For some time faculty, staff, and students have used email clients like Outlook, Eudora, Entourage, Outlook Express, or similar packages to obtain their email. However, in some situations it is not possible or ill advised to install a mail client on a desktop computer, notably, on a shared computer in student labs or in travel situations (computers in hotels, in libraries, or in the home of another). In these situations ITS recommends that campus members use a web-based mail system like Webmail, which was adopted at Grinnell about three years ago. Webmail has provided campus members with basic, secondary access to email through a web browser.

Outlook Web Access offers:

• Enhanced Email Addressing Access the global directory of all GC mail addresses and access your own, personally-entered, Outlook-based, Contacts lists. This feature allows the creation of new contact records at work or from remote, off-campus sites.
• Streamlined Access to All "Sent" Messages -regardless of whether they are sent from on-campus or off-campus.
• Preview pane Allows you to preview a message prior to opening it.
• Drag and drop functionality Allows you to manage the messages within your mailbox by dragging and dropping documents between folders.
• HTML Text Editing Allows you to change font size, style, and color within the browser when sending or replying to messages.
• Right-click menu options
• Enhanced Security OWA uses "Secure Sockets Layer" technology (SSL) to enhance security of your correspondence.
• Remote access to Out-of-Office Assistant Change your out-of-office message while on the road.
• Notification -of arrival of new mail via visual or auditory cues.
• Search and Sort -your mail based on multiple criteria.
• Calendar Access your Outlook Calendaring system.

Macintosh and Linux users can use recent versions of Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer, or any other HTML 3.2 compliant browser to access OWA and use all of the features mentioned above.

Please visit http://mail.grinnell.edu to try the OWA product.
Outlook Web Access Reference Manual (PDF)

ITS installs email clients on all college owned computers. Owners of PCs and Macs can consult http://www.grinnell.edu/its/remote or may call the Helpdesk (x4400) for information on how to configure an email client on personal computers.