Managing your subscription to a listserv

A listserv is an electronic distribution list that can be used send messages to a list of email addresses (subscribers) at once. As a subscriber, you can manage the way listserv emails are sent to you.


Logging in to the Northwestern Listserv Web Interface (Listserv)

  1. Log in to the Listserv Web Interface at https://listserv.it.northwestern.edu .
  2. Click the Log In button located in the top right corner.
  3. Enter the email address that you provided to subscribe or manage lists.
    • Log in using your NetID password if the email address you entered is your primary email address (i.e., the one displayed in the Northwestern University Online Directory).
    • Log in using your listserv password if the email address you entered is an alternate email address (e.g., johndoe@gmail.com or alias@u.northwestern.edu)


Identifying which listservs you are subscribed to

Northwestern Listserv Web Interface
  1. Log into the Northwestern Listserv Web Interface at https://listserv.it.northwestern.edu.
  2. In the top left click Subscriber's Corner.
  3. Under the My Lists tab, you will see all of the lists you are subscribed to.
Email Commands
  1. Send a plain-text email message to listserv@listserv.it.northwestern.edu with a blank subject line and no email signature.
  2. Type the following command in the body of the message: QUERY *
  3. Send the email. You'll receive an response with the list of listservs you're subscribed to.

Subscribing to a listserv

Northwestern Listserv Web Interface

  1. Log in to the Listserv Web Interface at https://listserv.it.northwestern.edu.
    • Note: To log in using an alternate (non-University) email address, you will need to establish a new NU LISTERV password. Each alternate email address will require a unique NU LISTSERV password. 
  2. Locate the list you would like to subscribe to using the alphabetical listings or the search bar.
  3. When you are on that list's List page, click Subscribe or Unsubscribe under Options on the right side.
  4. Ensure the List Name is the correct list, and enter your Name as you would like it to appear on the listserv.
  5. Choose which Subscription Type you prefer, and click Subscribe (LISTNAME)

Email Commands

  1. Log in to the email account you want to use to subscribe.
  2. Compose a new plain text email.
  3. Fill in the email as follows:
    • To: listserv@listserv.it.northwestern.edu
    • Subject: <leave blank>
    • Body: SUBSCRIBE listname FirstName LastName

    4. Note: The listname is the part before the @listserv.it.northwestern.edu. For example, SUBSCRIBE TEST John Doe would subscribe you to the TEST@listserv.it.northwestern.edu listserv under the name John Doe.
  4. Send the email.
    • Note: Do not include a signature in the email body. The signature will stop your subscription from going through. The only thing in the body of the email should be the SUBSCRIBE commands. You can also subscribe to multiple listservs by including multiple SUBSCRIBE commands each on a new line of the same email message.

Accessing a listserv's message archive

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Managing digests for a subscribed listserv

Northwestern Listserv Web Interface

  1. Log into the Listserv Web Interface at https://listserv.it.northwestern.edu .
  2. Click Subscriber's Corner in the top left corner.
  3. Find the list you want to modify and click Settings.
  4. Under Subscription Type, select Digest.
  5. This will list in order all emails for the day from this list into one daily email message.

Email Commands

  • To turn on digest:
    1. Send a plain text email to listserv@listserv.it.northwestern.edu without a subject line or an email signature.
    2. Type SET listname DIGEST in the message (where listname is the name of the list).
  • To turn off digest:
    1. Send a plain text email to listserv@listserv.it.northwestern.edu without a subject line or an email signature.
    2. Type SET listname MAIL in the message.

If you are unsure whether your list is configured for digests, you can check by using the REVIEW command. Send a plain text message to listserv@listserv.it.northwestern.edu with no subject line or email signature and REVIEW listname in the body. In the message that is returned to you, look for the line which begins with DIGEST:.

If the line says no digests collected, then you need to write to the list owners and request that it be turned on. You can reach the list owners by sending an email to listname-request@listserv.it.northwestern.edu (where listname is the name of the list you're subscribed to).


Unsubscribing from a listserv

  • Listserv Web Interface
    1. Log in to the Listserv Web Interface at https://listserv.it.northwestern.edu.
    2. On the top menu, click Subscriber's Corner.
    3. Under My Lists, find the list you want to unsubscribe from and click Settings next to its name.
    4. Click Unsubscribe listname at the bottom.
  • Email Commands
    1. Log in to the email account that you are subscribed to the listserv with.
    2. Compose a new plain-text email to listserv@listserv.it.northwestern.edu.
    3. Leave the subject line blank, remove any email signatures from the message body, and type UNSUBSCRIBE listname (where listname is the name of the listserv).
    4. Send the email.
If you are unable to unsubscribe, you can send an email to the listserv owner asking to be unsubscribed manually. You can do this by emailing listname-request@listserv.it.northwestern.edu - where listname is the name of the list you would like to unsubscribe from.

If you are unable to reach the owner of your listserv, or if you do not have access to the email account for which you would like to unsubscribe, send an email to consultant@northwestern.edu and provide the email address(es) you would like unsubscribed, and the list names you would like to be removed from.

Temporarily stopping receipt of listserv email while out of the office

Northwestern Listserv Web Interface
  1. Log in to the Northwestern Listserv Web Interface at https://listserv.it.northwestern.edu .
  2. On the top menu bar, click Subscriber's Corner.
  3. Choose the My Settings tab.
  4. Check the list checkboxes that you would like to prevent mail from.
  5. At the bottom, under the list of listservs, Mail Status dropdown box No Mail.
  6. Click Submit.
You will need to follow the same procedure to resume mail delivery when you return to office. Repeat the procedure above, setting the Mail Status to Mail. You will resume receiving the listserv messages; you will also receive all listserv messages that were sent while you were set to No Mail.

Email Commands
  1. Create a new plain-text message to listserv@listserv.it.northwestern.edu. 
  2. Leave the subject line blank and remove any email signatures you may have.
  3. In the body of the message, type SET listname NOMAIL (where listname is the name of the listserv you'd like to put on hold).
To start getting mail from that listserv again, send another plain text message with the message SET listname MAIL.

For assistance with any listserv topic, select the green question mark icon  next to the topic from within the Listserv Web Interface.
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See Also:

For additional assistance please contact the IT Support Center at 847-491-4357 (1-HELP) or via email at consultant@northwestern.edu.



Keywords:subscriber   Doc ID:64455
Owner:TSS Tier 2 .Group:Northwestern
Created:2016-06-27 08:32 CSTUpdated:2020-06-10 09:40 CST
Sites:Northwestern
Feedback:  68   68