Alumni Email Service Transition

SVSU email accounts for graduates from the classes of 2016 and earlier will be discontinued July 1, 2027.

As part of a university-wide update to databases and account-management systems, SVSU will no longer be able to support these alumni email accounts. We recognize that many alumni rely on this complimentary service and want to help you prepare for the change.

Requested transition deadline

April 1, 2027

Please complete the steps below by this date.

Email service shutdown

July 1, 2027

Affected accounts will no longer send or receive email.

Don't lose access to other accounts. If your SVSU email is associated with banking, Amazon, Netflix, subscriptions or password recovery, update those services to a personal email address while you can still receive verification messages.

Why is SVSU making this change?

Your connection to SVSU matters to us. The university is making major security upgrades across all campus databases and account-management systems. As part of these changes, the updated systems will no longer support alumni email accounts for graduates from the classes of 2016 and earlier. This change is permanent, and no technical solution exists to continue supporting these accounts.

We understand losing your SVSU email account creates an inconvenience, and we’re sorry for the disruption. We’re providing advance notice to give you time to transition to another email address. You remain a valued member of our Cardinal alumni community, with continued access to alumni programs, events, and benefits.

Four steps to prepare

Please complete these steps by April 1, 2027, ahead of the July 1 service shutdown. See the detailed instructions further down this page.

1. Choose a personal email

Use an email address you already have, or sign up for a free account.

Explore options

2. Save important information

Back up your emails, attachments and contacts.

How to save emails

3. Update linked services

Change email addresses on shopping, banking and other personal accounts.

Review accounts

4. Stay connected with SVSU

Share your preferred personal email with Alumni Relations.

Update your information

Step 1: Choose a personal email account

You may already have an email account you can use. Check before creating a new one:

Check accounts you already have

Apple: Your Apple Account may include, or allow you to create, an iCloud Mail address.
Google: You may already use Gmail.
Microsoft: You may have an Outlook.com, Hotmail or Live.com address.
Internet provider: Some providers offer email to eligible customers. Ask whether your address remains available if you change providers.

Need a new free account?

Gmail — Google email service.
Outlook.com — Microsoft email service.
Yahoo Mail — Web and mobile email.
Proton Mail — Privacy-focused free plan.

Free plans have different storage limits and features. Consider an address you can keep long-term, independent of employment, school or your internet provider.

Step 2: Save important emails, contacts and attachments

Review your SVSU mailbox and save what you wish to keep before service ends. Available export methods depend on your Outlook version and SVSU account permissions.

Export mail using Classic Outlook for Windows

Open Classic Outlook on a Windows computer and sign in to your SVSU account.
Select File → Open & Export → Import/Export.
Choose Export to a file, then Outlook Data File (.pst).
Select your SVSU mailbox and check Include subfolders.
Save the file to your personal computer or external storage.
Check that all needed email has downloaded, then verify the exported file contains your important messages.

Read Microsoft's detailed export instructions.

A PST file is an archive; it does not automatically place the messages in your new email inbox.

Save individual messages, attachments and contacts

If you need only a few items, save individual messages using your Outlook version's options, download attachments to your own storage, and export or record important contact information. Check each saved file before your account is discontinued.

Using a Mac or Apple Mail?

Apple Mail is an email application, not an email provider. On a Mac, some users may be able to export mailboxes from Apple Mail, depending on account setup and permissions. Verify that messages are fully downloaded and that any export is complete before access ends. An iCloud Mail address is a separate personal email service.

IMPORTANT: Exporting email is not the same as transferring messages into Gmail, Outlook.com or another provider. The new provider may have separate import requirements.

Step 3: Update accounts linked to your SVSU email

If a service still uses your SVSU address to send sign-in codes or password reset links, you could get locked out even while the account remains active.

Change your email address with the following types of services while you can still receive messages at SVSU:

Accounts to check

Banking and credit cards
Amazon and other shopping sites
Netflix and other streaming services
Social media
Apple, Google and Microsoft accounts
Healthcare and insurance portals
Utilities, memberships and subscriptions
Travel and professional organizations

How to update them

Sign in to each service.
Open account settings or personal information.
Change your email to your personal address.
Update recovery and security-verification settings.
Complete any email confirmation steps.

Tip: Search your SVSU inbox for receipts, account notifications and password-reset messages to identify services you may have forgotten.

REMINDER: Also share your new address with family, friends, employers and organizations that contact you through your SVSU email.

Step 4: Update your information with SVSU

We want to stay in touch. To keep receiving alumni news, invitations and university updates please update your information using the button below.

Update Your Information

Your alumni status, programs, events and other benefits are not affected by this email service change.

Get Help with the Alumni Email Transition

Need help saving your emails, contacts or attachments? Contact the SVSU IT Help Desk for assistance.

In person: First floor of Zahnow Library
Email: support@svsu.edu
Phone: (989) 964-4225

Visit the IT Support Portal

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is affected by the change?

SVSU alumni from the classes of 2016 and earlier who still use an SVSU-provided alumni email account.

When will my email stop working?

Affected accounts will be discontinued July 1, 2027. After that date, you will no longer be able to send or receive messages through those accounts.

Why should I complete my transition by April 1?

SVSU asks affected alumni to complete their preparations by April 1, 2027, to allow time to address any problems before the July 1 shutdown. April 1 is the requested preparation deadline, not the shutdown date.

Do I need to open a new email account?

No. If you have an existing personal email account you expect to keep using, you can use it instead.

Can I keep my SVSU email address or have messages forwarded?

Affected SVSU alumni email addresses will not remain active after the shutdown. Email forwarding after the shutdown is not expected; check with SVSU IT Support for any available options before making plans around forwarding.

Will SVSU move my emails into a new account?

No automatic transfer is planned. You will need to save messages and other information you want to keep. Exporting to a PST file does not automatically import that data into another email service.

What if I use SVSU email for Amazon, Netflix or banking?

Before you lose access to your SVSU email, sign in to each affected account. Update your email address to a personal one you can access, review your recovery settings and complete any required verification.

If a service still uses your SVSU address to send sign-in codes or password reset links, you could get locked out even while the account remains active. For example, you could lose online access to your bank account or be unable to manage or cancel a subscription online. You may need to contact the service provider and verify your identity. If the provider can’t confirm you own the account, you may be unable to regain access.

Will I still receive other alumni benefits?

Yes. Your SVSU alumni status and access to other alumni programs, events and benefits are not affected by this change.

CONTACT US.

Alumni
Wickes Hall 160
alumni@svsu.edu
(989) 964-4196