Welcome! This guide is designed for long-time Listserv users who are transitioning to Google Groups. If you’re familiar with Listserv and feeling unsure about the change, this article will help you understand what’s different, what stays the same, and how Google Groups can make things easier.
What Is Google Groups?
Google Groups is a modern communication platform that supports group email discussions, much like Listserv. You can still send messages to one email address and reach everyone in the group, but the management and user experience are simpler and more intuitive.
Why Move from Listserv?
While Listserv has been a reliable tool for many years, email technology and security standards have evolved. Google Groups provides several improvements:
- Modern security features that reduce spoofing and spam
- Cleaner message delivery based on current email standards
- A user-friendly web interface for managing membership and settings
- Searchable message archives that are easy to browse
- Flexible email delivery options such as digest or summary modes
What Listserv Users Will Find Familiar
- You still send an email to one address to reach the entire group.
- You can choose to receive individual messages, digests, or summaries.
- Groups can still be moderated or unmoderated.
- You can still unsubscribe or change how you receive emails at any time.
What’s Different in Google Groups?
- No more command emails. Instead of sending instructions like “subscribe” or “unsubscribe,” you simply use on-screen options.
- No Listserv passwords. Google Groups uses your standard Google login.
- Easier membership management. Owners add or remove members with checkboxes and simple menus.
- Modern, searchable archives. Old messages can be viewed and searched in a clean web interface.
How You’ll Use Google Groups as a Member
Receiving Messages
You will continue receiving emails just like you do today. You can choose:
- Every message as it arrives
- Daily digest of all messages
- Abridged summary of the day
- No email if you prefer reading messages only on the group’s webpage
Sending Messages
To send a message to the group, you simply email the group’s address. If the group uses moderation, your message may be reviewed before being delivered.
Reading Old Messages
You can visit the group’s webpage to browse or search older messages. This is significantly easier than navigating Listserv’s text-based archives.
How Owners and Moderators Manage Google Groups
Adding or Removing Members
Group owners can add or remove members through simple on-screen menus—no special email commands or header edits required.
Approving Messages
If your group is moderated, you will receive notifications that let you approve or reject posts with a single click.
Managing Settings
Owners can control who can join the group, who can post, who can view archives, and how messages are delivered. All of these options are available through straightforward menus.
Email Address Changes You Should Know About
As groups transition from Listserv to Google Groups, you may see new email address formats. These differences are based entirely on who can own the group. Both types of Google Groups are valid—the distinction simply reflects Dartmouth’s Google Workspace structure.
Groups Owned by Current Dartmouth Staff, Faculty, or Students
If the owner of a group is a current Dartmouth Staff, Faculty, or Student, the group is created inside Dartmouth’s Google Workspace. These groups use the following email address format:
groupname-groups@dartmouth.edu
The “-groups” portion is added automatically when the group is created. These groups may include Dartmouth members and external members alike. However, the owner must be a current Dartmouth Staff, Faculty, or Student for the group to be managed inside Dartmouth’s Workspace.
Groups Owned by People Who Are Not Current Dartmouth Staff, Faculty, or Students
Some groups need to be owned by individuals who are not part of Dartmouth’s Google Workspace—for example, external collaborators, community members, or alumni. Although alumni may still have a Dartmouth NetID, they are considered external and cannot own Workspace-based groups.
When a group is owned by someone who is not a current Dartmouth Staff, Faculty, or Student, the group is created as a public Google Group and uses this address format:
groupname@googlegroups.com
These groups can still include Dartmouth-affiliated and external members. The key difference is that the owner does not sign in with a Dartmouth Workspace account.
Which Address Will You Use?
- Groups owned by a current Dartmouth Staff, Faculty, or Student will use the groupname-groups@dartmouth.edu address.
- Groups owned by someone who is not a current Dartmouth Staff, Faculty, or Student—including alumni—will use a @googlegroups.com address.
Either type of Google Group may include both internal and external members. The distinction is only about who owns the group.
Summary
Google Groups offers a modern, user-friendly alternative to Listserv while preserving the familiar experience of sending and receiving group email. With improved security, easier management, and updated message handling, Google Groups helps ensure reliable and secure communication going forward. While email addresses may change depending on who owns the group, the overall experience remains simple, flexible, and accessible.