E-mail Access
E-mail services may be accessed through a desktop e-mail client or over the web. A desktop client is a fully-featured program that gets installed on your computer and is dedicated to reading, sending and managing e-mail messages. The major desktop e-mail clients in use on our campus are Outlook (Windows), Apple Mail (Apple), and Entourage (Apple).
Messages may also be accessed over the web using any popular web browser, such as Internet Explorer (Windows), Firefox (Windows or Apple) or Safari (Apple). One simply points the web browser to a particular address and, when prompted, enters an e-mail username and password. Web mail is generally less fully featured than using a desktop e-mail client. Its compensating feature is that it may be used anywhere in the world that you have an Internet connection and without installing and configuring any software beyond a web browser.
Web Access to E-mail
The University uses a product called Zimbra to provide web access to its e-mail server. As a students, faculty and staff member, you access your Drake University e-mail account on the web by pointing a browser to http://webmail.drake.edu and, when requested, entering your username (first.last) and blueView password. This permits you to use your Drake account without the trouble of installing an e-mail client. This is most helpful while traveling. You may also use this type of access in conjunction with an e-mail client, such as Outlook.
Webmail Videos
Tutorials for using Drake web mail are available. If you only want to access your e-mail using a web browser, you can find everything you need from this link. What follows is for those who want a desktop client instead of or in addition to web mail.
Acquiring a Desktop E-mail Client
Microsoft Outlook (Windows) - is available without charge to Drake students, faculty and staff as part of the Microsoft Open License Program (MOLP). Call the HelpDesk for more information (271-3001).
Apple Mail (Apple) - is included on all Apple desktop and notebook products, without additional charge.
Microsoft Entourage (Apple) - is available without charge to Drake students, faculty and staff as part of the Microsoft Open License Program (MOLP). Call the HelpDesk for more information (271-3001).
POP or IMAP?
Two alternative services used to read and manage the messages stored on a mail server are POP and IMAP. POP is used by most students and some faculty and staff. Incoming messages are stored in an INBOX. You may download or delete messages or letting them sit. You may file the downloaded messages into folders created and accessed using the e-mail client. IMAP, used by most faculty and staff, is known as a folder-aware service. Incoming messages but may be filed in folders created on the server or on one's computer. The difference is that with IMAP folders on the server are accessible from any computer (or web mail). With POP, the folders are visible only on the computer on which they were created.
Any of the desktop clients mentioned above are capable of using IMAP or POP. Our web mail service uses IMAP access. It cannot create folders on your computer, but only on the server.
Configuring a Desktop Client
Each desktop e-mail client has its own approach to set up and use. However, there are six pieces of information which each require, not including your password. The password will be requested each time you log in. Never set the e-mail client to remember your password!
The proper settings are listed below:
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Students ° Incoming mail server: mail.drake.edu |
Faculty and Staff ° Incoming mail server: mail.drake.edu |