With the Fall 2023 semester underway, we want to explain or remind you about Brightspace’s internal messaging (“email”) system since it does not function like the send email feature of Blackboard.
When you post an Announcement or send a message (email) from a Brightspace course or organization, students receive a notification sent to their external email address (i.e., j.doe@hvcc.edu) about the message/announcement.
What does this mean?
- The notification goes to the email address on file within the SUNY multi-tenant Brightspace system. Therefore, if a student’s home campus is another SUNY campus, the email notification will be sent to the home campus email address, not their HVCC email address.
- To receive notifications, students need to configure their Brightspace account to allow them to be sent to their email address.
Can students reply to the notification sent to their email?
- No. This is a “do-not reply to” type messaging system and what is sent to the email address is just a notification about a message.
Can users send an email to an external email address from Brightspace?
- No. All users will receive an error message when sending to an email address outside the Brightspace environment.
Is email still a college official communication format?
- Yes. All students taking courses at HVCC receive an HVCC email address and are expected to check their HVCC Webmail email account regularly for communications from the college. The same applies to all employees.
Can students (any user) change their home campus email address on the system?
- Yes. Users need to open a ticket with the SUNY Online Help Desk to request the email address change. Once completed, users will only get notifications at the “new” home campus email address.
Tips for successful communication with your students:
- It is best to have a communication policy that explains how you plan to communicate with your students and how you want your students to communicate with you.
- Tutorials