Exchange FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Microsoft Exchange at Illinois State University.
What is Exchange?
Microsoft Exchange is an email and calendar system used at Illinois State University. Some people use Exchange for just the calendar (Exchange Calendar Only), while others use Exchange for both calendar and email (Full Exchange).
What is the "Exchange Calendar Only" option?
Exchange Calendar Only means you use the Exchange calendar, but not Exchange email. You use IMAP email on the central mail server at Illinois State or you forward your email to an external email provider, like Yahoo or Gmail.
To access your Exchange calendar, you will use a client like Outlook or iCal, or you can access your calendar on the Web using Outlook Web App (OWA). You can also use a mobile device like iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone 7.
To access your IMAP email, you have several options. You can use an email client like Outlook, Thunderbird, or Apple Mail, but you can also check your email on the Web through iCampus or RedbirdMail. Many mobile devices, like iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone 7, also support IMAP email.
What is the "Full Exchange" option?
Full Exchange means you use Exchange for both calendar and email. On Windows, you can use Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2010 to access your calendar and email. On Mac OS X, you can use Outlook 2011 or iCal and Mail.
Outlook Web App (OWA) offers most of the same features available in Outlook, and you could consider using it as your exclusive method for accessing calendar and email. You can also use a mobile device, like iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone 7.
How do I request an Exchange account?
Go to the Support & Requests section of the Help Desk website to request an Exchange account. If you are a faculty or staff member, you must make this request for yourself. You should consult with your department's technical support staff to determine which option, Exchange Calendar Only or Full Exchange, is best for you.
Can students sign up for Exchange?
Exchange is for faculty and staff only. Student workers are considered staff for this purpose, and some campus employers require their student workers to use Exchange. A campus employer can obtain access to Exchange for a student worker by submitting a request via the Support & Requests section of the Help Desk website .
Why do I have email in my Deleted Items folder in Outlook, Mail, or OWA?
It sounds like you are set up to use Exchange Calendar Only, and you probably check email in another client, like RedbirdMail or Thunderbird. If so, there is a "Calendar Only" server rule that helps keep your Exchange Inbox clean. The email in your Deleted Items folder is the same email you see in your regular Inbox.
Can I mark calendar events as "private" so no one else can see them?
Yes, you can mark events as private in most clients like Outlook and OWA. Some clients or devices do not allow you to make an event private. In that case, you can still create the event and then make it private at a later time when you have access to a client that does support this option.
When you share your calendar with someone, that person cannot see the details of your private calendar events. However, you can allow a delegate special permission to see your private events.
What mobile device should I use with Exchange calendar?
iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone 7 all support Exchange. For more information, refer to the Phone section of this website.
What is my Exchange quota?
Depending on your department, you may (or may not) have an Exchange quota. Your quota determines how much disk space you have on the Exchange server. For more information, see 1697: What is my quota on Exchange?.