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Lists

About the Classlist service:

Starting a Classlist:

Maintaining a Classlist:

Terminating a Classlist:

Troubleshooting:

What is the Classlist service?
Classlist is an automated no-charge system that provides instructors with email distribution lists based upon their course enrollment. The new Classlist system is based entirely on authentication using your NetID and password. The Classlist system automatically updates the email distribution lists with Registrar data six times a day, seven days a week, throughout the semester. Thus, student changes, e.g. add/drop, are automatically reflected.
 
Instructors interact with the automated Classlist system using the "Classlist Utility" (https://classlists.wisc.edu).

What is the history of the Classlist service?
The Classlist service was initiated in the fall of 1994. During its first semester of operation there were 21 lists configured.  There were approximately 3,576 lists in operation during the Spring 04 semester, in Spring 05 there were 7,412 enabled lists, Fall 05 there were 9,066 enabled lists, and in Spring 06 there were 7,531 enabled lists.

How much does the Classlist service cost?
The Classlist service is provided by DoIT at no-charge.

Does Classlist generate a list of student email addresses that I can view?
YES. Classlist will generate an email distribution list based on enrollment of a requested course. The instructor may view the list of students using the Classlist Utility interface. Your Class Roster in My UW-Madison will also display individual student email addresses.

For example, an instructor teaching Chemistry 101 lecture one in the fall of 2006 will have a Mailing List Name of chem101-1-f06. The full Internet address of this Name would be chem101-1-f06@lists.wisc.edu

<mailto:chem101-1-f06@lists.wisc.edu>  

Any email sent to this address would automatically be distributed to the list of student addresses that correspond to the fall enrollment of Chemistry 101 lecture one. 

For which courses can Classlist generate lists?
Classlist will automatically generate lists for all courses listed in ISIS.

Is Classlist guaranteed to meet my needs?
We hope so.  With the new Classlist service instructors will now have the ability to handle their own administrative tasks using the "Classlist Utility".  Instructors will be able to add guest members, change the list security, etc. 

Are there any other options beside Classlist?
Certainly. One option would be that the instructor could gather student email addresses from their class roster in My UW-Madison and then enter them in their own email client.  For student privacy and security, it is recommended that nicknames or the bcc: function is used when emailing multiple students.

What is the Classlist Utility?
The Classlist Utility is a tool for instructors and TA's to administer their lists.  It is a web page where instructors can enable lists, add guest members, view list members and update list security.

Can TAs, PAs and RAs enable a Classlist?
In short, YES. As long as the person enabling the Classlist is listed in ISIS as the instructor for the course.

What is a list administrator?
A list administrator is anyone listed as an instructor or TA in ISIS.  All administrators have access to the Classlist Utility via their NetID and password.  If a class has multiple instructors, all instructors for that class are then considered administrators with the same rights in the Classlist Utility.

Does Classlist handle "meets with" and cross-listed courses in the same way?
YES.  Classlist can combine courses designated as "meets with"  and "cross-listed" in the Timetable.  The classlist created will be the "primary" course listed in ISIS.

What is the email address classlist@doit.wisc.edu used for?
The classlist@doit.wisc.edu address is used to contact the Classlist administrators who can assist you with questions.

How is the classlist naming convention derived?
The Classlist system automatically creates a classlist for every class .  The naming convention is based on the following:

  • The first designation corresponds to the abbreviated Timetable Department Name (chem, aae, law, latin)

  • The second designation corresponds to the course number (100, 101 etc.)

  • The third designation corresponds to the section number (such as seminar or lecture 1, or discussion 301, etc.)

  • The fourth designation corresponds to the term (such as f06, s07, su07, and w07)

  • The fifth designation corresponds to the session code if applicable (such as ACC, DHH, etc.)

 For example, the course name for Economics 101 lecture 2  Fall term would be econ101-2-f06. 

The course name for Chemistry 103 discussion 305 Fall term would be chem103-305-f06. 

Another example; for Agricultural and Applied Economics 108 lecture 1 Summer term the course name would be aae108-1-su06-ACC.

I have enabled my classlist; when will it be ready to use?
Once your Classlist has been enabled, your list is ready to use immediately.

I have multiple Classlists for my individual sections; can I combine them into one list?
YES. The Classlist Administrator can create an address that will combine all of the separate Classlists into one large email distribution list. Please include the mailing list names of the Classlists as well as the address desired for the combined list in your communication.

What is the full Internet address of my Classlist?
The full Internet address of a Classlist will be the mailing list name plus @lists.wisc.edu.

For example, the Internet address of a Classlist with a mailing list name of chem103-1-f06 would be:

chem103-1-f06@lists.wisc.edu

Any email sent to this address will be sent to all students registered plus all instructors (administrators) listed in ISIS. 

Does the instructor automatically get a copy of the email sent to a Classlist?
Yes, all instructors listed in ISIS will get copies of the emails sent to their own Classlist.  However, if an identical message is sent to more than one classlist within a 24 hour period, the instructor will only receive one copy from the first message sent.

What happens if the same message is sent to multiple classlists?

If an identical message is sent to more than one classlist within a 24 hour period, the instructor will only receive one copy from the first message sent.

How often are the Classlists updated?
Classlists are updated 7 days a week and six times during the day at 3 AM, 7AM, 11AM, 3PM, 7PM, and 11PM.

Where does the student email address information come from?
Classlist receives the student email address information directly from the Registrar data.

One of my students has an incorrect address on my Classlist!
The student email address information comes directly from the Registrar. Effective August 1, 2004 students are required to use a campus email address to receive official correspondence from the University.  Students are responsible for activating their NetID and their email account.  The campus email address will always be set to the student's NetID@wisc.edu address and it cannot be changed or deleted.

A non-enrolled student would like to be on my Classlist!
All students must be enrolled in the class in order to participate in the class.  An instructor can add guest members to their list using the Classlist Utility.

How do I add an address to a Classlist after it has been enabled?
As an instructor, which is the same as an administrator, you have the ability to add guest email addresses to your list using the "Classlist Utility". This can be found at https://classlists.wisc.edu.  You can add up to five email addresses at one time.

Under what conditions will a student email address NOT be on my Classlist?
In general, there will be two conditions that a student's email address will not be included on a Classlist: the student is not officially enrolled in the course section or the student does not have an email address on file with the Registrar because they have not activated their NetID and WiscMail account.

Who can send email to my Classlist?
Only members of the list can send email to a Classlist. In other words, the Classlists are "members only" by default.  If you would like to change this you can go to the "Classlist Utility" and click on Advanced Options where you can then update the security of the list.

Can I make my Classlist private?
Classlist are configured as "members only" by default; i.e. anybody that is on the list (students and instructors) can send email to the list. In general, if the instructor does not want students using the Classlist, they can change the list security to an "announcement" list and then only instructors can email the list.

Can I get a list of the student addresses on my Classlist?
Instructors are able to see the email addresses as well as the student names in the "Classlist Utility" or they are also available on your Class Roster through My UW-Madison.  

Should I inform my class that I will be using the Classlist service?
YES. By informing your class, students can make sure that they have activated their WiscMail account. In addition, you should make your expectations of Classlist use known to your students; i.e. whether or not they should send their own posts to the list.

Are replies to the Classlist posts sent back to the list?
The reply-to is a list setting. By default, all classlists are set to reply to the individual sender of the message. To also reply to the list one would need to reply to all.

Can I remove a student address from the list?
NO. We compare the list with ISIS data and make the appropriate adds and drops. Thus, a removed email address would just be re-added upon the next update assuming the student is still enrolled in the course.

Will my students have an email address on file with the Registrar's office?
YES.  Once a student is enrolled in a class, their WiscMail email address is updated in ISIS.  Therefore it will be included in the Classlist and viewable in the "Classlist Utility" and on the Class Roster via My UW-Madison.

Can a student just activate an email account in order to be added to my Classlist?
NO. Classlist receives student email address information directly from the Registrar.

Should I tell my students to use My UW-Madison to verify and update their email addresses information?
YES. Students can access My UW-Madison.  Effective August 1, 2004 students are required to use a campus email address to receive official correspondence from the University.  Students are responsible for activating their NetID and their email account.  The campus email address will always be set to the student's WiscMail address and it cannot be changed or deleted.

One of my students has multiple email addresses; how can he tell where Classlist email is going?
Effective August 1, 2004 students are required to use a campus email address to receive official correspondence from the University.  Students are responsible for activating their NetID and their email account.  The campus email address will always be set to the student's WiscMail address and it cannot be changed or deleted.

The student can use My UW-Madison to view the single email address that the Classlist email is going to.

Can I email my classlist directly from the Classlist Utility?
Yes, this new feature is now available from the screen which displays the enabled lists as well as the screen which displays your list members. This is a shortcut to send an email to the classlist using the instructors local email client. Therefore, this will not work from a kiosk or a public machine. This feature is only available for enabled lists.

What happens when I disable a classlist with multiple administrators?
It will disable the classlist for all of the administrators which means that if other instructors are using the classlist, it will not be useable. Make sure you are careful when disabling classlists.

When does a Classlist end for a specific term?
All Classlists for a specific term will now be available for one full term behind and one term ahead.

When will following terms of Classlists be available?
As soon as an instructor, one enrolled student, and an instructor email address for a particular course are listed in ISIS. 

When will saved Classlists be deleted?
Saved lists will exist for one year and then be deleted. List owners will be notified by email when these lists will be deleted.     

When I send an email to the classlist it fails and tells me that I am not a member of the list. What should I do?
First check to see what your email address is on the Classlist. Log into the Classlist Utility then click on term and on the first screen you will see your address. If it does not match what you are using then you can update your email client or you can add the other email address as a guest member.

How do I check what email address the classlist is using?
Log into the Classlist Utility, click on Term, then view email address near top of screen.

My students tell me they are not able to send an email to the classlist. What should I do?
All students email addresses on the Classlists are set to @wisc.edu. If they are sending to the list with an @students.wisc.edu or other ISP the Classlist System will think they are not part of the list. All classlists are set with a default of members only. Only members can send emails to the classlist. In order to correct this the student must update their email address in their email client. The Help Desk can assist them.

I prefer to use a non-UW email address for my classlists. How do I do this?
You must add your non-UW email address to your guest member list.

If I get a message that says unable to send email because list has been disabled. What should I do?
Log into the "Classlist Utility", click on "Term" then "Enable List" and click "Save Changes". Then resend the email message again.

What happens if a guest member becomes a member of the regular classlist?
We automatically remove them from the guest list so that they will not receive multiple emails.