Frequently Asked Questions



ePALS - Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

• What is ePALS?

• What is the “go-live” date?

• Does this affect me?

• How do I access ePALS?

• Will I have a new E-mail address?

• Will I have a new password?

• Will I still be able to dial into LAUSDnet from home?

• Will my existing mailbox and contacts be converted?

• Will I be able to download my E-mail using ePALs?

• Will I still need to send the LAUSDnet e-mail application downtown?

• Who will be responsible for establishing new student accounts?

• Who is ePALS?

• What features does ePALS offer?

• What is the scope of work?

• Where can I request more information?

What is ePALS?

ePALS is the District’s new e-mail system for K-12 students and staff. By leveraging the federal E-rate program, LAUSD is able to provide an email system where student email accounts can rapidly be created at the school level, but also provide protection to our students. This system will allow schools to create student accounts as they need them for educational requirements.

Back to top

What is the “go-live” date?

The ePALS system went live on February 26, 2004. Most, but not all K-12 faculty and students were migrated from the old lausd.k12.ca.us system to the new ePALS system at that time. The migration of the remaining K-12 student and faculty accounts, as well as the migration of adult school and early education faculty accounts, is scheduled for 12:01 AM, August 1, 2004.

Back to top

Does this affect me?

If you are a student or staff at a public LAUSD K-12 school, or a faculty member of an adult school or early education center who does not already have an ePALS account, changes will impact you. If you currently have a @ account, this will not impact you.

Back to top

How do I access ePALS?

Go to the following url:

Back to top

Will I have a new E-mail address?

No. Your existing @lausd.k12.ca.us address will remain the same.

Back to top

Will I have a new password?

Yes. The default password for students will be their 6-digit birth date. For example, if the birth date is April 8, 1990, the password would be 040890. The default password for employees is their employee number. Everyone will be required to change the password when they sign on the first time.

Back to top

Will I still be able to dial into LAUSDnet from home?

Yes. The dial up procedures will not change.

Back to top

Will my existing mailbox and contacts be converted?

No. If you want to save your existing e-mail, or your contacts, you will need to take the following actions before 12:01 AM on August 1, 2004.

How do I save my Contacts?

Steve Benkovic of Arminta Street Elementary created an Addressbook Converter to assist you in saving your contacts/address book. Step-by-step instructions can be found at

How do I save my e-mail?

For school staff, if you are not currently downloading your e-mail to your work computer you need to set up you computer to download the e-mail. You can do so by following the steps outlined below. If you do not download your email, it will be lost in the conversion to ePALS.

Note: If you need assistance, please call the ITD HelpDesk at 323-224-2277.

The following instructions are written for Outlook Express.  If you use another E-mail client, you would have to review the instructions for that software a determine how to do these same steps:

 

Exporting Mail: Use a mail client, like Outlook Express, to connect to the server using IMAP.  You will need to use the Help files for your particular E-mail client if your are using another program.  Here are the steps for Outlook Express:

 

1. If not configured already, follow the steps for configuring the Outlook Express for POP3/SMTP mail found on our web site: (This is for Ver. 5 – these instructions are similar in Ver. 6).  This will provide a folder location to which to copy or export the folders.  This will also allow you to download any new mail that comes in.

2. Follow the new account creation steps a second time.  This time choose – IMAP – from the mail server options.  Use the same POP3/SMTP settings from the step before.  Once completed, the mail client should refresh, and you will see a listing of your folders.  This is only looking at the folders on the server; it is not downloading them to your machine.

3. In the “Local Folders” section, create a NEW FOLDER to correspond to the ones on the IMAP sections.  For instance, if in the IMAP section you have a folder called SAVED MAIL, go to the “Local Folders” section and right click on it.  Select NEW FOLDER.  Type the name SAVED MAIL in the FOLDER NAME section.  Click OK to create the new folder.

4. Return to the IMAP section and highlight the SAVED MESSAGE folder.  From the EDIT pull-down menu select either MOVE TO FOLDER or COPY TO FOLDER.  When the list appears, select the corresponding folder in the LOCAL FOLDER section.  (You can even create the new folder from this screen by pressing the NEW FOLDER button.)

5. Once moved, you can use the Outlook Express Export feature to create a file that will allow them to export to other programs, including Outlook.

 

 

Back to top

Will I be able to download my E-mail using ePALS?

Yes you will be able to download your email to your local computer using Secure POP (Post Office Protocol). Instructions for enabling Secure POP for the most frequently used e-mail clients are below.

Microsoft Outlook Express (Windows)

1. Launch Outlook Express

2. Click on Tools->Accounts

3. Highlight your mail account and click 'Properties'

4. Click the 'Servers' tab

5. Change the Incoming mail (POP3) entry to 'epals.lausd.k12.ca.us'

6. Click on the 'Advanced' tab

7. Put a checkmark in the box beneath Incoming mail (POP3) which reads 'This server requires a secure connection (SSL)'

8. Click the OK, then Close buttons.

Microsoft Outlook (Windows)

1. Launch Outlook

2. Click on Tools-> Email Accounts

3. Select the radio button 'View or change existing e-mail accounts' and click Next

4. Highlight your mail account and click 'Change'

5. Change the Incoming mail (POP3) entry to 'epals.lausd.k12.ca.us'

6. Click on the 'More Settings' button

7. Click on the 'Advanced' tab 8. Put a checkmark in the box beneath Incoming mail (POP3) which reads 'This server requires a secure connection (SSL)'

9. Click on the OK, Next then Finish buttons.

Microsoft Entourage (Macintosh)

1. Launch Entourage

2. Click Tools->Accounts

3. Select your account and click "Edit"

4. Click 'Click here for advanced receiving options' button.

5. Put a checkmark in the box beneath Incoming mail (POP3) which reads 'This POP service requires a secure connection (SSL)'

6. Click the 'OK' button

Back to top

Will I still need to send the LAUSDnet e-mail application downtown?

Staff applications must be sent ITD at the Beaudry Building for creation. Student applications are to be processed on-line via the ePALs site. When entered, the student e-mail address will be immediately created. As currently required, the school site will be be responsible for maintaining the student application and signed Acceptable Users Policy which is available at

Back to top

Who will be responsible for establishing new student accounts?

The staff person designated by the school administrator.

Back to top

Who is ePALS?

ePALS is the District’s E-rate provider of K-12 student E-mail. This web-based system is hosted through IBM e-business.

Back to top

What features does e-PALS offer?

o Spam/virus checking

o Language translation

o Spell check

o Customizable E-mail access which can limit access to classroom, school, District, or worldwide

o Hierarchical folders

o Address book with group capabilities

o Import of other E-mail address books (.csv format)

o Automatic E-mail replies

Back to top

What is the scope of work?

o

o Convert existing school accounts

o Provide Help Desk services

o Service Level Agreement of 1 hour for major outage

o Conduct 11 kickoff sessions, two hour in duration

Back to top

Where can I request more information?

Send an e-mail to epals@

Last revised: 6-15-2004

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download