Microsoft 365 Storage Sustainability Project
Microsoft announced changes to its Microsoft 365 (M365) storage model which reduces the amount of storage included with Texas A&M University's licenses. These changes required a strategic review and sustainable plan for ongoing management of Texas A&M University's cloud storage options.
Technology Services recognizes the value and importance of M365 storage, and your access to OneDrive, M365 Teams and SharePoint will remain in place.
Technology Services gathered historical account information as well as real-time data related to campus usage of OneDrive and SharePoint to create a forecast of the anticipated storage needs. This, coupled with input from university leadership, campus advisory groups and other stakeholders helped shape the plan for sustainable data management in Microsoft 365.
What Does this Mean for Me?
Campus members can continue using OneDrive, SharePoint, and other M365 services as they do today with no need to move files or purchase additional storage.
No Need To Move Your Data!
All plans were made to minimize disruption in teaching, learning or research and to minimize the need for campus members to move any data from M365.
OneDrive Storage
Data in OneDrive is tied to the campus member and is deleted when they leave the university.
OneDrive Quota Details: Quotas are not expandable
- Undergraduate and graduate students will receive a storage quota of 25 GB. If their current use is higher, they will be given a quota based on their current use with a significant buffer to accommodate additional growth.
- Current and retired staff will receive a storage quota of 50 GB. If their current use is higher, they will be given a quota based on their current use with a significant buffer to accommodate additional growth.
- Current, retired and emeritus faculty will receive a storage quota of 100 GB. If their current use is higher, they will be given a quota based on their current use with a significant buffer to accommodate additional growth.
- Former student quotas will drop to 5 GB once they are no longer enrolled at the university. If they are over quota, their data is still accessible, it will just become "read only" and they cannot make changes to files. This will encourage them to find an alternate storage solution as their account will eventually be deleted and we do not want them to lose important files.
What happens if I go over my quota?
Campus members will receive a notification when their OneDrive account reaches 90% capacity.
At 100% capacity, the OneDrive will be limited to read-only access. You won't be able to upload, edit or sync new files to OneDrive, and existing files will remain as read-only. However, you can still download files, delete files and empty recycle bins.
Sharepoint & Teams Storage
SharePoint use is tied to TAMU and is not deleted when owner(s) leave the university.
- New SharePoint sites will be given a 10 GB quota.
- Existing SharePoint Sites will be given a quota based on their current size with a significant buffer to accommodate additional growth.
University units may expand the quota of an existing SharePoint site by purchasing a higher storage quota.
- The quota can be expanded in 1 TB tiers. Cost is approximately $360 per TB/year.
- Units can renew, update or cancel their purchase each year.
To request additional storage, email helpdesk@tamu.edu with the amount of additional TB needed, the name of the SharePoint site, a link to the site, and the NetID of a manager of the site.
When will the Changes Happen?
Campus members will receive an email with their OneDrive quota before it takes effect.
Campus OneDrive and SharePoint quotas take effect May 18, 2025.
How Can I Prepare?
While the changes will only impact a small number of campus members, it is everyone's responsibility to actively reduce digital clutter and practice responsible data storage for future storage sustainability.
- Check your OneDrive storage usage
- Manage your Teams Storage
- Understanding OneDrive vs SharePoint/Teams Sites