Frequently Asked Questions
About UMail
(Student Email)

 

Attention AOL Users:  UMail cannot be accessed using your AOL browser.  You must minimize the internal AOL browser and use either Internet Explorer or Netscape to access UMail.

If you have any questions about UMail that are not answered on this page, please contact the Computer Services Help Desk at (205) 665-6520 between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday - Friday or via email at helpdesk@montevallo.edu.

Current FAQ's:
How do I save email messages I received in UMail?
How long can I save messages in my UMail account?
Why is a weekly purge of the UMail system needed?
What is my UMail email address?
What is the University of Montevallo Student News link?
How do I change my password?
Is there a size limitation on my mailbox size?
How do I create an email message?
Is there an address book in UMail?
Can I change my email address?
How long do I have my email address?
How do attachments work in UMail?
Can I create folders to save and organize my email messages?
What happened to my deleted messages?  Why aren't they in a Trash (deleted items) folder?
Is there a built-in timeout feature to UMail?

 

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UPDATE: As of May 2006, student email mailbox sizes were increased from 5 MB to 10 MB. Click here for more information about this change.

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Q: How do I save email messages I received in UMail?
A:  The following steps are applicable to both PC and Mac users:

1.  Double-click the email in your inbox that you wish to save.

2.  Click File, then Save as.
a.   If you are using a PC, look for the box that reads Save as Type and choose Web Page, complete (*.htm, *.html).
b.  If you are using a Mac, look for the box that reads Format and choose HTML Source.

3.  Choose a location on your hard drive or floppy to save the email.  DO NOT save emails to the hard drive of a lab computer – they will be deleted.

4.  Click Save.

5.  Repeat as needed for all emails you wish to save.
 

Q:  How long can I save messages in my UMail account?
A:  Messages can be stored for up to 60 days.  After 60 days, they are subject to deletion at any time.
 

Q:  Why is a weekly purge of the UMail system needed?
A:  In April 2003, the Provost accepted a recommendation made by the Information and Instructional Technology committee to purge UMail email messages that are more than 60 days old.  This plan was necessitated when it became apparent that some students are not effectively managing the 5 mb storage space allocated to each email account.  Now that UMail has become an official means of communication with students (effective as of the Fall 2003 semester), it is imperative that all email messages be delivered.  Consequently, a purge policy was needed.  Click here for more information.
 

Q:  What is my UMail email address?
A:  There are several ways you can find out your email address.

1.  Follow this link to go to the University’s web-based student email directory to search for your name: Student Email Directory Search

2.  You can log into Web for Students.  Once you are logged into Web for Students, click on the “View Email Addresses” link.  Your University email address is the one listed as “Business Email."

3.  Bring a picture ID to the Computer Services Help Desk located in Room 109, Morgan Hall for assistance.
 

Q:  What is the University of Montevallo Student News link?
A:  Instead of sending individual email messages to student email users about University activities and events, all such news items are now consolidated at one easy-to-find location.  It is therefore important to log in to UMail on a regular basis.  Go to UMail now.
 

Q:  How do I change my password?
A:  After logging in to your UMail account, do the following:

1.  Click the down-arrow next to Options and Styles in the upper right corner.

2.  Click Password in the list.

3.  In the Change Password window, enter your old password in the Old Password: field and then enter your new password twice (once in the New Password: field and once in the Confirm Password: field). Be sure to enter it exactly the same each time.  Note that your password may be from 3 to 30 characters long and it cannot contain spaces.

4.  Click Save.

5.  If your password change was successful, you will see "Change password succeeded for user "jqpublic" (jqpublic is your username).

6. Close the window to return to the UMail main screen.
 

Q:  Is there a size limitation on my mailbox size?
A:  All mailboxes are limited to 10 MB.  Once you have reached your 10 MB limit, your account will no longer accept additional email.  The sender will receive an "Undeliverable" message should you email account reach the 10 MB limit. Note: The main UMail window includes a bar graph located in the upper left corner under your folders that indicates the size (in kilobytes) of your email account to help you manage the size of your account.
 

Q:  How do I create an email message?
A:  To create a new email message click the “New” icon.
 

Q:  Is there an address book in UMail?
A:  Yes.  To access the address book, click on the "Contacts" icon. 
In the UMail Contacts window, you can access email addresses you have saved under Personal Addresses or search for email addresses of students, faculty and staff by clicking Search Addresses.
 

Q:  Can I change my email address?
A:  No.  All email addresses are created for students automatically upon their enrollment by the University’s student information software.  The system creates your eight-digit email address based on your first and last name (Example:  jpublic@umail.montevallo.edu).  If your default email address is already taken, the system will add a number to the end of your email address name (Example:  jpublic7@umail.montevallo.edu).  Accounts are then automatically created nightly when students register in a class.
 

Q:  How long do I have my email address?
A:  Email accounts are automatically created on a nightly basis when you enroll for a class.  Old email accounts are purged, deleted, from the system on an annual basis in the Fall.  Therefore, if you are not enrolled in the Fall term, your email account will be deleted at that time.
 

Q:   How do attachments work in UMail?
A:  To attach documents to your email message, do the following:

1.  Click the Browse.. button at the bottom of the email message.

2.  Select the file to be attached to the message and click Open.

3.  Click Attach to attach the file to your email message.
 

Q:  Can I create folders to save and organize my email messages?
A:  To assist in the organization of your email, you may want to create folders.  To create a folder, click the "Folders" icon  under the UMail logo in the upper left corner and follow the instructions in the "My Folders" pop-up window.
 

Q:  What happened to my deleted messages?  Why aren't they in a Trash (deleted items) folder?
A:  By default, UMail does not have a Trash (or deleted items) folder, so when you delete messages, they are purged rather than just removed from your Inbox.  To have UMail move email messages to a deleted items folder, do the following:

1. Click the down arrow next to Options and Settings in the upper right corner.

2.  Click Preferences.

3.  Scroll down to the Delete Options section.

4.  Click Move to Deleted folder.

5.  Check the box next to Confirm delete messages if you want UMail to confirm deletions.

6.  Click Save to save your changes and exit from the User Preferences window.

7.  A new folder called TheTrash will be added in your folder list.
 

Q:  Is there a built-in timeout feature to UMail?
A:  If you are logged into the UMail system and do not use the system for 30 minutes, the system will automatically log you out.

 

If you have any additional questions or need assistance, please contact the Computer Services Help Desk at (205) 665-6520 between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday - Friday.

 

Updated March 2008

Go to UMail now