Clarity and transparency New email addresses for RUB as of summer 2022
In the summer semester 2022, RUB will implement changes in email usage. This will make communication via email a lot clearer.
In August 2021, the Rectorate decided on a new concept that will provide a new basis for email communication at RUB. The key idea is to transparently show in which role RUB members are acting and whether they are official RUB employees or students.
Starting in the summer semester 2022, the holistic solution will be implemented step by step. Until the necessary technological infrastructure is in place, all RUB members will be able to use their email addresses as usual.
Creating more unique email addresses
The new concept not only promotes clear and transparent communication, but also has another, practical purpose: the so-called namespace for address allocation under the domain ruhr-uni-bochum.de has become cramped. Since the mid-1990s, email addresses with each user’s respective plain name have been assigned to all employees and students – approximately 200,000 addresses have been created over time.
This naturally leads to duplications: at present approximately 400 per year. Users who have a common name, such as Thomas Müller, have to add cryptic suffixes to their address in order to set it apart from others. In future, this will improve considerably, because there will be three subdomains.
New: three subdomains
- @edu.ruhr-uni-bochum.de for students
- @ruhr-uni-bochum.de for all RUB employees
- @alumni.ruhr-uni-bochum.de for alumni (everyone who studied or worked at RUB)
By allocating these distinct domains, it is immediately clear in which role someone is communicating. Moreover, the three subdomains provide more space for address allocation.
Changeover details
Starting in the summer semester 2022, the @uv.ruhr-uni-bochum.de address for administrative staff will be changed to @ruhr-uni-bochum.de. Students’ addresses will also be changed: from @ruhr-uni-bochum.de to @edu.ruhr-uni-bochum.de. New students who enrol at the time of the change will automatically receive an @edu.ruhr-uni-bochum.de address.
Moreover, former academics can still be contacted via their @ruhr-uni-bochum.de address under certain conditions. You can find out what these conditions are in the IT.SERVICES FAQ (currently only available in German). This option does not apply to other status groups. However, they remain part of the RUB community with their new @alumni.ruhr-uni-bochum.de address.
Generous transition period
Following the Rectorate’s decision, the technical implementation is now underway and solutions are being worked out to make the changeover as smooth as possible. Until the necessary technological infrastructure is in place, all RUB members will be able to use their email addresses as usual. All status groups will be kept updated on the changes. There will be generous transition and grace periods during the changeover. Additional information and technical details are available in the IT.SERVICES FAQ (currently only available in German).
Clear regulations for the first time
Since email communication was introduced at RUB over 25 years ago, the requirements for digital information exchange have evolved. The structures that grew over the decades are now no longer up to date. “With this new regulation, we now have for the first time a comprehensive concept for email use in our large and ever-growing community, for the entire campus and all alumni,” says Chancellor Christina Reinhardt. “The Rectorate is aware that the changeover won’t certainly be easy, because many are attached to their RUB address. Still, we hope that the RUB community will understand and cooperate.”
When developing the concept, the interests of all groups were taken into account and the best possible compromise has been found. Not least, the new regulation will improve security and also contribute significantly to the digitisation of RUB across the board.