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Email Aliases FAQ

  • What is an email alias and why would I want to use it?

    An email alias is an alternate email address that forwards mail to your BOL email account without you having to provide your UCLA Login ID. Your UCLA Login ID can be "hidden" by an email alias. Suppose your name is Janet Josephine Bruin and your UCLA Login ID is jjb. You could set up an email alias that allows you to use janet.j.bruin@ucla.edu as your email address. The email alias could then be used in professional communications as it is a better identifier than jjb@ucla.edu.

  • Who is eligible to create an email alias?

    All regular BOL email account holders may create an alias. Users with special temporary accounts (postdocs, visiting scholars, concurrently enrolled extension students, etc.) are not eligible to set up an email alias.

  • What are the restrictions on the choice of my email alias?

    Your email alias must start with a letter and end with a letter or number. It must contain between 3 and 40 characters and must contain a period (.). Email aliases are not case sensitive. It is preferable that your email alias be used as your primary email address so that your UCLA Login ID is not widely known.

  • Do I need to have at least one period (.) in my email alias?

    Yes, this is how an email alias is differentiated from a UCLA Login ID.

  • How do I create an email alias?

    The only way to create an email alias is via the application on the BOL website. Please visit https://www.bol.ucla.edu/cgi-ssl/accounts/createalias to create an email alias. If you have questions about the process, you can contact the BOL Help Desk via phone or email.

  • Can I use my email alias to login to sites that require a UCLA Logon ID?

    No. The email alias is strictly for email purposes. You must use your UCLA Logon ID for anything that requires authentication, such as webmail, dialup, proxy server, etc.

  • How do I find out if the name I want is available?

    When you setup an email alias, if the name you want is taken, you'll be notified when you try and choose it. There is no means of "checking" to see if something is available before attempting to change it, so choose carefully.

  • How do I associate the email alias with my @ucla.edu email address?

    You can select an email alias using the email alias application and when submitted, it will automatically be associated with your UCLA Logon ID.

  • How do I make my email alias the address that appears to recipients when I use webmail?

    Please see the following BOL webmail guide for instructions: http://www.bol.ucla.edu/help/howto/webmail/mail.html#a5.

  • Can I change the alias association 2 years down the road?

    No. Your UCLA Logon ID and email alias is permanent and cannot be changed.

  • I can't decide on a new alias. Can I change my alias once it's been created?

    No. Your UCLA Logon ID and email alias is permanent and cannot be changed.

  • Do I have to set up an email alias now?

    No. You can set up an email alias immediately after the application becomes available or anytime in the future. It doesn't matter when you do so. In fact, you don't need to set up and email alias at all if you prefer not to. The email alias is just another feature available to you, much like the Challenge/Response or email forwarding filters.

If you have any questions please contact the BOL Help Desk at (310)267-4357, option 1, or at consult@ucla.edu.