As of April 1, 2024, the U-M Google Storage Project has ended. Over the course of 15+ months, ITS helped guide the university community through implementing Google’s new storage limits. Thanks to the diligent efforts of our community to declutter and streamline data stored within their accounts, we’ve successfully sized our environment to match Google’s storage policy changes and built a sustainable lifecycle for the future.
Moving forward, everyone should refer to the new Storage Management in U-M Google page for all things storage in Google.
This project page will remain up for archival purposes and to reference the efforts made during the project. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the ITS Service Center.
For over a decade, the University of Michigan has partnered with Google to offer their full suite of collaboration and productivity services available under their "Workspace for Education" plan (previously "G Suite for Education"). In 2021, Google announced a storage model change that involved no longer offering free, unlimited storage to accounts using their services, including higher education institutions like the University of Michigan. As a result, this change requires storage limits to be placed on every account across the entire U-M domain. Information and Technology Services (ITS) has worked with Google to ensure U-M continues to benefit from their service offerings while staying in compliance with new storage limits.
What Changes Are Coming to U-M Google?
With the 2021 announcement, Google informed U-M they would no longer offer free, unlimited storage to higher education institutions and presented an institutional storage limit the university must meet by 2024.
As a result of Google's change, the university must limit the total storage footprint used in U-M Google. Storage limits were implemented on every account on January 16, 2023. This project site was created to ensure the community has access to timely information, support, and resources (such as frequently asked questions) surrounding the Google Storage Project.
Who's Affected by the Storage Limits?
Storage limits affect all accounts in U-M Google. These accounts include faculty (regular, emeritus, and lecturers), staff (regular and temporary), students, sponsored affiliates, alumni, retirees, and U-M Google Shared Accounts. They also affect Google shared drives. For more information on how it affects you, visit the How Am I Affected? page.
Approximately 97% of all actively affiliated U-M Google accounts are under the new storage limit and have no required action to take after this change is implemented. However, ITS strongly encourages everyone in the university community to continue to engage in sustainable data practices and clean up any unnecessary data in their U-M Google accounts.
What Data is Affected by the Storage Limits?
All data in U-M Google is affected by the storage limits. This includes, but is not limited to, storage in Google Drive, Google Mail, Google Photos, and shared drives.
Note: Google file types, such as Docs, Sheets, and Slides, count against your storage limit.
When Will Storage Limits Be Implemented?
All storage limits were implemented on January 16, 2023. The specifics of how the storage limits are implemented depend upon whether you are over or under the assigned limit for your primary university affiliation and what that affiliation is. Refer to How Am I Affected? for more detailed information.
Important dates:
April 1, 2024: Deadline for current faculty, staff, students, and sponsored affiliates to bring their storage under 250GB.
- Shared Accounts must also bring their storage under 15GB by this date.
ITS is committed to engaging with all university stakeholders to create a timely and transparent implementation process that will minimize disruption to the teaching, learning, administrative, and research activities that are critical to the university.
What Should I Do Now, and Where Can I Get More Information?
Visit the How Am I Affected? page for advice and recommendations on how to transition materials within and out of U-M Google based on your primary university affiliation and current storage usage.
For more information:
- Visit the FAQ for answers to common questions.
- Visit the Support & Training page for other useful documentation and resources.
Continue to check this website for updates and watch for communications from ITS around the Google Storage Project. We will continue to engage with Unit IT representing the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses and Michigan Medicine to assist with these changes as needed.