Information and Educational Technology (IET), along with various campus partners, are working together to optimize university, unit, and departmental email communications. Improvements will be made in phases to ensure access to scalable and reliable, brand-loyal email messaging options, while bringing service offerings in alignment with UC Davis communications policies. This webpage will be updated as additional phases are added to the overall email optimization initiative.
An email list or listserv is a distribution list allowing a group of subscribers to automatically receive email messages sent to the list. These lists can be used to send information and announcements and/or to facilitate shared discussions of class, departmental or other university business.
In August 2025, UC Davis updated its email list policy. The policy requires individuals who own or administer a university email list, comply with UC Davis Policy and Procedure Manual section 310-18, Email Lists and Mass Electronic Messaging.
Learn more about email list policy updates and find steps on how to stay compliant in the UC Davis Brand Communications Email Lists webpage.
UC Davis Email List Policy Key Points
The 2025 policy updates are:
- Only academic appointees* or staff may serve as administrators or owners of email lists.
- Lists must be active within the past 12 months with messages posted to the list during this period.
- All listserv content must comply with University of California and UC Davis electronic messaging policies.
- University policy limits listserv use to university-related business as described by theElectronic Communications - Allowable Use Policy and Acceptable Use Policy (Section 310-23 and Exhibit A).
- The university may close an email list if the administrator is not an academic appointee or staff member, if the list remains inactive for one year or longer, or if its use is not compliant with university policy.
For more detailed guidance, please refer to the UC Davis Communications Guide on email lists.
*Includes academic appointee members with an active appointment at UC Davis, academic appointee on leave, emeriti academic appointee.
Steps List Owners Can Take
Please note that you do not need to take any action if you no longer need a list. If the list is still needed, follow the applicable steps below.
- Review the email lists that you own. Go to https://lists.ucdavis.edu to get started. For lists that you own, you will see ADMIN next to the list name.
- Keep only the lists that you need and actively use. Delete the lists you no longer need.
- Reassign ownership of the lists for which you are not responsible. Learn how to change list owners.
- If you are a student or no longer affiliated with UC Davis, identify an active UC Davis academic appointee or staff sponsor for your list(s), then update the list owner.
- If a list has remained inactive for more than one year but is still useful, begin using it in accordance with university policy.
List owners may also wish to consider alternative platforms to better fit their needs. All university platforms remain subject to UC and UC Davis electronic messaging policies, but some tools may offer added convenience, improved file sharing and more dynamic collaboration. See the Communication and Collaboration section of the IT Service Catalog.
Get Help
For more information, see Get Help with Sympa. For specific questions about Sympa, contact your departmental IT support, if applicable, or IT Express.
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