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In January 2014, ISD will begin the process of switching to one common email address format for all UNC Hospitals and UNC Faculty Physicians co-workers – the new email address structure is “firstname.lastname@unchealth.unc.edu.”


Once the conversion to this new address is complete for UNC Hospitals/UNC Faculty Physicians, you will see the new firstname.lastname@unchealth.unc.edu address in the “From” address on all outgoing emails.

All co-workers will continue to receive email addressed to current email addresses (@unch.unc.edu, @unchealthcare.org, etc.). ISD has no plans to eliminate these addresses and email will forward to your new firstname.lastname@unchealth.unc.edu address. However, new colleagues joining UNC Hospitals/UNC Faculty Physicians after January 2014 will only receive an “@unchealth.unc.edu” email address.

Also note that this change does not affect UNC School of Medicine email addresses.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Will this change delete email that is in my inbox at the time of the transition?
    You will not lose any of your emails.
  • What happens if, after the transition, someone emails me to my “@unch.unc.edu” address instead of the new address?
    You will continue to receive email sent to your current address (@unch.unc.edu, @unchealthcare.org, etc.).
  • Will I lose my contacts or personal groups in Outlook?
    All contact lists, saved mail and personal groups created in Microsoft Outlook will still be available. Your contacts will keep all current addresses (@unch.unc.edu, @unchealthcare.org, etc.), but remember that these addresses will all forward to the new “@unchealth.unc.edu” addresses.
  • How will this change impact Listservs?
    While you will continue to receive emails from any subscribed listservs, you will need to unsubscribe/re-subscribe with the new “@unchealth.unc.edu” address in order to send/post messages to a listserv.
  • How will this change affect mobile devices (iPads/iPhones, Android, etc.)?
    For mobile devices using ActiveSync (iPads, iPhones, Android, Windows Mobile), setup will need to be modified for the new “@unchealth.unc.edu” email address (to avoid receiving duplicate emails when using “Reply to All”).

    SmartPhones (iPhone, Android, and Windows) will require a simple configuration change to point to the new mail server but will otherwise work as they do now.

    ISD will provide documentation in January to help everyone complete these two processes.

  • What if I have the same name as one of my colleagues?
    For co-workers with the same name, ISD will automatically add a number at the end of each duplicate address (e.g., john.smith1@unchealth.unc.edu).
  • What if I do not use my full given first name?
    All co-workers will automatically receive a firstname.lastname@unchealth.unc.edu address during the transition. If you wish to request a different first name for your email (e.g. john.smith@unchealth.unc.edu instead of jonathan.smith@unchealth.unc.edu), and submit your request.
  • What about email signatures?
    ISD and Public Affairs & Marketing are establishing a recommended signature that includes guidelines and the steps for setting up your signature block in Microsoft Outlook.
  • Will I need to add an email disclaimer at the bottom of the new address?
    No. A new, short disclaimer will be automatically added to the end of each original email message. See the text below. There is no need to include this text as part of your email signature block. You also should remove any security disclaimers you have personally included in your signature block.

    • “The information contained in (or attached to) this electronic message may be legally privileged and/or confidential information. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the message.”
  • Will other UNC Health Care hospitals change their email addresses as well?
    ISD plans to bring all affiliate hospitals under the new email brand, but that will not happen until later in 2014 and beyond.