Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Subscribe to RSS feeds
  2. Stopping RSS feeds
  3. About RSS feeds
  4. Submitting promotion information
  5. The approval process
  6. Getting a content folder

Subscribe to RSS feeds

How do I subscribe to an RSS feed (opt-in) using a browser other than IE7?

Purdue-Board provides Purdue listings to its users in a few different ways. Besides the conventional browsing and searching methods, users can also subscribe to the eboard's RSS feeds. Every group folder in the Purdue-Board has its own particular RSS feed that you may subscribe to. This way you can filter out all the listings that you don't want, and just receive the news that you need.

To subscribe to a group's RSS feed, you will first need to choose a RSS reader. There are several RSS readers available. If you are on campus, a reader has been provided for you.Workstations in the student labs have had FeedReader installed, so you won’t need to do anything to begin using an RSS feed with Purdue-Board. To subscribe to a particular RSS feed, you need to give your reader the URL that corresponds to that particular group. As you browse through the groups, you will notice a small image that says "XML/RSS". Right-click on this image and select Copy Shortcut from the pop-up menu.

Next, in your RSS reader, go to the toolbar and select File, Add feed:

On the next screen put your cursor in the "Location of Feed" box, right click and select Paste and then click on the Next button at the bottom of the page.

Select a name for your feed or accept the default value, and select which folder you want to store the feed in. Click Finish and you are done.

If you need additional assistance please contact us at itap@purdue.edu.

To learn more about RSS feeds, please visit these following links:
Cnet.com - "RSS, News you Choose"

The recommended RSS readers are:
Mac and Unix: Firefox
Windows: FeedReader
Non-Purdue supported machines: My Yahoo!

How do I subscribe to a feed using Internet Explorer 7?

If you have downloaded the newest Internet Explorer 7 web browser, you can read the feed directly in the browser, scan for important stories and get a description of the content available in Purdue-Board or any other Purdue page with an RSS feed. The new version also allows you to subscribe to a feed with a single click, a process that is very similar to adding a website Favorite and easier than using the older versions where you were required to download FeedReader in order to subscribe to a feed.

  1. The site you're visiting must offer RSS feeds. Internet Explorer 7 will notify you of asite that offers RSS by illuminating (in red or orange) the RSS feed button on your toolbar.

  2. From the list of folders down the left hand side of the screen, click the folder you are most interested in subscribing to. Click on the RSS feed button on your toolbar.
  3. You will be prompted to subscribe to the feed. Just click on the Subscribe to this feed option.

  4. You will then be prompted to store your feed. You can select the default location or select a new one.

  5. You may view all of your current/active feeds at any time in Internet Explorer 7, by clicking on the star.

Stopping RSS feeds

How do I get rid of a feed I no longer want to recieve?

This will be an easy process. Simply open your RSS reader, and on the main screen highlight the feed you no longer want to receive. Then, select the delete option. The following example is from FeedReader:

About RSS feeds

What is an RSS reader?

XML.com - What is RSS?

Submitting promotion information

How do I submit an e-mail for consideration for mass distribution?

Go to the Purdue University E-board web page: http://www.purdue.edu/eboard. From the toolbar, select "Submit a Listing". Enter your career account username and password. From the left hand side of the screen, select the group you wish to submit your e-mail to. Next, enter a title for your e-mail and then enter the text.

Submit your request by clicking on Add Listing. You will receive an e-mail letting you know that your request has been successfully submitted and will be reviewed for content before being posted.

The approval process

How long will I have to wait until the message is distributed?

Depending on the time of day your message is submitted, it could take 1 working day before you hear back from the group coordinator (content reviewer) that your message has been accepted and when it will be distributed. All effort is made to get your message distributed in the quickest possible fashion. Submissions made on the weekends or during university holidays will be reviewed on the first following working day. Please make every effort to ensure that you are submitting your request to the appropriate area as this could delay your message being distributed.

Will I be notified if my message is not considered for distribution?

Yes. The group coordinator (content reviewer) will notify you if your message was not approved.

Getting a content folder

How do I become a data content provider so I can have a folder to post to?

In order to become the owner of a folder that can be used as a way to communicate general information, you must:

  • Be a representative of a Purdue University office, organization.
  • Have a selected representative to be a data content reviewer.
  • Become familiar with the existing Purdue-Board policies for appropriate use.
  • Be familiar with current University email policies
  • Respond to posting requests in a reasonable amount of time.

If your office or group has a need to communicate general information to students, parents, faculty or staff, then contact Dan Whiteley (dan@purdue.edu). A short meeting will be scheduled with you to determine the folder structure that will best meet your needs, and take you through a basic training on how to use Purdue-Board. Prior to the meeting you should have reviewed the following:

Purdue-Board Policies:

The policies for Purdue-Board are consistent with the Policy for Access and Use of Purdue’s Electronic Mail System (September 29, 1995) issued by the President of the University.

In addition, the use of Purdue-Board conforms to the non-discrimination policy as issued by the President of the University as outlined in Memorandum D-1 dated December 31, 2002 (Supersedes Executive Memorandum No. D-1, dated January 8, 2001).

All Purdue University policies applying to student confidentiality, including FERPA, HIPAA and GLBA also apply:
http://www.purdue.edu/policies/pages/students/c_51.html
http://www.purdue.edu/policies/pages/records/vi_2_1.html
http://www.itap.purdue.edu/security/policies/GLB_Safeguards_Rule_Training_General.pdf

Appropriate Use Described:

The University provides electronic mail facilities to support its instructional, research, and service activities and associated administrative functions. In general, policies and regulations that apply to other forms of communications at the University also apply to the Purdue-Board system. The system will be used only for purposes that respect the image, reputation and legal obligations of Purdue University. Any recipient or user of this system whose actions violate this policy, or any other University policy or regulation, may be subject to limitations or elimination of privileges as well as other disciplinary actions.

Schools, departments and organizations that wish to use the system to communicate with students need to be cognizant of the relevance of the message to their targeted group. The sender needs to consider their target audience CAREFULLY. If messages are deemed to be inappropriate, they will be rejected for posting and returned to the sender explaining why the message was rejected. Messages that sent to the wrong area can be rerouted to another area or returned to the sender requesting they forward the posting to the appropriate area. Decisions on postings must be viewpoint neutral. A posting should not be denied because the data content reviewer does not agree with the posting request message. Additionally, postings should conform to the university non-discrimination procedures.

In all cases, the sponsor of the event must be clearly displayed in the posting. Individuals submitting a posting for approval, are required to be an individual who represents the group sponsoring the event.

The following types of information will not be approved for posting:

  • Sales of any type (including garage sales, automobiles, textbooks, etc.)
  • Student surveys which collect personally identifiable information about students. Surveys intended to lead to a presentation or publication must obtain approval by the Committee on the Use of Human Research Subjects in advance and documentation of such approval must be provided to the Content Reviewer prior to approval.
  • Individuals requesting a posting for an event or group they are not the sponsor of
  • Postings that harass or intimidate an individual or group, or that in any way violate university non-discrimination regulations.

Sanctions for misuse:

  • Refer any instances of abuse of the Purdue-Board System by Purdue University student areas to the Office of the Dean of Students for appropriate action.
  • Refer any instances of abuse of the Purdue-Board System by non-University staff to the Vice President for Student Services for appropriate action.
  • Refer any instances of abuse of the Purdue-Board System by faculty to the Office of the Provost for appropriate action.
  • Refer any instances of abuse of the Purdue-Board System by staff (other than faculty) to the Director of Human Resource Services.

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