What's inside

Starting a listserv or mailing list

Issue

What is a listserv (mail exploder, mailing list), and how can I start one at the U of MN?

Resolution

A listserv allows you to send a message to a single e-mail address, which in turn will reroute it to a list of e-mail addresses. This is useful for people who frequently send e-mail to the same group of people, or for large mailing lists. Depending on how the list is set up, users may subscribe and unsubscribe to the list, to control whether they receive mailings to the list, or how they receive listserv mailings.

University students, staff or faculty who want to start a listserv should go to http://lists.umn.edu There, you may request a new listserv (class affiliated or non- class affiliated), change the password for the listserv account, or view and search the list archives.

If you have further questions about this, you will need to send a message to listacct@tc.umn.edu.

University mailing lists

Issue

Where can I go to get a list of some of the discussion groups on campus? How do I join a listserv?

Resolution

You can write to listserv@tc.umn.edu with the word "Lists" in the message body. It will give you a list of the available discussion groups that are available from this service.

If you write to listserv@tc.umn.edu with the words "SUBSCRIBE [listname] [Your full name]" you will be subscribed to the [listname] group.

If you want further information about what commands are available you can put the "REFCARD" in the message body, and it will give you a list of the available commands.

Professor and teaching assistants may set up a listserv by sending e-mail to listserv@tc.umn.edu with the command:

   get list-req class

An application form for creating a listserv will be mailed to you. Please note that only class instructors are allowed to create class mailing lists in this manner; students may not.