Changes for New Email Lists Coming Thurs., 10/30
UC Davis has updated its policy governing mailing lists to better align with other University of California and UC Davis policies on uses of proprietary electronic communications. The updates to PPM 310-18, Email Lists and Mass Electronic Messaging cover topics including who may serve as the administrator or owner of a campus mailing list and the university’s approach to closing mailing lists that are out of compliance with policy.
An email list, mailing list or listserv, is a distribution list allowing a group of subscribers to automatically receive email messages.
Initial implementation focuses on ensuring new mailing list requests comply with this policy. Information and Educational Technology (IET) will update Sympa, the central email list service for academic or administrative units, on October 30, 2025.
Changes for New Sympa List Requests in Effect 10/30
The following changes take effect Thursday, October 30, 2025:
- Only active faculty and staff can request new email lists.
Student employees, former faculty without an active appointment, temporary affiliates, or non-affiliates must identify an active faculty or staff sponsor to submit the request. - Active students may serve as secondary administrators under the supervision of an active faculty or staff list owner. To assign a student as a secondary administrator, contact IT Express.
- The “Copy an existing list” function is no longer available.
After October 30, 2025, you may:
- Reassign ownership only to an active faculty or staff member.
- Assign active students as secondary administrators (via IT Express).
- No longer copy existing lists.
Future Policy Implementation Phases
The policy will be implemented in phases. Future phases will focus on:
- Dormant lists (lists that are inactive).
- Lists (including class email lists) whose owners are not active faculty or staff (such as teaching assistants).
- Lists that otherwise do not comply with the updated policy.
Learn More
These changes align the Sympa service with the updated Email Lists and Mass Electronic Messaging policy. For more information, see UC Davis’ Brand Communications Guide.