While in all likelihood, this was done for cost-cutting purposes (as the article states), I actually like the idea.
I'm a college student myself, and while I have an email address with the school, I just have all my mail forwarded from that account (which uses the awful Outlook Web interface and doesn't offer PHP3 or IMAP) to my GMail account. It's considerably more convenient.
Some people will probably disagree with me, but even if more colleges just offered the option to make your account either a full account or simply a forwarding address (as opposed to just forwarding mail from the mailbox, as my account does), it would be worthwhile.
I'm a college student myself, and while I have an email address with the school, I just have all my mail forwarded from that account (which uses the awful Outlook Web interface and doesn't offer PHP3 or IMAP) to my GMail account. It's considerably more convenient.
Some people will probably disagree with me, but even if more colleges just offered the option to make your account either a full account or simply a forwarding address (as opposed to just forwarding mail from the mailbox, as my account does), it would be worthwhile.