To determine the University’s new e-mail system, Enterprise Information Technology Services is hosting an online survey to figure out which program will be most suited for the University’s needs.

“The survey is going to rank the most important requirements,” said Shawn Ellis, IT director of EITS. “We want to get statistical input about which ones are most important to students, faculty and staff.”

EITS is waiting on management before distributing the survey, which could be as early as this week.

EITS, working with the Student Government Association, formed a group of students for feedback and gave them access to the interfaces of different service providers.

“We have heard a lot of complaints about this, and that’s a big problem with a lot of students,” said SGA VP Nicki Batelli. “We are confident that there is going to be a change.”

Gmail, hosted by Google, is a popular candidate among those voicing opinions. Gmail can provide high-capacity memory, chat and a calendar, she said.

Of the 41,000 University e-mail accounts, 17,000 are forwarded to another service, and 11,000 of those are forwarded to Gmail accounts.

Gmail is just one candidate EITS will present to management. Other systems include Novell, Microsoft Exchange, Zimbra and Mirapoint.

“The actual solution hasn’t been decided on,” Ellis said. “We’re deferring that decision until we find out what’s important to students, faculty and staff. One solution will emerge.”