5:10 p.m., May 1, 2007--A new web-based service, UD PO Box, has replaced the class and majors mailing lists. The new service allows faculty and staff to use a web form to send messages to their mailing lists. Students receive messages in their e-mail and can reply to the sender. They cannot post to the PO Box unless the list owner assigns them this privilege.

According to Kate Webster, IT-User Services, “by restricting who can send to the lists, the PO Box eliminates spam and 'Reply All' mail storms.” “Because of the large volume of spam associated with the current mailing lists, the convenience of using e-mail for them is no longer feasible,” Webster said.

Besides better security, PO Box offers the advantage of having messages available on the web site for the entire semester. Students can log into the site to read the messages or can see them by subscribing to the RSS feed for their class. Help is readily available from each site screen.

UD PO Box is available at [www.udel.edu/pobox].

Current mailing lists will be active through the end of this semester. After that, only the PO Box will be available.

When faculty members explain the new service to their students, Webster said she also encourages them to explain how to use the UD Dropbox to turn in assignments. UD Dropbox sends a notification to the student that the assignment has been successfully sent and delivered, assuring them that the professor has received their work.

Information about UD Dropbox can be found at [www.udel.edu/topics/dropbox].

Visit the IT Help Center at [www.udel.edu/help], or contact the IT Help Center at [consult@udel.edu] or (302) 831-6000 with any problems or questions.