Valparaiso University
Electronic Information Services
Standard Operating Procedure
Number 1.5.5.3

Many people object to receiving messages that are not of interest to them. On the other hand, it is difficult to determine a priori whether a given person would be interested in a particular message, and time-consuming to prepare tailored lists for every message of wide interest.

Some messages are urgent or important enough to be distributed widely, even though they may not be of direct interest to certain individuals.

Valparaiso University has established two methods of distributing campus announcements. In both cases, the messages must be approved prior to distribution (normally by the Provost's Office).

Campus Announcements Folder (Announcements of general interest)

This is a shared folder on the Simeon Interactive Mail Access Protocol (IMAP) server. Any member of the VU community who accesses mail on the Simeon server with an IMAP client (such as the Simeon client) capable of viewing shared folders will find the Campus Announcements folder in their list of folders and will have read access to its contents.

The contents of this folder are also posted to the Valparaiso University Intranet, under Campus Announcements, visible on both the home page and the NewsStand page.

This is a passive method of distribution in that one must open the Campus Announcements folder to read the messages as opposed to having the message appear in the inbox. Advantages are that people may choose whether to see the messages, and only one copy of the message is stored, thus conserving system resources.

To submit messages for posting to this folder, use the following procedure:

1. Compose the message you wish posted.
2. Send it to announcements@valpo.edu
3. The Provost's Office (and others as authorized) have access to the announcements inbox.
4. When the message is approved for posting, it will be placed in the Campus Announcements folder.
5. Simeon users will be notified when a new message is placed in the Campus Announcements folder.

This procedure was approved by the Provost's Office on February 10, 1998.

General Mailing Lists (for urgent or important messages)

There are three (moderated) general mailing lists available for distributing messages:

1. faculty-l@valpo.edu
2. staff-l@valpo.edu
3. students-l@valpo.edu

Messages sent to any of these lists will be distributed to the inboxes of all members of the list, each member receiving a separate copy.

Advantages are that messages appear in the inboxes of list members, and the recipients will receive their messages at any valid mail address without regard to client or server capabilities. To submit messages for any or all of these lists, use the following procedure:

1. Compose the message you wish posted.
2. Send it to Joanne.Albers@valpo.edu, with a note stating which list(s) should receive the message
3. When the message is approved for distribution, it will be forwarded to the list(s).
4. Attempts to send a message directly to these lists will result in the message being "bounced" to the List Moderator.

Pegasus mailing lists (those on Orion, Zeus, and Athena) are no longer available for use, as of July 1, 1998.

Please note that, while it may be possible to assemble personal mailing lists approximating the general distribution lists, the use of such lists or any other unapproved method of "mass mailing" is a violation of the University's Acceptable Use Policy.