P.O. Box FAQ

1) One of my students says her SPAM filters at her email service block my email to the class list. What should I tell her?
Remind the student that she is responsible for reading her UDelNet email--even if she forwards her email to another service. She could add your email address to the safe senders list or could log into the P. O. Box service directly to view messages you've posted to the list.
2) How do I quickly find my class lists to send them a message?
In the filter box, select "class lists" and the list of available mailing lists will show only class lists. You could further narrow the search by typing the course code and number (example: CISC100) in the filter box.
3) I don't see the class list I want to use.
When you log in to P. O. Box, you usually see the lists for the "current" semester. P.O. Box switches the future semester to the current semester at the end of the third business day after final examinations are completed for the current semester. For example, if final examinations for summer session end on Friday August 13, P.O. Box will consider the fall semester as the current semester the morning of Thursday, August 19. Exception: The spring semester becomes the current semester the day after winter semester classes end.

You can change the semester either on the login page or on any page within P. O. Box. For example, if it's July 12 and you want to send a note to the students enrolled in your fall class, change the semester from the current summer semester to the upcoming fall semester.

If you select the correct semester and still don't see your class list, work with your department's scheduling contact person (listed by the Office of the Registrar at http://www.udel.edu/registrar/faculty_staff/dept_contacts.html) to verify that your course information is correct.

In general, P.O. Box class mailing lists are available for the current semester, at least two previous semesters, and one future semester. You can send messages to students in your classes for all semesters listed. However, you can only send messages to major lists for the current semester and previous semesters.

4) I don't see any students in my online MBA class list.
Online MBA courses extend across two semesters, such as Fall I and II and Spring I and II. These courses are special and should have a semester code of 7*** rather than 2***. When you log in to P. O. Box, you usually see the lists for the "current" semester. P.O. Box switches the future semester to the current semester at the end of the third business day after final examinations are completed for the current semester. As a result, you may need to select the previous semester to see the students associated with your online MBA course class list.
5) Why don't I see any major mailing lists for the next semester?
Because students' academic standing and registration status factor into list membership, major lists cannot exist in future semesters. However, "snapshots" of major mailing lists are available for the current and previous semesters.

By choosing a previous semester or the current semester, you can send a message to majors based on the selected semester. Alternatively, you can wait until the future semester becomes the current semester as described in the answer to question 3 above.

6) I support the faculty in my department and need special access to all the class lists for my department. How do I request this?
Complete the the P.O. Box special access request form. You'll need to provide the Names and UDelNet IDs of those needing the special access. For Class lists, provide the course codes and numbers where appropriate. For example, you might submit a request for access to all BIOL Class lists. For majors lists, provide all the major codes for which you need access. Requests for access take overnight to become effective.
7) In the Message/Actions area, in the "Status" column, what do the letters S and D mean?
After a message is posted, it takes about 1 minute before it is sent. When the letter "S" turns from grey to darker grey it means the message has been scanned for viruses. When the letter "D" turns from grey to darker grey it means the message has been delivered.
8) What are the -undergrads, -grads, -students, -sustaining, -nonsustaining majors lists?
These are "superset" lists and exist if there are subset lists. The "undergrads" list is a list of all the -freshmen, -sophomores, etc. for all majors and minors lists that exist for a specific code. The "grads" list is the superset list for the -MS and -PHD lists. And the -students lists are superset lists of all undergrads and grads that exist with a specific majors code.

The "sustaining" and "nonsustaining" lists differentiate between graduate students with and without "sustaining" funds. Therefore, you might see three lists for a major's graduate students. For example:

  • BIS-GRADS-2153 (all graduate students)
  • BIS-GRADS-SUSTAINING-2153 (only those graduate students with sustaining funds)
  • BIS-GRADS-NONSUSTAINING-2153 (only those graduate students without sustaining funds)
9) I teach an Independent Study course and 20 colleagues received my Class List email. Why did they all receive a copy of my message?
P.O. Box lists get their membership data from UDSIS. If 20 faculty members are listed as potential instructors for an Independent Study course, all 20 will be listed on the Class list as "owners." Faculty members are "owners" of their class lists and owners receive all email sent to their lists.
10) Will the file I include as an attachment get delivered in the email?
Attachments do not get delivered in the actual email. If you include an attachment in a message, the student will receive a link to the attachment which is stored in the P.O. Box "Messages/Actions area. The link will require the student to log into the P.O. Box system. This is a more efficient method of delivering attachments to a number of people.
11) I need to send a message that is larger than 100MB--how do I do so?
You can use UD's DropBox service to upload the file. You will receive a message with a claim ID link to the file and the passcode to enter in order to retrieve it. Log in to P.O. Box and create a new message to your class. Copy the claim ID link and passcode from the Drop Box email you received and place it in this new message that you send to the class.
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