Overview
The University of Idaho has relied on the Mailman listserv software to manage large mailing lists for the past few decades. There are now a number of alternatives that are easier to use and provide increased functionality. If you are a Mailman list owner, please contact us for assistance in migrating to one of these alternative options.
Warning
The Mailman service will be discontinued in October 2024. List owners will be contacted by OIT to assist migrating to mail-enabled security groups.
Alternatives
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams provides a full featured communication service for both real-time meetings and text-based conversations. It includes a Microsoft 365 Group that can be used for bulk email communication. It can be moderated and is a direct replacement for many Mailman features.
Microsoft 365 Groups
Microsoft 365 Groups are an underlying component of the Microsoft Teams infrastructure. It is a good option for when email only options are enough and a full Microsoft Team is not required. These Groups provide an @groups.uidaho.edu email address and have a shared Exchange Online mailbox for message archiving.
Mail-Enabled Groups
Mail-Enabled Groups are a replacement for one-way mass communication. If you maintain a large distribution list and need to send out moderated email messages this is an easy alternative. It does not provide a web-accessible archive but an archive mailbox can be included if necessary.
Migration
To migrate your Mailman list:
- Contact us using the "Request Service" link and include the current Mailman list name and which service you would like to start using.
- The recipient lists and moderation settings will be migrated.
- Mailman archives will be saved but cannot be exported to the new service.
- The existing email address can be redirected to the new alternative service.
Warning: the ability to use self-service subscribe and unsubscribe will no longer be available after the migration. If you require this feature please let us know.