Electronic Mail Address
Frequently Asked Questions

Why should we use the standard email address format? [firstname.lastname@uvm.edu]

There are several advantages:

Among other things, we expect this standard to reduce confusion among similar network IDs (netids). For example:, consider the following alternative addresses for the same people:

Old Form	Recommended Form
jwilliam@zoo.uvm.edu	James.Williams@uvm.edu
jawillia@zoo.uvm.edu	Jennifer.Williamson@uvm.edu
jwillia2@uvm.edu	Jill.Williams@uvm.edu

The new standard clearly identifies your name, is easier to remember, and is generally regarded as more professional in appearance. This change also avoids association with the "zoo" name that has negative connotations for many.

Another advantage of the standard address is that you will not have to change your email address in the future. You will be able to use this address, even if you change your email server, as long as you are affiliated with UVM.

Is everyone's address derived exactly from their first and last names? [firstname.lastname@uvm.edu]

That's true for most people. But some UVMers have the same first and lst names. In this case, middle initials are added to the address. In the few cases where that also results in a duplicate, a number is appended to the name. It's best to check the online directory -- the "UVM People" page -- found on the UVM home page.

Note that your name (firstname.lastname) as it appears before @uvm.edu is sometimes described as an "email alias" since it is an alias for the email host address where you have chosen to receive your email.

What if I don't like the standard email address that is created for me?

Your standard email address (firstname.lastname@uvm.edu) is derived from the legal name you specified for the student of employee databases. We do not recommend changing your legal name, but we can change your standard email address, also known as your email alias, to include a name you are more commonly known by. For example, some people have nicknames (e.g.: Ed for Edmund; Chuck for Charles, Beth for Elizabeth) or may use their middle name. To request such changes, send email to Account.Services@uvm.edu explaining the change you would like. It is best to make such changes before your correspondents have become accustomed to the email address the system has created for you.

I want to convert from jawilli2@zoo.uvm.edu to Jessica.Williams@uvm.edu. What steps should I take?

1. Configure your email program (e.g., Eudora, Outlook Express, Netscape) to reflect your new address. Email programs vary, but usually it means updating your email address which may be variously described as your:

   email address
   return address
   reply or reply-to address
   from address

For more information on selecting and configuring your email program, see

http://www.uvm.edu/cit/email/

What if I don't change my email settings?

Your email address will be "fixed" automatically as you send it. For example, if you've set up your address, using your Network ID, as jwillia2@zoo.uvm.edu, it will go out as jwillia2@uvm.edu (without the "zoo") , and replies to that address will be correctly delivered to you. This Network ID form of your email address, rather than firstname.lastname@uvm.edu, is not preferred, but it will meet University leadership's requirement to avoid the use of "zoo" in email addresses. The date for implementation of this automatic processing will be announced.

How do I change my address in pine? ... in Webmail?

There's nothing you need to do -- Computing and Information Technology will update pine and Webmail (webmail.uvm.edu) to send out your email using the Network ID form of your email address, for example, jwillia2@uvm.edu.

Should I notify all my correspondents of my address change?

It should not be necessary. For incoming email, the old "zoo" address will work indefinitely.

What about business cards, Web pages and other publications?

University leadership requires that our email addresses on business cards, Web pages and other UVM publications reflect the standard format by June 30, 2003.

Does this also apply to department, club, and organization email addresses?

Yes. If you have a Zoo email address for your department, club, or organization, you should convert to the "@uvm.edu" form of address, such as "lgbtqa@uvm.edu" or "Natural.Resources@uvm.edu". You can find the address in the online directory, or by contacting Account.Services@uvm.edu.

What about my listserv subscriptions?  

• For open subscription lists or lists to which you never post, no change is required --you will continue to receive list postings.
• For open posting lists you will still be able to post. However, for lists that restrict postings to members, you will have to change your subscription in order to post.
• If you wish to unsubscribe from any list, you will not be able to use the email unsubscribe (or similar) command after you have changed your address as the list server will not recognize your new address. You have several choices:
  1. Change your subscription before July 1, 2003 when zoo will be automatically removed from outgoing email addresses.

     You can use the Web interface for maintaining your subscription. UVM's Web interface can be found by going to the list archives <http://list.uvm.edu/archives/> and clicking on the name of your list. If the list is not archived, this is not an option.

  2. You can temporarily change your email return address back to the original subscription address (e.g., jawilli2@zoo.uvm.edu) and use the email unsubscribe command. Note that this will no longer work after July 1, 2003 when the zoo name will no longer be supported. After that date, if you need to use the email unsubscribe command to unsubscribe an old zoo address, you will have to temporarily set your return address to netid@oldzoo.uvm.edu. See http://list.uvm.edu/ for information on subscribing, unsubscribing and maintaining your list subscription.
  3. You can contact the list owner and ask for help in getting off the list. If you don't know the owner of the list (it should have been identified in the original list "welcome" message), you can sometimes find out by sending an email message to
     listname-request@list.uvm.edu.
     For example, email sent to folkmusic-request@list.uvm.edu would go to the owner(s) of the UVM folkmusic list.
  4. If you are unable to contact a UVM listowner, send email to account.services@uvm.edu.