Message board

The Message Board provides flexible, secure messaging and discussions among members. It is available from any web-enabled computer and eliminates the need for email access.

Send a message

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Click on the write submenu.
3. Select recipients, enter message subject and the message content.
4. Press [post].

Send an anonymous message

Anonymous messages will not show a sender's name. The word (Anonymous) will show as the sender's name with an unknown () icon. This option is not available to faculty members.

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Click on the write submenu.
3. Select recipients, enter message subject and the message content.
4. Check the anonymous box.
5. Press [post].

Send a high priority message

When a recipient receives a high priority message, it'll be highlighted in red color with a high priority () icon next to the message title.

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Click on the write submenu.
3. Select recipients, enter message subject and the message content.
4. Select high from the priority drop down menu.
5. Press [post].

Set an expiration date for a message

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Click on the write submenu.
3. Select recipients, enter message subject and the message content.
4. Enter the expiration date in the box next to expires on.
5. Press [post].

Attach documents to a message

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Click on the write submenu.
3. Select recipients, enter message subject and the message content.
4. Click on the attach documents () link below the message. A list of documents from your document center will pop up.
5. Select the box next to the document you want to attach. You can select multiple documents to attach.
6. Close the pop up.
7. Press [post].

Open an unread message

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page. It shows how many unread messages are in your inbox and takes you directly to the unread messages.
2. Click on the message subject to read the message content.

Note: You can also go to the inbox submenu to view unread messages. Unread messages have the new mail () icon next to them.

Open a previously read message

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the inbox submenu to view all messages.
3. Click on the message subject to read the message content.

Find a message you sent or sent by others

All sent messages are treated as any post and can be found in your "inbox".

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the inbox submenu to view all messages.
3. Press the email style button on top of the message list to view messages individually and not by the thread.
4. Click on the Sender link in the column header to sort messages by sender.
5. Change the page if necessary to find messages sent by you or other senders.

Reply to a message

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the inbox submenu to view all messages.
3. Click on the message subject to go to the message.
4. Press the reply button below the message.
5. Enter your reply message.
6. Press [post].

Delete a message

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the inbox submenu to view all messages.
3. Click on the message subject to go to the message.
4. Press the delete button below the message.

Note: Deleted messages cannot be undeleted. Please be careful not to delete a message by mistake.

Delete multiple messages

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the inbox submenu to view all messages. Make sure you are viewing using the "email style" setting.
3. Check the box next to the messages to be deleted.
4. Press the delete selected button.

Note: Deleted messages cannot be undeleted. Please be careful not to delete a message by mistake.

Create a message folder

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the folders submenu.
3. Press the create folder button on the left.
4. Enter a folder title and description.
5. Press [save].

Note: Message folders cannot be deleted.

Save a message into a folder

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the inbox submenu to view all messages.
3. Click on the message subject to go to the message.
4. Select a folder () from the drop down list under the message content.
5. Press [move].

Change a folder name or description

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the folders submenu.
3. Click on the edit () icon next to the folder title.
4. Make changes to the folder title or description.
5. Press [save].

Save multiple messages into a folder

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the inbox submenu to view all messages. Make sure you are viewing using the "email style" setting.
3. Check box next to the messages to be saved in a folder.
4. Select a folder () from the drop down box on top (or bottom) of the list.
5. Press [go].

Change the message viewing style

Messages in the inbox can be viewed using a forum style or an email style.

forum style displays message threads and the number of messages in each thread. email style lists individual messages in the order they are received.

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the inbox submenu to view all messages.
3. Press the forum style or email style button located above the list of messages.

Retract a message

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the inbox submenu to view all messages.
3. Click on the message subject to go to the message you want to retract.
4. Press the retract button at the bottom of the message content.

Note: A retracted message will continue to appear with its content hidden from view.

Undo a retracted message

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the inbox submenu to view all messages.
3. Click on the message subject to go to the message you want to undo retract.
4. Press the unretract button at the bottom of the message content.

Share a message thread

This feature is only available to faculty members.

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the inbox submenu to view all messages.
3. Click on the message subject to go to the message.
4. Click on the share this thread button.
5. Select which recipients to share the thread with and press [save].

Block a message thread

This feature is only available to faculty members.

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the inbox submenu to view all messages.
3. Click on the message subject to go to the message.
4. Click on the block this thread button.
5. Select recipients to be blocked from viewing the message.
6. Press [save].

Unblock a message thread

This feature is only available to faculty members.

1. Click on the message icon () on top of the page.
2. Go to the inbox submenu to view all messages.
3. Click on the message subject to go to the message.
4. Click on the block/unblock this thread button.
5. Select which recipients to unblock accessing the thread by clicking a radio button next to them.
6. Press [save].

Private Messaging

• Teacher-student messaging: Teachers can engage in private messaging with individual students in various ways. These messages will remain confidential between the parties. There are three different ways to send private messages to students:
  1. Create a new message by selecting "write" and select individual student(s) from the list next to each class title. Make sure to NOT include the class in the message.
  2. From the gradebook click on the "message" (envelope) icon. The message will have a link to the gradebook item where it was sent. This option is best for discussing a grade.
  3. From the roster, click on a student ID or name and select the "message" (envelope) icon to write a message.

See Also

• Features of Message Center
• Message board How-To
• Message board FAQ
• Class messaging
• Team messaging by teams
• Coursework discussions attached to a coursework
• Confidential grade reviews between an instructor and a student
• Rubric assessment discussions