Last fall, the University announced the decision to discontinue email services for staff retirees and alums. Our goal has always been to improve information security and prevent fraud. As the University received feedback related to the announcement, we decided to pause and re-evaluate our options and reopen the discussion with several offices and the University administration.  

We are happy to announce an alternative email option for staff retirees and alums that will include an affiliation-branded email address allowing for their continued affiliation with the University, the ability to receive program information, and providing the necessary security and fraud prevention. 

OIT will communicate directly with retirees and alums using our email services regarding this new option and their next steps. 

EMAIL FOR STAFF RETIREES

The new solution will be a Microsoft 365 Exchange-only account which will include email, calendaring, and contacts, and will include an affiliation-branded email address. However, all other NetID-authenticated services*, such as OneDrive, Google, Zoom, T-Storage, and more, will no longer be available.   

Current staff retirees will be moved into the new retiree email option on October 31, 2023. However, there are a few steps that retirees will need to take to prepare for the transition.
Learn more on the OIT Retiree Email page.

Upon retirement, eligible staff may apply for a retiree email account through the Office of Benefits and Retirement. 

*Staff retirees with active appointments in IRIS will retain the use of their UT email and NetID for the duration of their appointment. 

EMAIL FOR EMERITUS AND RETIRED FACULTY 

Email for faculty retirees remains unchanged and eligible faculty may apply for a retiree email account through the Office of Benefits and Retirement. 

EMAIL FOR ALUMNI 

Current alumni can sign up for the new alumni email option soon. Anyone who does not sign up for the new option will lose access to their UT email on October 31, 2023.  

Alumni will have access to email, calendar, and contacts only. Any additional services and apps, such as Google Drive and Docs/Sheets/Slides, will no longer be available as part of the new alumni email option. Learn more about alumni email on the OIT website.  

WHY THE UNIVERSITY IS MAKING THESE CHANGES  

This decision was initially made to improve information security and prevent fraud. The way email is provisioned now, there is no way to tell whether faculty, staff, and student are active, alum, or retired from their email address. This led to fraud, impersonation, and stale addresses mixed in with active accounts. This new option enables the University to distinguish between accounts while enabling better management and security. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

Information about these services as well as the next steps to guide alumni and staff retirees through the transition, are available on the OIT Website: 

• Retirees: oit.utk.edu/retiree 
• Alumni: oit.utk.edu/alumni 

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is required for all alumni email accounts. If you are not using 2FA to access your UT email, learn how to sign up online.