Students are adjusting to a new, updated Webmail system implemented by Academic Information Technologies on Wednesday. The updated system has several new features that allow students greater flexibility and various options within their own accounts.

AIT has been working on a way to improve Webmail since SPAM labeling was removed from the system in late October due to overwhelming negative feedback.

Marie Mayer, AIT communications specialist, said a group of 101 testers have worked with AIT since October to help them understand what should be done differently.

“The testers gave us the basis for the improvements that were made. Their feedback was vital to the way we looked at new ideas. If they didn’t like it, we didn’t pursue the idea,” Mayer said.

One of the most significant changes made was to the filtering system. About 100 folders, sorted by alphabetical order, can be created to filter incoming e-mail. The folders can be sorted by sender or receiver address, subject line or e-mail header. The folders can also be renamed at any time. Junk e-mail may be sorted by using the previously used filter or a custom filter can be set up by the user. E-mail can also be sorted in a number of different ways, including particular addresses, words, phrases or automatic deletion from the account, Mayer said.

In addition to filtering improvements, another main concern for many testers was the address book. “The new options allow you to use nicknames that can readily be changed, allowing for more flexibility and user friendliness,” Mayer said.

While some students were apprehensive about the changes to Webmail, responses have been positive so far, Mayer said.

“I enjoy being able to set up my own filtering system, said Jake Cilek, sophomore in finance. “The spam label made me disregard too many important e-mails.”

Cassie Bacon, junior in chemical engineering, said she believes the new version of Webmail is much more student-friendly.

“I get to pick what option I want to utilize and I get to decide what is junk e-mail or e-mail that I care about,” Bacon said. “I think giving Webmail users greater freedom to customize our own accounts will make everyone happy in the long run.”