UNC-CH Information Technology Services

New campus e-mail and Onyen assignment program planned

Fall semester will see a change for campus in how University email addresses and Onyens are provided with the creation of the new Campus E-mail and Onyen Assignment Program. Security concerns, privacy laws, HIPAA regulations, and identity authentication issues all were factors in the decision by the Chancellor’s Cabinet to adopt a campus-wide email address and Onyen assignment program.

The ITS project team leading the effort met extensively with campus technology leaders to examine both the technology requirements and the user preferences that would shape the final implementation plan. Once in place, the program will determine each person’s University Onyen upon assignment of their PID from UNC Human Resources. The assigned Onyen will in turn determine the person’s official University email address. For example, an Onyen of “hsimpson” would be used to create the email address hsimpson@email.unc.edu. This will be the default email address listed in the Campus Directory. Campus alias tools will be in place so that customers may set up alternate email addresses that feed into their account. To continue the example, the assigned email address hsimpson@email.unc.edu could include the alias name, determined by the customer, howard_simpson@unc.edu. Then, the alias could be listed in the Campus Directory in place of the hsimpson@email.unc.edu.

E-mail accounts managed by individual schools and departments outside of ITS, must complete the “Trusted Domain” process to ensure security while protecting server access across campus. Departmental administrator will be given tools to modify aliases for individuals within their department such that these may resolve to a departmental mail account. As the project progresses, updates will be provided. Questions about the Campus E-mail and Onyen Assignment Program may be addressed to Candy Davies, candy_davies@unc.edu.