Alumni Account Deactivation

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is Bucknell decommissioning alumni email accounts?

  Bucknell University will be discontinuing alumni accounts effective July 1, 2026, due to increasing cybersecurity and legal risks, as well as the rising costs and labor required to maintain and support these services. This change aligns with common practices across higher education institutions to protect digital infrastructure and prioritize resources for current students, faculty and staff. We will provide guidance on transitioning your data and appreciate your understanding as we make this necessary shift.

   

• How long will future graduates keep access to their accounts?

  Beginning with the Class of 2026, graduating students' Bmail accounts will expire approximately six months after graduation. The exact date will be communicated to each class.

   

• When will my account be deactivated?

  July 1, 2026

   

• Will I receive reminders before my account is deactivated?

  Yes, account holders will receive periodic reminders and messaging throughout the year.

   

• I remember being told that alumni would have access to their Bucknell email for life — why has the policy changed?

  We know many alumni were once told they'd have Bucknell email access for life, and we understand this change may be disappointing. The decision to retire alumni email accounts wasn't taken lightly. Over time, the risks associated with maintaining these accounts — especially around cybersecurity — have grown significantly. On top of that, the resources required to manage them have increased. This update reflects a broader shift across higher education to safeguard digital systems and focus support where it's most needed.

   

• What if my bucknell.edu email forwards to another inbox? Can I forward my bucknell.edu email to another address?

  After July 1, 2026, your bucknell.edu email address will no longer be able to be forwarded to a different email address. You will need to replace the bucknell.edu email address that you've provided as a forwarding email with your new or alternative email address. 

   

• Is there an option to retain my Bucknell email address beyond the one-year transition period?

  No. This is a firm timeline that will affect all users.

   

• What happens if my bucknell.edu account has access to a shared document? How do I give my new account access to this document?

  If you are currently using a document originally generated by an account that will be deleted in July 2026, it will be impacted by this change. However, here are some steps you can take to ensure the document is not lost in the transition:

  • Transfer Ownership: The best way to ensure the shared document remains accessible is to transfer ownership to another active Google account before the original owner's account is deleted.
  • Shared Drives (for Workspace accounts): If you are using a Google Workspace account, storing collaborative documents in a Shared Drive ensures that the organization owns the files, not individual users.
  • Make a Copy: Collaborators can create a copy of the document for their own records, though this will not retain the original document's version history.

   

• What if I'm using my Bucknell account on other services? (banking, gaming, subscriptions, etc. or as a recovery email for services)?

  It's important that you go through your online accounts and change your primary/secondary emails with your alternative email address outside of the bucknell.edu email account.

   

• Who can I contact for help or questions?

  For technical support during this transition, feel free to contact our team at 570-577-7777 or via email at techdesk@bucknell.edu.

   

• What happens to email messages sent to my account after July 1, 2026?

  Upon the restriction/deletion of your account, senders will receive a bounceback message when emailing your address stating "Your message wasn't delivered to (your email address) because the address couldn't be found, or is unable to receive mail." While this will be satisfactory for individuals communicating with you from a true email address, this may not be as readily noticed by any automated or system-driven emails. This makes replacing your email on any important accounts/sites critical.