Who is eligible to access BSU e-mail services?

BSU e-mail services are currently available to all students, faculty, staff, and departments across campus. 


Where does a person go to establish their BSU e-mail account?

To set up an account, stop by RB 165 with a picture id.


What are "Exchange", "Outlook", "Outlook Express", "Outlook Web Access", and "Entourage X"?

Microsoft Exchange is the e-mail server software and it is what actually hosts your mailbox, public folders, contacts, and calendar. Exchange mailboxes can be accessed by a variety of software clients.

Outlook is Microsoft's main Exchange client and the software runs on your desktop. It provides the most complete Exchange experience and environent because it can talk directly to the Exchange servers and was designed to take advantage of all of the available features.

Outlook Express is a free client that comes with most Windows platforms. The name can be confusing because it is a very different creature than the full Outlook client. It is primarily designed to access a wide range of mail servers using the IMAP and POP protocols. This typically involves removing the messages from the server and downloading them to your desktop machine. However, once you do that, your messages are only available from your desktop. Outlook Express, along with most other IMAP and POP clients, should be used with care.

Outlook Web Access (OWA) is another Microsoft client and provides a similar experience to the full Outlook client. However, instead of running on your desktop, OWA is accessed through a web browser like any other web page. This client is free and can be accessed from outside of the campus firewall, but does not support the complete set of features offered by the full Outlook client. This is the UCS-supported client for students at BSU.

Entourage X is a client that runs on Mac OS platform. It works similar to the Outlook client in that it talks directly to the Exchange servers.

What is my Ball State e-mail address?    

Your e-mail address is your BSU Computer Username at bsu.edu. For example, if your username is JMSMITH, your e-mail address is jmsmith@bsu.edu.  Please keep in mind that usernames are not case sensitive, so sending mail to jmsmith@bsu.edu or JMSMITH@BSU.EDU would work equally well.

I do not remember my password!

Bring a picutre ID to RB 165.  The person there can reset your password for you while you wait.  It only takes a couple of minutes.

How do I change my Outlook password?

Outlook passwords can be changed by going to http://www.bsu.edu/password.


Can a student use the full Outlook client software instead of the web client (OWA)?

While there are no physical barriers to students using the full Outlook client, UCS will provide no technical support.

How much e-mail can my Exchange mailbox hold before it is full?

By default students receive 11 MB of storage for their Exchange mailbox. This limit is called your "quota". Faculty and Staff have higher limits.


My mailbox usage is less than my quota... Why am I receiving a warning message?

You will begin receiving warnings about low-space when you exceed a certain threshold. A second threshold will prevent you from sending any further messages. Once you've reached your absolute quota limit you will also be unable to receive any new messages. Click on the "Usage/Quota Summary" link to view your warning thresholds and your current usage broken down by folder.

How do I request a larger quota for my Exchange mailbox?

Faculty and Staff can contact the Helpdesk via e-mail at helpdesk@bsu.edu.  Students can request an increase to the size of their e-mail account by sending an e-mail to morespace@bsu.edu stating you'd like to have a larger e-mail quota. Requests are normally processed by the next business day.


Will the Exchange server automatically empty my Deleted Items folder?

No, if you do not empty your Deleted Items folder, the system will NOT do it for you. Users are encouraged to empty their deleted items regularly.

How do I opt in/out of the ALLBSU list?

Faculty and Staff can contact the Helpdesk at helpdesk@bsu.edu. ALLBSU allows sending and receiving of messages to all BSU Faculty and Staff regarding university business. 

I'm trying to send an attachment, but the message keeps bouncing... why?

Messages flowing through BSU's Exchange servers are limited to 5 MB each. Make sure your attachments are below this limit.

Can my Student Organization get an Exchange mailbox?

Yes. Contact Stacey Myers at Student Leadership and Services in the Student Center.

How do I change my display name in Outlook?

Your name is Outlook is taken directly from your Human Resources record. If you wish to be known by a different first name, call Human Resources and ask them to set your "preferred name" to the name of your choice. For example, if your name is Robert Smith and wish to be known as "Bobby Smith", have your preferred name set to "Bobby". This change will then trickle down to Outlook within a few days.

My question wasn't answered here... who do I contact?

The Helpdesk can answer or direct your questions. Visit RB 165 or call 5-1517 or write to helpdesk@bsu.edu.