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Create an Alias

What is an alias?

An alias is an alternate identifier that commonly follows a firstname.lastname convention, such as mary.smith. If your name or university status changes, an alias will allow your email receivers to identify you accurately.

Remember: Establishing an alias does not change the way you log in. You must still use the UMassD logon to log in to all applications and systems; you cannot log in using your alias.

Email

Once your alias is created, it will become active within one hour in the Microsoft 365 platform. 

Outgoing

Messages sent through UMass Dartmouth email servers will display your alias@umassd.edu as the "from" address (it will no longer display your UMassD logon username, even though your username remains valid for your email).

Incoming

People sending you email messages may address them to either the UMassD logon username (username@umassd.edu) or to the alias (alias@umassd.edu).

How does changing my alias affect my email?

You can change your alias at any time. When the alias is changed, the following sequence occurs:

  • alias changed from old.alias@umassd.edu to new.alias@umassd.edu
  • all email sent by the user will be rewritten immediately to new.alias@umassd.edu
  • email sent to old.alias@umassd.edu will be delivered for 30 days.
  • the old.alias@umassd.edu will be unavailable to any user after 60 days

Requesting and Selecting an alias

  • For Students:
    1. Log into COIN and set your chosen first and last name.
    2. Submit an IT Help Case requesting an email alias that matches your chosen first and last name. If the matching email alias is not available, CITS Access Management will assist you with viable options, and they have the final approval over the alias selection.
  • For Faculty and Staff:

Submit an IT Help Case to request an email alias. CITS Access Management will assist you with possible options in selecting and creating an alias, and they have the final approval over your selection.

Choices must be compatible with the Responsible Use Policy, and should present a professional public image of the university. CITS reserves the right to deny a request for a variety of reasons.

NOTE: Once you have changed your alias, you cannot change it again for 30 days.

Guidelines for the alias

  • must be appropriate and professional
  • must use a period (.) to separate the firstname.lastname
  • standard firstname.lastname is preferred
  • may contain any reasonable permutation of individual names

Help