Shared Accounts in U-M Google

U-M Google Shared Accounts allow teams to use a Google account for shared email and calendar access. The account is owned by the team instead of an individual. Individuals log in to and manage the Shared Account through their own U-M Google accounts and can transfer access to the Shared Account as needed. Designated people can send and receive emails, post events, and share calendars, all acting as the Shared Account. This document provides an overview of Shared Accounts in U-M Google.

Important: The intended purpose of a Shared Account is to manage access to a shared inbox in Gmail and shared Google Calendars. Shared Accounts should not be used for storage in Google Drive or Photos. If shared storage is needed, ITS recommends using a Google shared drive (NOT associated with your Shared Account), U-M Dropbox Team Folder, or another university-provided storage service.

Related: Shared Accounts are created with a special type of MCommunity group. Refer to Managing MCommunity Groups and UMICH Passwords for Shared Accounts for more information.

Overview of Features

Important: Sponsored affiliates, temporary staff, alumni, retirees, and existing Shared Accounts cannot request Shared Accounts.

  • Shared Accounts have a 15GB storage limit, which is separate from your individual account limit.
  • Shared Accounts function as a normal Google account and can be used with all U-M Google apps (core and non-core, including YouTube).
  • All email messages can be kept together in one mailbox, and individuals can send emails as the Shared Account from their individual U-M Google accounts using aliases.
  • Group events can be scheduled by a Shared Account instead of an individual to prevent issues when someone on your team leaves the university.

Gmail

Email sent to the Shared Account is also delivered to the members of the associated MCommunity group.

Send email from the Shared Account

  1. Add the Shared Account as an alias to your U-M Google Mail account:
    1. Click the gear icon and select Settings.
    2. Click Accounts.
    3. Under Send mail as, click Add another email address.
    4. Enter the account's display name and email address in the corresponding fields.
    5. Click Send Verification.
      Note: A verification code is sent to all members of the MCommunity group.
    6. Enter the verification code in the appropriate field and click Verify.
  2. Compose a message and use the drop-down list in the From field to select the Shared Account.

    Important: The message is not stored in the Shared Account’s Sent mail folder.

Access the Shared Account’s email as a delegate

  1. Log in to the Shared Account.
  2. Once delegation is set up, the Shared Account will appear as an alternate account under your account image in the upper-right corner. Click on the Shared Account to access.

Delegates can read, send, and delete messages on behalf of the account as well as access the account’s contacts. All activity done within the Shared Account window is attributed to the Shared Account.

  • Sent mail is stored in the Shared Account’s Sent mail folder.
  • Google vacation responder and auto-reply settings in Gmail do not work with Shared Accounts. However, you can use the MCommunity Away Message.

Google Calendar

Important: Out-of-office features do not work with Shared Accounts.

While logged in to the Shared Account, create a calendar to be assigned to it. You can then share that calendar with individuals or MCommunity groups so they can manage it from within their own individual accounts.

Available permission settings are:

  • See only free/busy (hide details)
  • See all event details
  • Make changes to events
  • Make changes and manage sharing

With the Make changes and manage sharing permission:

  • The calendar appears under My Calendars in the left sidebar.
  • The calendar is available from the Calendar drop-down list when creating events.
  • You can copy an event from another calendar when you click Options (three-dot icon).

Add the calendar via the link in the "[email protected] has shared a calendar with you" notification email.

Note: New members of the associated MCommunity group do not receive a notification email.

Important:

  • When selected, events on shared calendars appear with those on individual calendars. When updating or deleting events, make sure you are on the correct calendar.
  • Because Shared Account MCommunity groups do not sync to U-M Google, inviting a Shared Account to a calendar event does not invite the members of its associated MCommunity group.

Managing a Shared Account

It is only necessary to log in as the Shared Account to:

  • Delegate a Google mailbox.
  • Assign, make changes to, and manage sharing for Google Calendar permissions. Once someone has these permissions, they can assign them to others from their individual account.
  • Create additional Google Calendars associated with the account and share them.
  • Configure the Shared Account’s settings.

Logging in to the Shared Account

Using a Google Chrome Incognito window (or a different browser), log in with the Shared Account's email address and UMICH password.

Note: To reset the password for a Shared Account, an owner of the associated MCommunity group can visit the Google at U-M Request Form and select Request a password reset for an existing Google Shared Account.

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Last Updated: 
Friday, February 16, 2024