SVC Bulk Email Lists

Overview

Skagit Valley College employees often need to send email to large groups of people.  The IT Department offers a few standard email groups for this.  If a standard IT email list does not match your need, you can create your own email list using O365.  See (article still needs to be written).

Tips and Tricks for sending email to large groups

• Put the list name into the Blind Carbon Copy (BCC) field when possible.  (Use your own email address in the To field.)
  • This prevents "Reply All" storms that are often disruptive. 
  • You would forgo this tip should you desire to generate a discussion. However, mass email discussions of this sort are often inappropriate use of state resources. As such, they should be avoided by BCCing the list. 
• Use pictures only as supplemental material.
  • Some email clients strip out pictures when viewing the email.  Outlook will strip out pictures when replying to or saving an email as a calendar appointment.
  • Including your critical information as text inside the email ensures that your information is received regardless of the pictures being viewable.
• Send fewer, shorter email. 
  • Keeping your email short will encourage others to read it in a timely manner. 
  • IT managed email lists are mandatory; people cannot opt-out. As such, please be respectful and send fewer e-mails if possible. 
• Receiving email from lists is easier if you:
  • Create outlook rules to  manage your inbox. See the Article Creating Outlook Email Rules.
  • Reply only to the sender.  The "Reply-All" option should be avoided.

Sending bulk email to College employees

For official College (State of Washington) business use:

• MV All Personnel <MVAllPersonnel@skagit.edu>
• WIC All Personnel <WICAllPersonnel@skagit.edu>
• DISTRICT All Employees <DISTRICTAllEmployees@skagit.edu>
• DISTRICT All Staff <DISTRICTStaff2@skagit.edu>
• DISTRICT All Faculty <DISTRICTAllFaculty@skagit.edu>

Sending to these email lists indicates important information for your job/work at the college.  This includes, but is not limited to:

• Administrative Services/Department updates.
• Official college event invitations that may require employee attendance.
• Notice of service outages, updates, or changes.
• For example: In Service, Spring Celebration, HR trainings, IT notices, campus mail alerts, and maintenance notices.

For general interest and announcements, use:

• MV General Delivery <MVGeneral.Delivery@skagit.edu>
• WIC General Delivery <WICGeneral.Delivery@skagit.edu>
• (Send to both addresses to send to the district)

Sending to these email lists indicates fun, interesting, or helpful information.  This includes, but is not limited to:

• Event invitations not requiring attendance.
• Community building.
• Supplies Sharing
  • For example: dessert parties, potlucks, student performances, sports, activities, poems, letters, and office surplus. 

Sending Mass Email to Students

Sending email to the entire student body is allowed only by approved senders.  Contact Student Services for help.

To send email to your entire class, use your Outlook Address Book.

1. Search for your class using the program abbreviation.
   1. Example: Search for biol to jump to the list of Biology classes.
2. Double click the list you wish to send to. 

Further Information

If you need assistance with this topic, please call the I.T. Helpdesk at 360-416-7766. 

For general comments on this knowledge-base write to Andy Heiser at andy.heiser@skagit.edu