT Division, Microsoft and other consultants on a project to execute the TTUHSC migration to the Microsoft 365 environment. This multi-phase project will provide significant improvements to work flows and collaboration for both TTU and TTUHSC.
Stages of Microsoft 365
Deactivated TTUHSC Office.com download site
COMPLETE
Global Address List Separation
COMPLETE
Migrate to Exchange Online
FALL 2025 - OFFICAL DATE TBD
Deployment of other M365 Services
FUTURE DATES TBD
ACTION REQUIRED
Migration to Microsoft Exchange Online
Mandatory Upgrade to Office 2021: This is required for Exchange Online compatibility. Older Office versions will only be able to access email via webmail.
Automatic Upgrade Starting April 21st: TTUHSC IT will automatically upgrade devices to Office 2021 nightly (10 PM - 6 AM, Mon-Fri).
Avoid Disruptions: Keep devices powered on and connected to the network (or internet off-campus) to receive the upgrade. Devices not upgraded by April 28th will be updated upon their next connection, potentially causing daytime interruptions.
The email migration delivers significant enhancements:
- a substantial mailbox size increase,
- future integration with Office 365 services like OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams,
- and robust reliability and security.
Global Address List (GAL) Split
COMPLETED - MARCH 10, 2025
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In order to migrate TTUHSC to Exchange Online, TTUHSC and TTU we were required to separate our current combined Global Address List (GAL) into separate address books.
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TTU users can no longer see TTUHSC users in the TTU address book, and TTUHSC users can no longer see TTU users in the TTUHSC address book. Both TTU and TTUHSC addresses can be found in the Texas Tech University System Directory.
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Additionally, email distribution lists that contain both TTU users and TTUHSC users were modified to contain only users belonging to the email system that owns the distribution list (ttu.edu or ttuhsc.edu).
- Distribution list owners were contacted and provided instructions to initiate the Lyris conversion. -
For example, a distribution list named Senators@ttu.edu with members John.Smith@ttu.edu, Jane.Doe@ttu.edu, and Jack.Flash@ttuhsc.edu were modified to only have members John.Smith@ttu.edu and Jane.Doe@ttu.edu. The TTUHSC member, Jack.Flash@ttuhsc.edu was removed from the Senators@ttu.edu distribution list.
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Understand the Global Address List separation, will it affect you?
The Global Address List (GAL) was split, separating Texas Tech University (TTU) and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) users. A cross-domain user is simply someone who belongs to one university (either TTU or TTUHSC) but is a member of a distribution group (DG) at the other university. Therefore, distribution groups (DGs) and how you communicate with users across domains will be affected.
- Clear autocomplete and manually add addresses you frequently communicate with.
- New messages using autocomplete names and replies to emails from cross-domain users might bounce.
- Update local Outlook contacts for cross-domain users you created.
- Existing meetings with cross-domain attendees may require removing and re-adding them.
- Messages from cross-domain users will display the “CAUTION: This email originated from outside of TTUHSC. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
- GAL will no longer show both TTU and HSC users, you will only see the addresses to the university you are associated with.
- You can still send emails to TTU and TTUHSC users directly.
(See section on 'Emailing cross-domain users' to see if you need to take extra steps to send your email.) - Cross-domain Outlook calendar free/busy information will continue to work.
Thank you for your patience during the execution of this exciting project!
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