Google recently paid a visit to the Kent State University Kent Campus. The popular Internet search technologies company selected Kent State as one of four universities that Google will feature in a new video. The video focuses on Google Apps for Education, a free set of customizable tools that enable faculty, staff and students to work together and learn more effectively. In addition to Kent State, Google chose Brandeis University, North Carolina State University and University of California, Riverside for the video project.

Mahon participating in the video project

"Cloud computing now has a lot of momentum in higher education - the 2010 Campus Computing Survey noted that 85 percent of four-year universities and colleges are already using or considering moving to the cloud by offering hosted e-mail to their students," says Jason Cook, product marketing manager for Google Apps for Education. "Kent State was at the forefront of this trend, having deployed Apps some time ago, so we think other universities could benefit from learning more about Kent State's rollout and subsequent real-world experience with Apps."

Google sent a video crew to interview Kent State administrators, faculty members and students for the video. Those featured in the video shared their experiences deploying and using Google Apps.

"Our students and faculty have enjoyed using Google Apps," says Ed Mahon, Kent State vice president for information services, who participated in the videotaping. "We're able to turn off an antiquated e-mail system and give students an e-mail system that they are familiar with and like. The university can hitch our innovation train to Google and develop a relationship with Google to further develop innovative applications that our institution needs going forward."

Mahon also commented that Google Apps for Education is a safe and cost-effective choice that users find easy to use with minimal support cost.

"Ed Mahon and his team have been great to work with," Cook says. "We previously worked together on a case study detailing the unique content migration solution Kent State developed as part of their Apps rollout, so when the chance came to interview some university CIOs (chief information officers), Kent State was one of the first schools our team called."

The Kent State video will be featured on Google's blog and on the Google Apps for Education site. Cook says he expects the video to be posted in early 2011.

By Emily Vincent