GEM Usage Policy Intended use of this system is for Jacksonville State University students, faculty, and staff. All persons who use this system are subject to the guidelines noted in JSU Acceptable Use Policy.

Frequently asked questions:

• What is GEM?
• I'm a student, how do I activate my GEM account?
• I'm a student, how do I de-activate my GEM account?
• I'm a student, what is my e-mail address and Username?
• I'm a student, what is my initial GEM password?
• How do I login to GEM?
• How do I use GEM?
• How do I change my GEM password?
• I'm a student, I've lost my GEM password - What do I do?
• How do I forward my e-mail to another address?
• How do I use Hotmail to receive forwarded GEM e-mail?
• How long will mail remain in my inbox, sent-mail folder, etc?
• I'm a student and my legal named has changed. Can I change my name in the Student e-mail listing?
• How do I change my e-mail address?
• Does JSU offer SPAM filtering?
• What if I have a GEM question that is not answered on the FAQ?

What is GEM?

Gamecock Electronic Mail ( GEM), is a web based interface to JSU student e-mail. GEM provides essential e-mail functionality, plus easy access to changing your e-mail password and the option of forwarding your JSU e-mail to your own non-JSU e-mail account. GEM is available to JSU students from any computer with Internet access and a web browser.

Activation of the account

Student accounts will be active on the second business day after registration (including: pre-registration, preview day, and orientation).

De-activation of the account

Active student accounts remain functional until the first business day after registration closes during the first Fall, or Spring semester that the student is NOT enrolled. All accounts are subject to early de-activation as per the university's Network and e-mail Use policy: http://www.jsu.edu/dit/acns/use-policy.html.

To find your e-mail account and Username

Your GEM username is the same as your MyJSU username. Your e-mail address is your username plus "@jsu.edu".

Example:
MyJSU/GEM username: jdoe
E-mail address: jdoe@jsu.edu

Your initial GEM password

Your GEM password is the four (4) digits of your birth month and day plus the last 4 digits of your student ID number (not your Social Security Number). For example, if your birthday is February 29th and the last 4 digits of your new student ID number are 4321, then your GEM password would be 02294321). It is highly recommended that you change your GEM password the FIRST time you log into GEM using the Secure Connection (SSL) link on the GEM homepage.

Logging into the GEM system
To access the GEM system, open your web browser and open the site http://gem.jsu.edu. You will be asked to type in your e-mail username and password.
When you are finished using GEM, you MUST click the LOGOUT button to end your session. By clicking the LOGOUT button you ensure that your account session closes and cannot be used by anyone else. We also recommend STRONGLY that you completely CLOSE your browser AFTER clicking LOGOUT. This is especially true if you are using a public computer (Ex: JSU Computer Labs).

Using the GEM system

After logging in you may check your inbox for new mail messages, compose messages, maintain an e-mail address book, create folders, set your from name, create an e-mail signature, change your e-mail password, and/or forward your e-mail.

Components of GEM Include:

• The Mailbox Listing
  
  The contents of your Inbox folder will be displayed immediately upon logging in. The Mailbox Listing shows the contents of each message's header (message status, date sent, sender, subject, and size). Each column has a heading. Clicking on the heading will cause the listing to be sorted by that column.
  
  To view the contents of a message, click on the message's subject. You'll be taken to the Message screen.

• The Message Screen
  
  The Message Screen displays the contents of the selected message. From here, you can browse message attachments, reply to the current message, delete the current message, or advance to the next message in your current mailbox.

• The Compose Window
  
  You can send mail in a variety ways. You might choose to compose a new message or perhaps to reply to an existing message. Whichever method you choose, however, will open the standard Compose Window.

• The Preferences Window
  
  The Preferences Window allows the user to: Create a signature to be added to each outbound message and/or change the from field on your messages to a more personalized choice (ex - from: "jsuxxxxx@student-mail.jsu.edu" to from: "Joe Smith").

Changing your password

You may change your password as often as you like. It is recommended that you use the Secure Connection while changing your password.

After logging in to GEM, click on CHANGE PASSWORD. Type your old password. Type a new password that you wish to use. Retype your new password. Click the Change Password button to make the changes.

Lost passwords?

If you have never changed your password, you should be able to log in to your account using your initial GEM password.

If you originally changed your password, you can use the Request for Assistance with GEM Password form to have your password reset.

* We do not issue passwords, password changes or give out personal information without your proper ID. This is to protect your personal information. If you do not know your student number, you must contact the Registrar's Office.

Forwarding e-mail to a different address

After logging in to the GEM system, click on "Forwards". Type in the e-mail address that will receive the forwarded messages. ALL e-mail sent to your GEM e-mail address will be redirected to this account. Type in your password and click the "Submit" button. This feature forwards ALL new mail to the address you type in. This feature does NOT forward individual messages you have already received. NOTE: If your forward is not set up properly, you will not receive your e-mail and it will fail back to the sender. An improperly configured mail forward may be removed.

Using Hotmail to receive GEM e-mail

If you choose to have your GEM e-mail forwarded to a Hotmail account, you will need to configure your Hotmail settings. NOTE: this will not work unless you have setup GEM to forward your e-mail to a different address. After logging in to Hotmail, click on OPTIONS. Under the "MAIL HANDLING" heading, click on "SAFE LIST". Type jsu.edu into the text box. Click "ADD". Click "OK". Your Hotmail account will now be able to receive your forwarded GEM e-mail.

E-mail maintenance schedule (removal of old mail)

The GEM e-mail system is configured to purge older e-mail from your account. By this process automatically removing older messages from your account and keeping your disk usage at a minimum, your "housekeeping" is much more simplified.

The automatic purge schedule is...

• Trash Folder : Mail older than 3 days is purged.
• Bulk-Mail : Mail older than 10 days is purged.
• Sent-Mail : Mail older than 30 days is purged.
• Inbox : Mail older than 30 days is purged.

Mail that is kept in user-created folders will not be automatically purged. However, users might be asked to remove or offload files to alternate storage areas if a system administrator determines they are using excessive disk space. Often excessive disk space is used by those who save e-mail messages with large attacments. Please try to offload messages with large attachments if possible. Often those who abuse disk space are not aware it. We will make every effort to keep users informed regarding their disk utilization and assist in removing/offloading files if necessary.

Legal name changes

After officially changing your name with the JSU Registrar's Office, fill out this form and click "submit". Please state that you wish to change your name on the Student e-mail listing. You need to provide your previous full name, your new full name and your GEM account information.

PLEASE NOTE: Name changes will match the official name submitted to Registrar's Office.

Changing my from address

You cannot change your JSU e-mail address - all e-mail sent through GEM will have your e-mail address associated with it.

However, you can change the from field on your messages to a more personalized choice.
Example: From: "jsuxxxxx@jsu.edu" can now read From: "Joe Smith".

1. From the menu, click "preferences".
2. Under "Edit your full name", type your name as you want it to appear on your e-mail.
3. Click "Save Preferences" to save.

Getting answers

Please fill out the Request for Assistance with GEM Password form if you are having difficulty logging in.