Durham University
Computing Society
Durham University
Computing Society
Success! Click here to request IMAP
At the beginning of Easter term 2009, ITS met with student representatives from DSU to discuss the IMAP issue. It was agreed that ITS should offer IMAP. Any undergraduate may now request IMAP by clicking here and filling in the form.
So far there have been 584 signatures
The petition is now closed, with ITS now allowing any undergraduate to request IMAP! Thanks to everyone for their comments and signatures.
A separate student group is submitting an IMAP proposal to the IT Users Group. Join their facebook group at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=68278825488. UPDATE: This IMAP proposal was accepted by ITS, visit www.dur.ac.uk/its/email/exchange/eximap/ to request IMAP.
Durham University Computing Society believes that the option to have IMAP email enabled should be available to all students of the University of Durham.
Since the ITS moved to Microsoft Exchange last year, University email has only been accessible to undergraduates and taught postgraduates via Outlook Web Access (OWA), which only works properly on Internet Explorer for Windows. There is no functional interface for users of Macs or Linux, Firefox users, people who want to view email on their phones, or anyone who wants to use anything other than Internet Explorer. The IT Service runs a standard IMAP interface, which lets users connect using any email program they choose, but this is only available to staff and research postgraduates.
We understand that, with Exchange as the mail medium of the University, the IT Service does not wish to spend time and money on supporting the IMAP service, but we believe that IMAP could validly be offered on request and with no guarantees or offers of support. Students who prefer to use their own email programs would be able to do so at their own risk. The ITS already offers other services in this form, including IMAP enabling for staff and for research postgraduates.
The ITS's "2012 Vision" includes as one of its main goals "to deliver high quality generic IT to all users". Enforcing the use of OWA directly contradicts this "generic" intention, supplying a different service to users of different software, and discriminating against students who choose or need to use different software.
The ITS has the aim to "provide the highest possible generic IT services centrally funded and consistently delivered across the whole of the University". "Generic" and "consistently delivered" are being let down by the absence of IMAP provision for those who are not using Windows, and other users who are unable to use Internet Explorer.
Email is vital to students' communications with their departments and colleges and this is recognised in the Keeping Term Regulations. The current system is inhibiting students' ability to Keep Term.
Difficulties caused by OWA without Internet Explorer:
If you agree with the Computing Society's petition to the ITS to have IMAP enabled for any student who requests it, please sign up so we can pass your views on. Your opinion counts!
Visit the random comment page for a taste of what people think. We found it quite interesting.
20 most recent 20 signatures are:
The most recent 20 signatures are:
For the full list, visit ducs.org.uk/IMAP/petition/view/
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