Step-By-Step
Configuring E-Mail Options
(Text version)

1. Each Blackboard course contains a class-wide e-mail interface which by default allows students to e-mail instructors, Teaching Assistants, Groups, other individual class members or everyone having an account on the course site. The e-mail function is only an e-mail interface. E-mails sent through this interface are sent to the recipient's regular e-mail address as listed on their Blackboard user account. There is no copy of any e-mail kept internally on the Blackboard course site, and recipients must access the e-mail from their regular e-mail client as they do any other e-mail sent to them.

2. Blackboard allows instructors and TAs to modify student access and use of the Blackboard e-mail interface. To modify these settings:

• Log into the Blackboard course site as usual.
• Go to Control Panel / Manage Course Menu. This will display the "Manage Course Menu" page.
• Click on the "Modify" button to the right of the Communication item. This will display the Update Page for Communications which contains the enable/disable radio buttons for all of the functions access through the Communication button.
• Scroll down to "Send E-Mail". Note that by default, the "Enabled" radio button is selected. If you do not want your students to access any part of the Blackboard e-mail interface, select the "Disabled" radio button and click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. This will remove the Send E-Mail link from the Communication menu. Note that even if this function is disabled, instructors and TAs can continue to send e-mail via the Control Panel / Send E-Mail function.
• As an alternative you may want to disable certain parts of the e-mail interface. In this case, leave the "Send E-Mail" radio button set to "Enabled". You can then checkmark various elements of the e-mail interface to be available.
• Checkmarking the "All Users" box will allow students to send an e-mail to everyone having an account of any type on the course site.
• Checkmarking the "All Groups " box will allow students to send an e-mail to all members of any Groups you created using the Manage Groups function.
• Checkmarking the "All Teaching Assistants " box will allow students to send an e-mail to everyone having a Teaching Assistant account on the course site.
• Checkmarking the "All Instructors " box will allow students to send an e-mail to everyone having an instructor account on the course site.
• Checkmarking the "Select Users" box will allow students to send an e-mail to any selected or multiple selected persons having an account of any type on the course site.
• Checkmarking the "Select Groups " box will allow students to send an e-mail to any selected or multiple selected Group you created using the Manage Groups function.
• The Blackboard version employed by Tufts University does not use the "Observer" function so checkmarking "all Observers" or Select Observers" will have no effect.
• When you are finished configuring the e-mail function, click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the Communication area has been successfully updated.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this Step-By-Step procedure contact the Tufts Blackboard Administrator at: nhirsig@tufts.edu