You Need a Current E-mail Address

Why?

De Anza College uses email as the primary way of communicating with students.

NOTE: You'll need a valid, unique email address (an e-mail address shared between De Anza applicants will prevent the creation of your student MyPortal account) to receive notification of the following:

1. If you've been admitted to De Anza College
2. Your confirmation of enrollment for each quarter
3. If a seat in a waitlisted class has opened up (you are required to add the class within 24 hours)
4. Other important information

You will not receive this information by postal mail. Also, the Schedule of Classes is no longer printed and available in the Bookstore. You can find the class schedule information online on at www.deanza.edu/schedule/ and inside MyPortal if you are a De Anza student.

How do I make sure my e-mail address is current?

Log in to the registration system to update personal information. Go to the Students Tabs and follow the Update Your Personal Information link under Student Portal Services Resources. When you check your grades each quarter, remember to verify your primary email address then. If you need additional information or help regarding your email address, contact the Admissions and Records Office.

How can I get an e-mail address if I don't have a computer?

If you don't have a computer, borrow a friend's, go to your local library, or use one at any of these campus locations:

• Learning Center West 1 Computer Lab
• Distance Education, Learning Center, Room 107
• The Internet Lab, second floor of the Learning Center (Library)
• Financial Aid Office, Baldwin Winery Building, top level
  (You may be eligible for a "Recycled Computers for Students" scholarship. See the scholarships Web site for additional information.)

Does De Anza give e-mail accounts to students?

No, at this time De Anza does not issue email accounts to students.

Do I have to pay for an e-mail account?

No, you can sign up for a free Web-based email account that you can use from any computer that has an Internet connection. Gmail (Google), Care2, My Way, Gawab, Mail2World and Hotmail provide free email accounts. A list of other free Web-based email services is available at EmailAddresses.com and About.com. Be sure to fully read all conditions before agreeing to any service. De Anza College is not connected to, nor does it take responsibility for, the services listed here. This information is provided only as a convenience to De Anza students.

Can I get a free e-mail account without getting a lot of ads and spam?

Most providers of free email accounts rely on advertising. However, some are better than others. Care2 has spam filters and fewer ads than most. My Way has no ads and protects your privacy. For more information about what you can do to fight spam, see spam.abuse.net. De Anza College respects your privacy and will not sell or give out student email addresses. Please read our Privacy Statement for details.

How often will I get e-mail messages from the college?

Generally, we will send email to enrolled students about two(2) - four(4) times every quarter. Special announcements or student bulletins may increase the number of messages we send. The messages we send may contain important dates, registration information, news and events and other information that students should know. Applicants to De Anza College will receive an acknowledgment email message within about a week of applying. Applicants may receive reminders about enrolling and/or invitations to complete surveys about college services and courses. Generally, no further emails will be sent to applicants who do not enroll in classes within a two(2) quarter time period.

How do I protect my computer from viruses?

Don't open an email message that claims to have an update to any program on your computer. Reputable companies will never send an update to you through email. The only attachments our email messages may have are small images. We will never send an "application," "program," or "update" attachment of any sort. Unfortunately, computer viruses and spammers (individuals or companies sending junk email) "spoof" legitimate email addresses. Spoofing is when an email message appears to have been sent from a legitimate source. Here are some tips to help protect your computer from viruses:

• Keep regularly updated anti-virus software installed and running on your computer at all times.
• Never respond to a spam message; doing so may put you on another spam list.
• If the subject of an email message seems odd, contains strange characters, and/or is from someone you don't know, it may be a spam message.
• Consider the time the email message was sent. A majority of spam email is sent during the night. Is it reasonable for your contacts to send you a message at 3 a.m.?

Spam and Scams

"Phishing" scams are messages sent to you that look legitimate. Usually the message seems to come from a bank or a credit card company. Do not use the links in that email message. Any message from your REAL bank or credit card company will contain some type of personal identification information in the message. If it doesn't contain anything that identifies you or your account, then more than likely it is a scam to try to obtain your financial access information.

The best way to avoid the possibility of releasing your access information to criminals is to delete the message and GO to your financial institution's Web site to log in. Never respond to a phishing scam email message or use the links in the email message. Report the scam to your financial institution.