Email Distribution List

The University's Email Distribution List service provides a convenient and efficient way for faculty, staff, and student organizations to communicate with specific groups of individuals via email. Instead of sending emails to each recipient individually, a single email sent to a distribution list address will be delivered to all members of that list, streamlining communication for various campus needs.

Key Features of Email Distribution Lists

• Targeted Communication: Easily send messages to predefined groups such as departments, committees, student clubs, project teams, or specific course sections without manually adding each recipient's address.
• Time-Saving: Reduces the time and effort required to manage large recipient lists, especially for recurring communications.
• Centralized Management: Distribution lists are typically managed through a central system, allowing for easy addition or removal of members, ensuring the list remains current and accurate.​​​​​​​
• Announcements and Notifications: Ideal for broadcasting announcements, policy updates, event notifications, urgent alerts, or general information to a specific audience.​​​​​​​
• Discussion Forums (Optional): Some distribution lists can be configured to allow all members to reply-all, effectively creating a discussion forum for the group.
• Security and Control: Access to send emails to a distribution list can be restricted to authorized senders or open to all university email addresses, depending on the list's purpose and security requirements.
• Integration with University Systems: Often integrates with the university's directory services, allowing for dynamic lists based on official roles or affiliations (e.g., "All Faculty," "All Students").

Types of Distribution Lists

The University typically supports various types of distribution lists to cater to different needs:

• Managed Lists: Created and maintained by IT Services or designated departmental administrators, often used for official university communications or large, stable groups.

• Self-Service Lists: Users (faculty, staff, student organization leaders) may have the ability to create and manage their own distribution lists for smaller, less formal groups, with varying levels of control and features.

How to Request or Manage an Email Distribution List

The process for requesting, creating, or managing an email distribution list will vary depending on the list type and university policies:

1. Requesting a New List: For official departmental, administrative, or large-scale lists, request a new distribution list. You will need to specify the purpose of the list, desired list name, initial members, and who should be authorized to send to the list.

2. Managing Existing Lists:

   • For Managed Lists: Changes to membership or settings are usually handled by submitting a Modify Distribution List Request.

   • For Self-Service Lists: Users may access a web-based portal to add/remove members, modify settings, or delete the list.

3. Sending to a List: Once a list is set up, simply address your email to the distribution list's email address (e.g., department_name@louisiana.edu or studentclub@louisiana.edu), and it will be delivered to all current members.

4. Report an Issue with a Distribution List