The U just switched to the BPOS (Microsoft) mail system. This is true for the entire higher ed system in the state. It clearly was not designed for Mac users.
When my system was installed, the technician set a generic password so I needed to change my password today. On a Mac, when you use your User Name (firstname.lastname@ad.ndus.edu) and web access to request a change in your password, BPOS automatically enters the username you used to login for username in the password change dialog box. This actually makes some sense since it would have to be your actual username or you would not have been able to login successfully in the first place. However, it turns out that they really don’t mean your username as required to login (I know this is getting confusing), they mean firstname.lastname. Since the system enters the full name and address and not the reduced name automatically and does not allow this field to be modified, it is impossible to change your password because BPOS expects something else and does not think you are authentic.
I have the best minds in the state working on this as we speak. I probably could go into the lab and use a windows machine, but what fun would that me. There is an important principle at stake here. This is about supporting diversity and creativity. The first suggestion from the expert I was asked to contact was that I use Internet Explorer (hence the title for this post).
I am not impressed with the new system so far.