Brightspace contains an email system right within it! It works just like Gmail, Outlook or any other "regular" email system would, except all messages remain inside Brightspace- which means it is secure. Because emails like Gmail, AOL, Outlook, etc. could be hacked, and emails about grades or other things that should be discussed privately, must be addressed through either Brightspace's email or your HVCC WebMail account that uses your HVCC email address because they are more secure. Emails remain stored in Brightspace, too.
IMPORTANT: You cannot send email messages to users (email addresses) outside of the Brightspace system. What does that mean? You cannot compose an email message in Brightspace and add DLhelp@hvcc.edu to the To: field. The message will not send. You need to use your HVCC WebMail email account (Outlook) to send the message. Brightspace email is an internal messaging system.
How do I Access My Brightspace Email?
- Click the Message alerts icon (envelope) from the navbar, and then click Email.
How do I Send an Email to My Instructor?
- Go to your course and then access Brightspace Email
- Click on the Compose button
- You have 2 choices:
- Option 1:
- Click on the tiny blue "To" text at the left of the address field
- A new window opens and you can select who to send the email to from the list of names
- Click on Add Recipients and the window will close
- Option 2:
- Click on the Address Book button and it opens a new window
- In the new window, click on the box next to the recipient's name to select it
- Click on the tiny blue "To" text at the top of the list and the recipient field will populate with the name
- Click on Add Recipients button and the window closes
- The name is now in the main recipient field
- Compose your email message
- Select the Send button
Troubleshooting Brightspace Email
Why can I only see some emails in my inbox?
If you know you have more emails than you can see on the page:
- Ensure the email filter is not restricting the emails you are seeing. From the Filter By list, select All Messages.
- You might have multiple pages for your email. Make sure to look through all pages and/or expand the number of emails that appear per page.