Email - OWA Quick Reference
Instructions on how to use OWA. If you would like to suggest another item to be added to this list, please contact Student Computing Support Desk by filling out an online form.
• Connecting to OWA
• Changing Your OWA Password via MyCourses
• Changing Your Webmail Link to non-OWA email account in MyCourses
• Configuring Your OWA Options
• Understanding the OWA Option Selections
• Deleting Emails in Consecutive or Random Order
• Recovering Deleted Items
• Adding to a Contact List
• Creating Distribution Lists
• Send Signature on Outgoing Mail
• Ordering Address Books
• Moving Messages to Folders & Creating New Folders
• Deleting Folders
• Calendar Settings
For more general information about your HMS email account, go to the Email Issues FAQs page.
1. Launch a web browser. NOTE: Internet Explorer is optimal in having all features enabled in OWA.
2. Connect to OWA at http://email.med.harvard.edu/
3. Select which security features that you want enabled. By selecting Public, your personal information will not be stored on a public computer such as a kiosk.
4. Enter your MyCourses/eCommons username and case-sensitive password*.
5. Click on the Log On button to view your HMS email account.
*If you have forgotten your case-sensitive password, read the instructions below on how to change your password to a new one.
Changing Your OWA Password via MyCourses
Note: In order to use Outlook Web Access, all
matriculated pre-doctoral students must change their MyCourses/eCommons case-sensitive password to one
which is acceptable under the new syntax rules.
1. Launch a web browser such as Internet Explorer 6.0 or Firefox.
2. Connect to MyCourses homepage at http://mycourses.med.harvard.edu/.
3. Click on the link, I Forgot My Password under the Submit button in the center of the frame.
4. Enter your MyCourses/eCommons username (e.g., your initials and some number). Click the Submit button.
5. Enter the answer to your unique question. Or, if prompted, create a new secret question and answer. If you forgot your answer to the secret question, click on the I FORGOT MY SECRET ANSWER
6. Follow the syntax rules to create your case-sensitive password. Test your new MyCourses/eCommons password by logging into all of
your accounts.
Note: Your username and case-sensitive password will be used to log into
MyCourses, eCommons, OWA and the student workstations in the TMEC, Countway, and Vandy 302B.
Changing Your Webmail Link to non-OWA Email Account in MyCourses
1. Launch a web browser such as Internet Explorer 6.0 or Firefox.
2. Connect to MyCourses homepage at http://mycourses.med.harvard.edu/ and authenticate.
3. Click on the link, Preferences in the upper left corner and then the link, Messaging to get to the
Preferences page above.
4. Select the radio button, Use Alternate Web Site and enter in the email account of your choice such as a @gmail account. For DMS students, use your GSAS email account.
5. Click the button, Save E-Mail Account.
6. Test by clicking the link, Email, in the upper left corner of the MyCourses screen. Your preferred email account login page should open in another web browser window.
1. Connect and log in to OWA as described above.
2. Click the Options link in the upper right row of the frame.
3. Configure the following: Regional Settings, Messaging, Spelling, Calendar Options, Out of Office Assistant, Rules, E-Mail Security, Junk E-Mail, Change Password, General Settings,
Deleted Items Mobile Devices, and About.
Understanding the OWA Option Selections.
1. Click the Regional Settings to change the Language or Date and Time formats.
2. Click the Messaging to modify Message Options, E-Mail Signature, Message Format, Message Tracking Options, Reading Pane Options, Address Books, and Messageware ActiveSend.
3. Click the Spelling to modify Spelling Options, Dictionary Language, and Personal Dictionary.
4. Click the Calendar Options to modify Calendar Options, Calendar Work Week, Reminder Options, Automatic Calendar Processing, and Messageware CalendarShare.
5. Click the Out of Office Assistant to modify your out of office settings.
6. Click the Rules to modify or add a rule about incoming emails to your HMS account. Make sure you read the Compatibility with Outlook if you use MS Outlook and have set rules in that desktop email client.
7. Click the E-Mail Security to modify S/MIME control onto your personal computer for encryption security.
8. Click the Junk E-Mail to modify any incoming emails that are unwanted.
9. Click the Change Password to change your OWA case-sensitive password. Note: This password is used for MyCourses and to log into the student workstations at HMS.
10. Click the General Settings to modify E-Mail Name Resolution, Appearance, and Accessibility.
11. Click the Deleted Items to recovery any deleted items that you need. Emails will be moved to the Deleted Items folder. Note: By deleteing items in this Options view,
you will be permanently deleting items that are unrecoverable.
12. Click the Mobile Devices to manage your mobile devices.
Deleting Emails in Consecutive or Random Order
1. In Consecutive Order: Highlight consecutive emails by holding down
the Shift key. Click on the first email.
2. Continue holding down the Shift key. Highlight the last of the consecutive
emails and click on it. All emails in between will be highlighted.
3. Press the Deletion icon to move these emails into the Trash.
1. In Random Order: Highlight random emails by holding down the
Ctrl key.
2. Continue holding down the Ctrl key and select other emails to be deleted.
3. Press the Deletion icon to move these emails into the Trash.
1. See #11 Deleted Items under the Understanding the OWA Option Selections on how to recover deleted items and move them back into your Deleted Items folder.
1. Click on the New menu arrow and choose Contact list icon.
2. Enter information of the person whom you want to add as a contact.
Click on the Save and Close button to save your contact.
3. Click on the tab, Contacts, to view your contact list. To change or
add information to a contact, double click on the name of the person and it will pop up the
dialog box for that person.
4. Click on Save and Close at the top left of the dialog box.
1. Click on the New menu arrow and choose Distribution List.
2. Enter a distribution list name in the List Name: textbox.
3. Enter a person's name if you know they have an HMS email account and click Add to list.
If not, then, enter their email address in the Add to Distribution List: textbox click on Add to List. The email address will appear in the text area.
4. Click on Save and Close at the top left of the dialog box.
5. Click on your distribution list under Contacts.
Customizing Your Personal Signature
1. See #2 Messaging under the Understanding the OWA Option Selections on how to create your signature.
1. See #2 Messaging under the Understanding the OWA Option Selections. Scroll down in the pane to Address books
and click on the button, Order Address Book Category.
Moving Messages to Folders & Creating New Folders
1. Highlight the email(s) that you want, and drag it/them over to the selected folder in the left-hand column.
2. Create a new folder by clicking on the button New....
3. Enter the name of your new folder in the Name textbox and click the
OK button.
4. Move the emails to new folder by highlighting and then drag-and-drop into the new folder.
Right click on the folder that you no longer want. Select Delete.
Click the tab, Calendar in the left-hand column to manage your appointments.
