How to use automatically maintained course section groups
Technology automatically maintains a Google Group for every course section. These groups are populated with the MassArt email addresses of students in each section and membership is automatically updated as students add and drop courses. These groups can be used to email everyone in a course, students can also email these courses to contact their classmates so long as they’re a member. You can also share Google Docs with these groups, invite them to meetings with Google Meet or add these groups to classes in Google Classroom.
To use these groups you can contact them using the below format:
semester-prefix-number-section@massart.edu
The semester code is one of the following:
Spring 2024: 24SP
Summer 2024: 24SU
Fall 2024: 24FA
Spring 2024: 24SP
The prefix is your department’s two to four letter code
For example, a sample group name for a spring 2024 Studio Foundation course number 112 section 01 would be:
24SP-SFDN-112-01@massart.edu
You can also find these groups in Gmail's autocomplete for your convenience - to see these groups just start typing in the TO: field
Frequently Asked Questions about course section groups
Q: Who will receive email sent to the class group?
A: All students who are registered for the course as well as the instructor of record. With Gmail you won’t receive a copy of messages you send to the group
Q: I have some informal auditors, or other people who might be interested; can I add people to the group?
A: Adding members can only be done by Technology - if you have anyone you would like to be manually added to these groups please contact helpdesk@massart.edu
Q: Some of the students don't use their MassArt email. How are they supposed to get messages sent to the group?
A: Ability to access and read MassArt email is required of all students, faculty, and staff. However, you may forward your email to another account if you wish. Tech Central can assist with this, you can contact them at 617-879-7888 or helpdesk@massart.edu
Q: Can anyone send email to these groups?
A: At this time, yes, anyone can send email to these course section groups.
Q: My class is divided into multiple sections by the registrar, but actually they all meet at the same time (e.g., junior/senior studio). Can I email everyone at once?
A: Yes. When you address your email, include all of the appropriate groups on the TO: line. For instance:
To: 24SP-ABCD-101-01@massart.edu; 24SP-ABCD-101-02@massart.edu; 24SP-ABCD-101-03@massart.edu
Q: Are students who drop the class taken off of the group? How frequently are changes made?
A: Yes! Groups are updated automatically throughout the semester. Course additions and drops can take up to 24 hours to be reflected in the group after being updated by the Registrar
Q: I'd like to be able to email larger groups of students at one time, like all of the majors within my department or program. How do I do so?
A: We have other types of automatically maintained groups such as by major or expected year of graduation. Contact Tech Central to discuss appropriate options.
If you have any difficulties or further questions about these groups, please contact Tech Central at x7888 or helpdesk@massart.edu.