RETRIEVER NET FAQs
Having trouble creating an online profile, searching for alumni or getting an e-mail forwarding account? This section provides answers to some common questions about using different features of Retriever Net.
Online Directory and "My Profile" • Searching for Alumni
E-mail Forwarding • Contact Retriever Net
Online Directory and "My Profile"
Searching for Alumni
E-mail Forwarding
ONLINE DIRECTORY AND "MY PROFILE"
What is Retriever Net and the online directory?
Retriever Net is a password-protected online database of information about the alumni of UMBC. Alumni with logins and passwords may register online to create a personal profile about themselves ("My Profile") as a way of updating information about their employment, their interests, their families and more. Alumni who create profiles may choose to display certain parts of that information to other alumni (See Searching for Alumni), or to hide it entirely. The information shared by alumni is kept by the UMBC Alumni Association for purposes of communications and programming.
Who has access to the information?
At the moment, only alumni of UMBC who have received login and password information and members of the UMBC Alumni Relations staff may access information within the online directory. If an alumna/us has chosen to not reveal information about him/herself in the directory, that information will be viewable only by Alumni Relations staff members.
In the future, some UMBC students may be granted access to the Career Resource Network section of Retriever Net. When that happens, they will be limited to searching only for alumni who have designated themselves Career Resource Contacts.
Why can't I log on yet?
Only alumni who have graduated from UMBC may log on to the directory. If you have not received your login and password in the mail, you may request it here. Your information will be validated by a member of the Alumni Relations staff and you will receive your login and password information within five business days within an e-mail from "Kintera Customer Support."
I just graduated from UMBC. When can I log on to Retriever Net?
Recent graduates should expect to receive their login and password information three to four months after commencement.
What if I lose my password or never receive my login information in the mail?
If after logging on to Retriever Net you accidentally lose your password information, you may request it here. Your information will be validated by a member of the Alumni Relations staff and you will receive your login and password information within five business days within an e-mail from "Kintera Customer Support."
I received mail at my old address after changing my info online. Why is that?
Information you update within "My Profile" will be updated within UMBC's main database within a week. Please allow that time for UMBC mail and e-communications to be redirected to your new addresses.
SEARCHING FOR ALUMNI
Do I need to be logged in to search for alumni?
As a security precaution, alumni must be logged in to Retriever Net to search for alumni within the online directory. Once you have logged in, the "Find Alumni" link on the left hand side of the page will reveal "Simple" and "Advanced" search options, along with instructions.
Can I also search for current students or professors?
Current students and professors, past and present, are not included in the alumni online directory, so you may not search for them there. Instead, please visit UMBC's main directory of faculty, staff and students. If you are looking for a former professor who is no longer employed by UMBC, please contact UMBC Alumni Relations at alum@umbc.edu.
My search returned only a small amount of information about an alum. Why is that?
All alumni of UMBC have been included in the online directory. If you are searching for an alumna/us of UMBC who hasn't yet registered online and created a profile, you will find a minimum amount of information about them, including: name, maiden name (if applicable), graduation year and major. No further information is displayed for privacy purposes.
If you are searching for an alumna/us who has registered online and created a profile, you may see more information when you search for them, as they may choose to display more information about themselves. They may also, however, choose not to display information for privacy purposes.
If you have searched for an alum and have not found enough information to make contact with him or her, please contact UMBC Alumni Relations at alum@umbc.edu. A staff member will be able to help you.
I want to contact an alum. How can I do that?
Please use the simple or advanced searches within "Find Alumni" to see if the alum you are looking for has chosen to reveal contact information to other alumni. If so, please use that information. If you have searched for an alum and have not found enough information to make contact with him or her, please contact UMBC Alumni Relations at alum@umbc.edu. A staff member will be able to help you.
E-MAIL FORWARDING
What is e-mail forwarding?
E-mail forwarding establishes a "name@alum.umbc.edu" e-mail forwarding address that sends messages to your personal or business e-mail account. E-mail forwarding allows you to maintain a consistent e-mail address regardless of how many times you change the e-mail account where you receive, read and respond to e-mail. Please note, it is not an e-mail or Internet account that stores mail so you can read and respond to it. It simply forwards e-mail to such an e-mail account that you maintain elsewhere.
How can I let other alumni know about my new address?
In the near future, alumni who have signed up for an e-mail forwarding address will be able to post it within their personal profile ("My Profile") and display it within the alumni directory. Please check back to this question to see updates on the situation. For the moment, however, please e-mail your new e-mail forwarding address to your friends and family using a standard e-mail account.
I have not received any e-mails from my new forwarding address. What's going on?
Once you have signed up for e-mail forwarding, please allow an hour for the data to be updated. If after an hour has passed you still are not able to receive e-mails sent via the forwarding system, please check the following:
-
Have you added your new e-mail forwarding address to the address book of the e-mail account you are using to receive forwards? If not, please do so, as this will help ensure delivery.
-
Are you using a gmail account? Unfortunately, e-mail forwarding sometimes is not compatible with gmail. If you find the problem continues, please consider re-directing your e-mail forwarding address to a different e-mail account.
-
After signing up for an e-mail forwarding address, did you change your e-mail address within "My Profile" to reflect it? Unfortunately, for the moment, this will not work because the forwarding address is connected directly to the original e-mail address you provided in "My Profile." If you did this, please change your e-mail back to the original account within "My Profile" and revisit the E-mail Forwarding page to make sure the account has been updated.
Will e-mail forwarding work from all platforms?
E-mail forwarding should work fine on most major platforms. Some people do experience trouble forwarding to Google Gmail accounts, however. (See above.)
CONTACT RETRIEVER NET
If you have a question about Retriever Net, please first check the list of Frequently Asked Questions above. If you need additional assistance, please e-mail your inquiries, along with your name, maiden name (if applicable), graduation year and major, to retrievernet@umbc.edu. A staff member will reply as soon as possible.
Alumni home
| 
