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A mailing list allows individuals to send email to a group of subscribers with similar interests.
The contents of mailing lists can be public or private. Likewise, subscriptions to mailing lists can be open to the world or limited to a select number of subscribers. These options are controlled by the List Administrator(s).
It is convenient to use a mailing list when sending the same e-mail to many different people. There are several reasons why using the Brandeis mailing list server is better than creating a local mailing list within the e-mail program on your computer.
The list administrator adds and deletes members of a list. He or she decides who is allowed to post messages and whether these messages are moderated before they are posted.
When a new list is created, the person who requests the list is automatically set as the list administrator. A privileged list administrator can add or remove additional list administrators.
Only list administrators can send e-mails to a group of people who are subscribed to the list.
Both list administrators and subscribers can both send emails to the list.
Both list administrators and subscribers can send emails to the list. All messages go first to a moderator for approval before they are sent. The list administrator designates moderators for a list.
Instructors can create a class mailing list in order to send emails to all students enrolled in their course and/or continue discussions outside of class. Class lists can be created using any of the configurations described above: announcement, discussion, or moderated discussion. See also: Class Mailing Lists
All messages sent to members of a mailing list (via email or posting through the online interface at http://lists.brandeis.edu) are also saved to a list archive. The archive allows members of a mailing list to revisit postings and discussions. All list messages are saved into the archive as soon as they are posted.
Public Archives are posted as public Web pages on our mailing list website at http://lists.brandeis.edu. If a group chooses to have a public mailing list, all of its postings will be accessible to the entire world through this site.
Private Archives can only be accessed by subscribers of the list, who must first login to our mailing list website at http://lists.brandeis.edu. A group must choose to have a private mailing list in order to limit its postings to members of the list.
A list's archives are accessible while the list remains active. When a list is closed (deleted) the archives for the list are also purged. The list administrator may request that a copy of the archives be copied to a CD when he or she requests that a list be closed.
When using mailing lists and Brandeis email, you must follow all applicable University policies and guidelines, including the following:
University policies on computing practices
Computing Policies
Information on copyright compliance
Copyright Resources
Brandeis mailing lists may not be used for sending emails to large numbers of recipients without their permission. Similarly, Brandeis mailing lists may not be used for profit or otherwise for conducting business unrelated to the University.
When sending email to a mailing list, be mindful that you are sending your message to a large group of subscribers. It is never a good idea to email personal information such as contact info or anything else that you wouldn't want to share.
The mailing list classifications are:
Administrative Lists
Alumni Lists
Clubs and Student Interest Group Lists
Academic Lists ( other than class lists )
Library & Technology Service Lists
Class Lists
The creation of mailing lists for administrative purposes (sending to all faculty, all students, department chairs, etc.) is limited to predetermined administrative staff.
If you need to create a large administrative mailing list, or would like to send an email to the entire Brandeis community, please contact the Tech Desk at itservice@brandeis.edu. We will direct you to the proper channels.
