Email: Alumni Email Opt-in

Overview

You can now sign up for an alumni email account!

As a reminder, the new service is a Microsoft email-only account.  If you choose to sign up for the alumni service, you will receive a new Microsoft account, and your new email address and sign-in username will be NetID@alum.utk.edu. You will continue to receive emails sent to your vols.utk.edu address until October 31, 2023. You will retain access to your UT Google account until that date to give you time to transition to the new email address. 

Access to Additional Services and Apps Ends in October  

Beginning October 31, 2023, you will be unable to access UT Google services. If you use Google services like Drive, YouTube, or Meet, OIT recommends transitioning to a personal Google account. Visit the OIT Alumni webpage for how-to guides for transferring your email, files, and contacts. Your alumni email account will continue to receive emails sent to your vols.utk.edu address until October 31, 2023, to give you time to transition to the new email address.  

Here’s How to Prepare for the Changes  

• Decide if you want to have a UT alumni email account.   
• If you do not sign up for the new alumni service, you will have access to your current email account until October 31, 2023.   
• Either way, visit alumni.utk.edu/update to update your email preferences so you can stay updated on university news, alumni events and programs, and more.  

Alumni with Outlook Accounts

If you choose to sign up for the alumni service:

• Your new email address and sign-in username will change to NetID@alum.utk.edu.
• Your email will continue to be delivered to your Microsoft 365 account.

Alumni with Gmail Accounts

If you choose to sign up for the alumni service:

• Your new email provider will be Microsoft 365.
• You can still sign into your alumni Google account using your NetID@vols.utk.edu username until October 31, 2023.
• Mail, contacts, and calendar events are not automatically migrated to Microsoft. 
• You can choose to use this as a fresh account or move your Gmail data to your Microsoft account. However, moving data between Gmail and Outlook is not supported by the OIT HelpDesk or the Alumni-Retiree Hotline. We have a KB available online with instructions on moving data via the Thunderbird email client. Email: Set up UTK Microsoft 365 or Gmail Account in Thunderbird. The process for migrating mail is not clean; therefore, proceed at your own risk.

Alumni Opt-in Process

All alumni who wish to keep their email accounts must opt into the service. 

1. Go to https://ds.tennessee.edu/passwords/alumni-annual.asp and log in with your NetID and password.
2. Once logged in, you will see the opt-in agreement page, as shown below. Check each box to acknowledge that you understand all the details about signing up for an account, then click Yes. 
   
3. On the next screen, you will see, "Congratulations! You have signed up for an alumni email account. Before you go, there are a few things we want to remind you about.
   1. The conversion process will take about an hour.
   2. Watch for an email in your Microsoft inbox with some reminders and next steps.
   3. Use netid@alum.utk.edu to sign into your Microsoft Outlook account.
   4. If you need to sign into your UT Google account, use your vols.utk.edu email address"