UNM Webmail received a makeover this summer.
Students, staff and faculty are now able to add features to their Webmail. The MyUNM Web site also got a face-lift.
Steve Spence, the CIRT technical support analyst, said the main features of the improved MyUNM site include an updated e-mail channel, a calendar and a built-in help feature.
"One of the points of the portal and MyUNM is to combine resources," Spence said.
Student Randie Jolliff, who has been specifically trained in the program, said users will eventually be able to login into one site in order to access Webmail, WebCT and MyUNM.
"It's going to be simplified into one site," Jolliff said. "It integrates everything."
The e-mail channels have different options depending if the user is a student, faculty member or student group.
Students are able to change the format of information and how it appears when they open their Webmail account.
Student Colette Smith said the updated features are a good idea but has yet to use all of them. She said she has not experienced problems using her Webmail and has played around with her settings.
"With Webmail, I went to options and formatted it how I wanted it to be," Smith said. "I made it so my new messages are on top and the subject line is bigger."
A group channel allows UNM organizations to present information about important dates and notices without exchanging multiple e-mails to all their members.
Spence said the idea is to eventually have class schedules appear in the calendar for faculty and students.
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"It's a good tool and collects good information in one place," he said.
The portal was provided by Banner, a software company that has been working on updating computer systems at UNM, Spence said.
There is no additional cost to implement the updated features, he said.
Spence said during the summer, Banner added the features in preparation to support system upgrades across campus in financial aid and student service departments.
Randall Perkins, CIRT publications technical writer, said there is no additional software needed to use the updates to Webmail. He said it has e-mail in it, so it will behave like any other web-based e-mail.
Perkins said so far there have not been any complications with the portal. However, he is aware the majority of students are returning this week, and is prepared to answer questions.
Andrew Zuni, a transfer student from TVI, used Webmail for the very first time Wednesday and said he was impressed.
"It works really well," said Zuni. "It's easy to navigate."
