Moderating a Listserv
If you are a moderator for a listserv you will receive email notices when an item needs your attention. These circumstances vary depending on how the listserv is configured but may include when a moderated person posts to the listserv or when someone requests to join or leave the listserv.
These emails will look something like this:
Your authorization is required for a mailing list subscription request
approval:
For: jane.doe@colostate.edu
List: yourlistservname@lists.colostate.edu
At your convenience, visit:
https://lists.colostate.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/admindb/yourlistservname
to process the request.
The hyperlink in the email will take you to your listserv’s moderator page. You are encouraged to bookmark that site for easy access.
The listserv moderator page will always be https://lists.colostate.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/admindb/[yourlistservname]
If you browse directly to that link you will see the moderator login page:
If you do not know your listserv's moderator password, please submit a helpdesk ticket and we can provide it: OEE_Helpdesk@colostate.edu
If there is an action item, such as a held message or a membership request, it will look like this:
Select the action you wish to take and click the “Submit All Data” button.
You can view the content of the message by clicking the number to the left of the Subject line.
Action definitions:
Defer: This means to postpone a decision or action. In the case of a message held for moderation, deferring means keeping it in a holding queue without accepting or rejecting it immediately. You can revisit it later.
Accept: This action allows the message or membership request to proceed. For messages, it means delivering them to the list's subscribers. For membership requests, it means granting the request and adding the person to the list.
Reject: This action prevents the message or membership request from being processed. For messages, it typically bounces the message back to the sender with an explanation. For membership requests, it denies the request and informs the applicant.
Discard: This action silently removes the message or membership request without any notification to the sender or applicant. The message or request is essentially deleted without further action.
Generally, you will want to either Accept or Reject the request.
Advanced options
If the request is from an individual that you think should not be moderated, you can check the “Clear this member's moderate flag” box, Accept or Reject the message, and click the Submit All Data button. In this example the message will be sent out to all members of adminbb and any future messages from that sender will bypass moderation and automatically be sent out to all adminbb members. This should be reserved for VIPs and list owners.
