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This page last updated 2001-03-07 (H. Kaslow) Frequently asked question about:
The Listserver Efforts of the Medical Faculty Assembly
Keck School of Medicine
University of Southern California

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Q.  What is a "listserver"?

A.  A listserver is an automated e-mail system. It allows rapid, low-cost communication by broadcasting email messages to subscribers. Several listservers serve the faculty of the School of Medicine of which some are sponsored by the Medical Faculty Assembly (MFA)
 
 

Q.  What kinds of listservers are there and why?

A.  There are two main types of e-mail listservers at the School: mandatory and voluntary.
     Mandatory listservers are those to which the Administration and the MFA agreed all faculty shall subscribe (i.e. receive messages from the listserver). The mandatory listservers ensure that the Administration and the MFA can email official messages to faculty. Maintaining these lists is a joint effort of the Administration and the MFA.  Faculty are subscribed to department-specific lists.
     Voluntary lists are those that allow anyone to subscribe or unsubscribe.  Voluntary listservers serve specific interests, and allow faculty to send statements to the subscribers of the list.
 
 

Q. Can I send a message out via a listserver?

A. Yes. You can send a message out via the voluntary listservers. MFA-sponsored voluntary lists are moderated. To send a message out via a moderated list, send the message to an the "owner" of the list (see below), who can post it for you. For unmoderated lists, send the message to the list (e.g. to USC-MFAEB-L@usc.edu).
 
 

Q.  Which listservers are mandatory?

A.  Each faculty member is subscribed to a mandatory listserver created for the department of their primary appointment. (Click here for a list of these listservers). These listservers allow the Administration and MFA to email messages to all faculty, on a department-specific basis.

• The identifier USC-MFA identifies messages sent out by the MFA via the departments’ mandatory listservers.

Q. If I am faculty member of the School, how can I correct problems regarding my subscription to a mandatory listserver?

A.  Email a message describing the problem to President or Secretary of the MFA.
 
 

Q. If I am not a faculty member of the School, can I receive messages sent via the mandatory listservers?

A.  Yes. To receive messages from the MFA subscribe to USC-MFA-L. To receive messages from the Administration subscribe to USC-MED-L. You can subscribe or unsubscribe yourself by sending one of the following messages to listproc@usc.edu:

• SUBSCRIBE USC-MFA-L your email address Lastname_Firstname

please include an underline character between your last and first name, e.g. Smith_John.
• SUBSCRIBE USC-MED-L your email address Lastname_Firstname

please include an underline character between your last and first name, e.g. Smith_John.
• UNSUBSCRIBE USC-MFA-L
• UNSUBSCRIBE USC-MED-L

When sending these commands, please turn off all signatures and requests for verification that your email program automatically adds to your messages. Such text will not be recognized as a command, and will likely generate annoying error messages. If help is needed, please email the President or Secretary of the MFA.

When unsubscribing, you must use the actual e-mail address you originally used to subscribe, not an address to which your e-mail is forwarded. If you do not, the software will likely not be able to unsubscribe you. If help is needed in identifying this email address, please email the President or Secretary of the MFA.

Q.  Which listservers are voluntary?

A.  The MFA sponsors voluntary listservers for special interests:

• USC-MFA-FORUM:

a set of department specific listservers via which individual faculty can post statements. (Click here for a complete list)
• USC-MFA-LACHS:

a single listserver via which individual faculty can post statements regarding USC and the delivery of Los Angeles County health services.
• USC-CLIN-TRIAL:

a single listserver posting information regarding clinical trial issues.
• USC-MFAEB:

a single listserver for the day-to-day business of the MFA, it is used by the MFA Executive Board to send messages to the elected representatives of the MFA.  Faculty may post messages by submitting them to an officer of the MFA.

Q.  How do I subscribe or unsubscribe to one of the voluntary lists?

A..  Send an appropriate message to listproc@usc.edu

• SUBSCRIBE Name-of-listyour email address Lastname_Firstname

please include an underline character between your last and first name, e.g. Smith_John.

• UNSUBSCRIBE Name-of-list

When unsubscribing, use the actual e-mail address you originally used to subscribe, not an address to which your e-mail is forwarded. If you do not, the software will likely not be able to unsubscribe you. If help is needed, please email the Secretary of the MFA.

When sending these commands, please turn off all signatures and requests for verification that your email program automatically adds to your messages. Such text will not be recognized as a command, and will likely generate annoying error messages. If help is needed, please email the President or Secretary of the MFA.

Q.  How do I post a message to a specific list?

 A.    Send the message to the President or Secretary of the MFA.
       Along with the message, please include:
             1. Your name and title.
             2. Your affiliation (School, Dept., etc.)
             3. Your email address.
             4. A title to be used in the subject line.

 For messages to USC-MFA-FORUM also include:
    5. Instructions if the message should be restricted to one or more specific departments.

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Mandatory department specific lists at the USC School of Medicine