Email Distribution Lists

  1. All Plans, Policies, and Procedures
  2. Email Distribution Lists

Best practices and common issues for creating a Listserv.

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What Is a Listserv?

Listserv is the common name for an Email Distribution List Server. Normally, a listserv is set up for a specific group of repeat recipients (e.g. All District Employees). The various lists (email groups) on the NOCCCD listserv are created from data contained in Banner. Use of each list on the District Listserv is restricted to certain users determined by each campus.

List types include:

  • State level: Determined by the state, but controlled by the District
  • District: For use by staff
  • Campus: Set up by local ACT or campus for internal communications
  • Local: These are known as groups and can be created by you with your email contacts.

Questions? Contact ishelpdesk@nocccd.edu.

Listserv Guide

Please refer to the presentation in Related Files below for a full instructional guide.

"Undeliverable" Error Message

If you receive an "Undeliverable" message after attempting to email a listserv, this means you are not an authorized user of the list. You must be an authorized sender to send a message to a list.

Bounce Back Messages

Bounce back messages also come back as undeliverable. This is typically because the recipient email address may be invalid or missing. Please follow these steps:

  1. Determine which email threw the error. Contact the appropriate campus ACT (CC, FC, or NOCE) or Information Services (NOCCCD) that the email belongs to.
    1. They will check on the email's status and/or update its information in Banner.
  2. For students and Adjunct Faculty, inform them to update their information in Banner if possible.
  • Use the listserv sparingly and only when necessary. Frequent use of listserv increases email traffic to each recipient and can lead to "email fatigue."
  • Keep messages brief and specific. Consider using the title/email subject to describe the message content.
  • Send the message to yourself and type the list address in the BCC field. This will prevent each reply to the message from being emailed to the entire list. Only the sender will receive reply messages from everyone.