FAQ: The Common Room @ Queen's
- What is the Common Room?
- How do I update my address/e-mail?
- How do I update my name/degree/year?
- What is permanent e-mail forwarding for life?
- How do I sign up for permanent e-mail forwarding for life?
- How can I locate another alumnus/a?
- How do I make a gift to Queen's?
- Who is eligible to register for the Common Room@Queen’s?
- I have searched for my name and I can’t find it, what should I do?
- How can I find someone if I only know their maiden name?
- I have already registered and set up my permanent e-mail address, can this be changed?
- How does Queen’s provide the OLC?
- Is my information safe?
- What does it mean if the status of an alumnus is "L-Lost"?
- How does the “find a friend” feature work?
- The login retrieval does not recognize the e-mail address that should be associated with my account.
- When I try to view how others see my profile, why do I get a message saying "Sorry, the owner of this directory listing has elected to block viewing access to everyone."
[ Back to Common The Room @ Queen's ]
What is the Common Room?
The Common Room @ Queen’s is a password protected online community accessible to over 100,000 alumni; features include, the ability to:
- Update your own profile and search for your classmates and friends
- Connect, network, share career experiences and opportunities, and discuss issues of mutual interest through NetworQ
- Post instant updates about your family, career, and interests. Track recently posted notes through the RSS feed
- Upload and manage your resume
- Sign up for a permanent e-mail forwarding address (your.name@tricolour.queensu.ca) which redirects messages to any existing e-mail account
If you've registered, drop by to find out what's new and see who else is online. If you're not registered, why not sign in and see what you've been missing. It's quick and easy, and best of all . . . it's FREE!
How do I update my address/e-mail?
You can update your address online in the Common Room @ Queen's by going into "Update my Profile" and clicking on the "Click to update" button. By doing this, you will update your profile in both the Common Room database and the Queen's alumni database and, as such, you will update your address for the magazine and other alumni mailings. The Online Community Database and the Queen's Database receive nightly downloads from one another, so as long as you update your address in the Online Community we will have your current address on file.
If you would prefer to e-mail your change of address, please send your name, degree, year, current mailing address and new mailing address, phone number and e-mail address to records@queensu.ca or call 1-800-267-7837.
How do I update my name/degree/year?
To update your name/degree/year, you will need to send an e-mail to records@queensu.ca (or call 1-800-267-7837). Please make sure to include your name/degree/year as it currently appears as well as how you would like your name/degree/year to be listed. Please also include your student number (if you can recall it), current mailing address and phone number.
What is permanent e-mail forwarding for life?
This is a free service offered to all alumni of Queen's who have registered for the Common Room @ Queen's. The permanent e-mail forwarding address is not an active e-mail account that you can check online or import into your e-mail software as it is a forwarding instruction that automatically forwards e-mail to the address you specify.
The advantage of this is that no matter how many times you change jobs, ISPs and e-mail addresses, your friends and family will always be able to reach you through your Queen's tricolour address. Just keep your e-mail forwarding information up to date in the online community and the e-mail forwarding service will automatically forward to you any messages received at your Queen's tricolour address.
How do I sign up for permanent e-mail forwarding for life?
Alumni who sign up for our online community have the option to sign up for this free service. Once you have registered in the Common Room @ Queen's, click on the 'E-mail for life' option. First, choose your e-mail name that will be the first part of your new permanent e-mail address (e.g. yourname@tricolour.queesnu.ca). Next, in order to start using your new permanent e-mail address, you must supply an e-mail address that will receive e-mails addressed to your permanent e-mail forwarding address. You can chose any e-mail address that you wish (i.e. the e-mail address you use at work or for personal use).
Once you have signed up for the e-mail forwarding service, be sure to keep your e-mail forwarding information up to date in the online community and this service will automatically forward you any messages received at your Queen's tricolour address.
How can I locate another alumnus/a?
To locate someone, you can click on the "Find a Friend" link and then the "Search The Directory" link and enter you friend's information (last name, first name, etc.). This will take you to another screen that will list all possible matches to your search. Those individuals who are registered will have a Queen's flag beside their name. Click on the individual who you are trying to find, this will take you to a screen with all of their information. Please take note that it is up to individual to show as little or as much information as they desire.
If your friend has chosen to give others the ability to contact them, a "contact this person via e-mail" link will be displayed in their profile. When you click on this link a window will pop up into which you can enter a message and then hit the "send message" button. To maintain a level of privacy, we have elected to provide you with a method of email communication without displaying each individual's email address. For further information on blind e-mail, please click here (you will need to enter your user ID and password)
If your friend has chosen not to display their primary e-mail address, you can check to see if they have listed their home/business addresses. If your friend has chosen to hide all of their information then please feel free to contact the Records Department at records@queensu.ca - they will be able to assist you by sending an e-mail or postcard to the individual letting him/her know that you are trying to reach them, if we have active contact information on file.
Please include in the e-mail, the name and degree of the person you are trying to reach. In addition please let them know what information of yours you would like to forward, and they will be able to help you contact the alum.
How do I make a gift to Queen's?
Did you know that you can direct your gift to a place at Queen's that is of interest to you? This could include the Queen's Annual Fund to help areas of greatest need, the faculty or school from which you graduated, the department you studied through, the athletic team you competed on, or the club you participated in. Whatever you decide, the students of tomorrow will benefit from your kindness today!
Gifts to Queen's can be made in a number of different ways:
- By visiting the web at www.givetoqueens.ca
- By calling 1.800.267.7837
- By mailing a donation to the Advancement Business Office, Office of Advancement, Queen's University, Kingston ON K7L 3N6
Who is eligible to register for the Common Room@Queen’s?
Those individuals who have been registered in a Queen’s degree program and who have attended Queen's for one year full-time and whose class has graduated are eligible to sign up for the Common Room. If you did not receive a Queen’s degree but meet these specifications, you can be set up as a “non-grad” and as such you will be able to register for the Common Room.
Please e-mail your details (name, preferred year of affiliation and home address) to olc@queensu.ca.
I have searched for my name and I can’t find it, what should I do?
Please try searching without including your class year or with just your last name. If you still cannot locate your record please contact us at olc@queensu.ca.
How can I find someone if I only know their maiden name?
Your classmates can actually search for you on both names. There is a check box below the "Last Name" search box that allows for a search on maiden name; “Search only for last names that have changed (e.g., maiden or former name)”. You can find this by clicking on the “Find a Friend” button and then clicking on the “Search The Directory” link.
Please note that we do not accurately have all maiden names listed – if you cannot find who you are looking for, please email olc@queensu.ca.
I have already registered and set up my permanent e-mail address, can this be changed?
Yes, this can be changed but please be aware that this will also change your user ID to the name that you specify. Contact olc@queensu.ca with your name, year, degree, student number and what you would like your permanent e-mail address changed to.
How does Queen’s provide the OLC?
The Online Community is brought to you by the Department of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving at Queen’s University. We license the applications that make up the community from Harris Connect and provide others from in-house sources. In all cases, privacy and security of alumni information is paramount.
Is my information safe?
The data contained in the online community database is property of Queen’s University which is governed by the Ontario Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act A brief summary of the Act is available online on the Queen's Access & Privacy Office site
Much time and research was put into the decision to partner with Harris Internet Services. The Bernard C. Harris Publishing Company, Inc. was chosen as they have been providing hundreds of educational institutions and associations with a quality service for over 40 years. For a full description on the Harris Connect Privacy Policy please click here
Harris Internet Services is an active participant in the Council of Better Business Bureau's BBBOnLine Privacy Program This demonstrates how committed they are to security. The BBBOnLine Privacy Program has very strict requirements regarding how data is treated and verified.
What does it mean if the status of an alumnus is "L-Lost"?
The "L" indicator on an individual’s record shows that he/she is a "lost trail" in our system meaning that we don't have any current contact information on them. We have included this indicator in the hopes that someone who knows the alum might be able to help them get reconnected with the university for reunions, for the Alumni Review magazine and to register with the Common Room.
How does the “find a friend” feature work?
To locate someone, you can click on the "Find a Friend" link and then the "Search The Directory" link and enter you friend’s information (last name, first name, etc.). This will take you to another screen that will list all possible matches to your search. Those individuals who are registered will have a Queen's flag beside their name. Click on the individual who you are trying to find, this will take you to a screen with all of their information. Please take note that it is up to individual to show as little or as much information as they desire.
If your friend has chosen to give others the ability to contact them, a “contact this person via e-mail” link will be displayed in their profile. When you click on this link a window will pop up into which you can enter a message and then hit the “send message” button. To maintain a level of privacy, we have elected to provide you with a method of email communication without displaying each individual's email address. For further information on blind e-mail, please click here (you will need to enter your user ID and password)
If your friend has chosen not to display their primary e-mail address, you can check to see if they have listed their home/business addresses. If your friend has chosen to hide all of their information then please feel free to contact the Records Department at records@queensu.ca - they will be able to assist you by sending an e-mail or postcard to the individual letting him/her know that you are trying to reach them, if we have active contact information on file.
If you could please include the name and degree of the person you are trying to reach and what information of yours you would like to forward, the Records Department will be able to help you contact the alum.
The login retrieval does not recognize the e-mail address that should be associated with my account.
Quite often the reason why your e-mail entry is not responding when you enter it into our password retrieval system is because you have your tricolour address listed as your primary e-mail account. Since this is a forwarding service you will get your e-mails at your existing e-mail account (i.e. hotmail, yahoo, cogeco, etc.) even though you have your tricolour address listed in your profile. Try entering your tricolour e-mail address in the area that asks for your e-mail address on the "Retrieve Login Information" page. This will send your password to your actual e-mail account.
When I try to view how others see my profile, why do I get a message saying "Sorry, the owner of this directory listing has elected to block viewing access to everyone."
The reason why your profile is hidden completely is because under your profile you have checked the "Hide" check box at the top of your profile. If you go in and uncheck the main Hide button this will make your profile visible to others online. You can then go in to each specific area in your profile (personal, home address, business, etc.) and uncheck as many or as few of the hide boxes as you like. This way you can control how much of your information is visible to others.
Please click here to go to your profile (you will need to enter your user ID and password).