Purpose
This article explains the difference between your CWU email address, alias, and login username. It also outlines how email aliases work and how they impact login behavior.
Content
What is an Email Alias
Your FirstName.LastName@cwu.edu email address is an alias that masks your actual CWU username (e.g., UserName@cwu.edu). This provides a layer of privacy in case someone tries to compromise your account.
Your original email (e.g., username@cwu.edu) will still function. The system simply adds a new alias (FirstName.LastName@cwu.edu) that becomes your visible address when sending emails.
Examples of CWU user name, email login, and alias/display.
What you need to know:
- This does not change how you log into email or any CWU system — use your CWU username.
- Your original email address is still valid; the alias simply masks it.
- Email you send will now appear as coming from your FirstName.LastName address, and replies will go there.
- Aliases are auto-generated using your legal name and must be unique. (A number may be included if your name is common.)
- This does not affect alternate email systems like
geology.cwu.edu.
Example
Here is an example showing the difference between CWU login credentials and your email alias as seen in MyCWU.
Finding Your Email Alias in MyCWU – step-by-step article
Overview of login credentials and email alias on MyCWU profile.
Find Your Alias in Outlook (For Faculty and Staff)
Note: This section applies to faculty and staff only.
- Open Outlook and click the Address Book.
Click on the Address Book icon.
- In the Address Book window, make sure Global Address List is selected. Then, enter your name in the Search field.
Select Global Address List and search for your name.
- Double click your name in the results to open details.
Double click on your name.
- Go to the E-mail Addresses tab to see your alias (e.g.,
FirstName.LastName@cwu.edu).
Click the E-mail Addresses tab.
Log In Tips and Reminders
- Always include
@cwu.edu when logging in with your username.
- Do not use your alias (e.g.,
FirstName.LastName@cwu.edu) to log in — it will not work.
- Do not include your username in your password.
- If you're unsure of your username, contact the Service Desk at (509) 963-2001.
How to Change Your Alias
To request an alias change, submit a service request here.