With 50 gigabytes of email storage and 5 terabytes of document storage per account, Microsoft Office 365 is a cutting-edge collaboration platform that offers a full-featured email system with web access, integrated calendaring, a school contacts directory, and support for mobile device access.
Features
Easy access to your email and integrated calendar via the web and desktop. Email and calendar integration with desktop email applications, including Microsoft Outlook and Apple Mail, and a fully functional web interface for accessing email and calendar (Outlook Web App).
Large capacity for message storage. Each user gets 50 gigabytes of email storage.
Access from mobile devices like tablets and phones running iOS and Android. Your mobile device can access your email, calendar events, and contacts.
Anti-spam message screening is built-in. Integrated anti-spam tools for easier filtering and identification of email.
Faculty and staff can use the Outlook Web App to access OneDrive for Business, an online service for document storage and sharing (OWA). Each user has access to 5 terabytes of document storage.
Eligibility
Teachers and staff at USC
Note: The Office 365 suite, which includes OneDrive for Business, Skype for Business, and SharePoint, is available to USC students. Visit itservices.usc.edu/office365/students for more details on Office 365 for students.
System prerequisites
Visit the Microsoft Office 365 System Requirements page for details on the web browser requirements for using Office 365.
Getting Going
Using the Office 365 Outlook Web App
Office 365 uses the Outlook Web App (OWA) as its web-based email client. Open a compatible web browser and navigate to www.usc.edu/office365 to access OWA. You will be directed to the red USC NetID sign-in screen, where you must log in with your USC NetID and password if you have not entered into any USC single sign-on services from your web browser for the day.
Exiting the OWA
Close all open tabs in your web browser after using the Outlook Web App to be sure you have properly signed out of your Office 365 account.
Study More
Documentation for Office 365
The instructions in this section explain how to use the Outlook Web App (OWA) to access your email and calendar, how to set up an email client to access Office 365 mail, how to set up your mobile device to access Office 365 email, how to customize OWA settings like automatic replies (vacation messages) and forwarding, how to store and collaborate on documents using OneDrive for Business, and how to connect with USC and non-USC coworkers using Skype for Business.
YouTube tutorials
Office 365-related video tutorials are available from Lynda.com, Apple.com, and Microsoft.com. Links to these video tutorials can be found on various parts of the Office 365 documentation and the website for Office 365 video tutorials.
Data Protection
Some restricted data, such as that covered by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), may be stored on OneDrive for Business. Please be aware that extra restrictions might be necessary depending on the data nature and applicable laws. (For further information, email usc-ciso@usc.edu.)
Support
Please contact the ITS Customer Support Center if you have any queries or worries about your Microsoft Office 365 subscription.
Pricing
The service Microsoft Office 365 is free.
