Re: Email account used by multiple people

[Kevin Skelly <kskelly () OIT UMASS EDU>]

I don't know if this is followed across our school, but I try to get
them to use mailing lists. It depends on the specific case of what
they're trying to do. If they like to use it for transferring and
storing files, I encourage them to use our online file storage, for
example. Some groups who want this may be better served by a blog or a
wiki if it's about communication and collaboration. Your feelings about
it are on the money. The group usage of a single account often leads to
bad results. I can't think of any users who have stubbornly stuck to
using the wrong service for the job, or the wrong use of a service,
after *all* of the pros and cons have been explained. Usually it ends up
they can see the true benefits of incorporating best computing practices
into what they're trying to accomplish.

That said, we actually do have an account that we use internally in our
office that 4 people have access to. We use it for a purpose where our
messages need to come from the same address, and we need to be able to
respond in a timely manner. The one person who owns the account can't
always be here, so that seemed to be the best we could hope for in this
case. That doesn't mean I like it though.

On 3/11/10 3:04 PM, Kenneth Arnold wrote:
> What is your policy regarding the creation of an email address to be
> shared by several users such that each person has the password to the
> account?  I am not referring to an alias that can distribute email to
> multiple people but an actual account with a password.  I have been
> resistant to the creation of these accounts because I feel that there
> is no accountability for what is done with the account because many
> people share it.  I am getting requests to create these types of
> accounts and I would like to know how other schools deal with this issue.


--
Kevin Skelly
Manager, OIT Software Support
A119 Lederle GRC Lowrise
740 North Pleasant St.
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 577-0577