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Guidelines for Announcements

Use for Email to umd.business.announce and Other Large Mailing Lists

UMD provides several large email lists for broadcasting messsages to the campus, including the most commonly used, umd.business.announce. Email lists with large subscription have the potential to inconvenience a large number of people when they are misused. Please review and use these guidelines to help reduce inconvenience and annoyance.

Use the Campus Events Calendar and Currents

Before broadcasting an the announcement of an open-to-the-public event via email, make sure it is in our Campus Events Calendar and has been sent to Currents, the faculty-staff newsletter. Contact Cheryl Reitan in University Relations for information about Currents and/or entering information into the calendar.

Minimize Repeated Messages

Avoid sending the same message out many times. Limit yourself to one early announcement and one a day or two before the event. If your event is not open to the public, make that clear in the text and send only two messages at the most.

HTML Email and Attachments

Not everyone uses the same email programs and software. Include a web link for all html email and include a text version, or web version, of the message when using attachments.

Fundraising Is Limited and Requires Approval

Fundraising by individuals and organizations is not allowed on the UMD email system through umd.business.announce or individually to all employees through UMD campus mail. Organizations or individuals wishing to solicit all employees through umd.business.announce or through campus mail must first receive permission from the Chancellor's Office. Please send email requests to chan@d.umn.edu or written requests to the Chancellor's Office, 515 Darland.

Campus fundraising to all employees is limited to the annual United Community Campaign, registered student organizations, and Development Office fundraising activities. Organizations wishing to participate in the United Community Campaign should contact Human Resources about the proper procedures to be certified by the state.

No Personal Sales or Announcements

No announcements that are of personal benefit to the sender are allowed. This includes sale of personal property, requests for assistance in personal matters, and dissemination of personal opinion.

Avoid Group Replies

Most email programs make it easy to reply to all recipients of a message. Nearly always, the reply is only of interest to the original sender. Please take special care to ensure that your response goes to the sender only when responding to a message that was sent to a large list.

Have a Descriptive Subject Line

The subject line should allow people to know exactly what the message is about. People should be able to tell whether the message content would be of interest to them without opening the message.

Check and Recheck Before Sending

Get it right the first time you send a message to a large list. It is very annoying to get one or more corrections to a broadcast message. Ask someone else to review your message before you send it out. Departments may want to designate a single individual to send email to umd.business.announce. This person should be a good communicator and be familiar with these guidelines.

Don't be a Spammer

Don't add to our existing load of spam (unwanted messages) by becoming a spammer yourself. Ask yourself who really needs to see your message. Don't make a large number of people read and process a message that only affects a small number. Use a smaller listserv or email alias to reach smaller groups.

Sign Your Message

Make sure the recipients know who you are and what your role is. Make sure to sign your message and provide contact information for those who wish to follow up.

Keep It Short

If you want to get your message across, keep it short. If you need to deliver more detailed information, consider putting it on a web page and including a link to the web page in your message.

Choose Your Distribution Lists

A number of email lists are available at UMD. Sign up for the ones that interest you. ITSS can create new lists for interested departments. Contact Gordee Bennett for more information.

Access to umd.business.announce is controlled by the Chancellor's Office and is not available to everyone. Requests should be directed to Robert Borden.

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Last modified on 11/26/07
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