Retiree Email FAQ (Public)

Any benefits-eligible employee retiring from WVU can receive access to a personal retiree email account with an @retiree.wvu.edu address upon request. This includes employees at the Health Sciences Center, and the Beckley and Keyser campuses. This email account is a personal account, and should not be used to conduct University business. 

What is retiree email? 

WVU provides a free version of Microsoft 365 email to benefits-eligible WVU retirees who request an account to help sustain their connections with other retirees, their colleagues and the University. This email is housed in a separate system from WVU’s official mail accounts and will end with @retiree.wvu.edu.

What access do retirees get? 

Retirees will receive a Microsoft 365 account that provides access only to web-based email and Calendar. Please be aware that if you are using SharePoint or OneDrive, you will lose access to those services unless you are an Emeritus retiree. Licensing for retiree email does not include free Microsoft 365.

Who gets a retiree account? 

Any benefits-eligible employee retiring from WVU can request a retiree account. This includes retirees from the Morgantown, Beckley, Keyser and Health Sciences Center campuses. WVU Parkersburg retirees are not eligible. 

How do I sign up? 

Sign-up is a part of retirement processing through WVU Talent and Culture. Benefits Strategy will ask if you would like a retiree email. If so, you will be asked to provide a personal email address as part of this process. You MUST have a personal email address to claim your new @retiree account. We’ll use this personal email address to notify you when your @retiree account is available. Notification will come in an email directly from Microsoft. You’ll also need the personal email address as a backup in case you forget your password and need to reset it.

When do I lose access to my WVU work account? 

Most retirees will lose access to their @mail.wvu.edu account on their last working day.

How soon will my @retiree account be ready? 

You can claim your account within one week of the day that Information Technology Services receives notification of your retirement from Benefits Administration. You will receive a notification from Microsoft in your personal, non-WVU account that your new @retiree account is ready.

What if I don't get a notification from Microsoft for my @retiree account? 

If you don't see an email notification from Microsoft, check your spam or junk folder. Your personal email account may have filtered the message. 

What are the rules for this account? 

It is important to note this new @retiree account is a personal account and not a University employee email account. It does not have the same rules as your employee @mail email account. Here are some rules to remember about your @retiree account: 

• You must claim your account within one year of it being created. Accounts not claimed within 366 days of creation will be deleted. 

• You must keep your account active. That means signing into the account at least once in a two-year period. Accounts not used actively for 730 consecutive days will be closed due to inactivity. 

• You can import contacts from your @mail account, but you cannot import any content from your employee @mail email account. Such data is University property and may not be transferred to an @retiree email account. 

• Duo two-factor authentication is not required. 

What will my email address be?  

Your WVU Login username will be followed by @retiree.wvu.edu. For example, jadoe0012@retiree.wvu.edu.

How do I log into my retiree account? 

Go to the Microsoft 365 portal and enter your @retiree.wvu.edu address and password.

What happens to my @mail.wvu.edu or my @hsc.wvu.edu account?

Access to your employee Microsoft 365 account is removed when you retire. The only exceptions are for Emeriti. Retirees with Emeritus status continue to have the same level of access to University systems as they had when they were employees.

If you want to request emeritus status, contact your department and/or SBA. Your department will inform Benefits Administration that you have applied.

Can I keep my contacts? 

Yes, but you must export your contacts before you lose access to your @mail account. You can export contacts to your new account using these instructions.

How do I change my password? 

If you know your @retiree email password, follow these instructions:  

1. Sign in to your Microsoft 365 account with your existing password. 

2. Select your profile on the upper-right side, and then select View account. 

3. Select Security & privacy > Password. 

4. Enter your old password, set and confirm your new password, and then select Submit. 

If you don’t know your @retiree email password, contact the ITS Service Desk for assistance at 304-293-4444.

How do I find addresses for other retirees? 

In your @retiree mailbox, you can search the Microsoft 365 address book for names. However, if the person you are seeking has not claimed their @retiree account, you won’t see their email address. Only Emeriti retirees will appear in directory.wvu.edu.

Why do I get a bounce-back message after emailing a retiree? 

You will receive a bounce-back message if the recipient hasn't set up their retiree mailbox. 

Do I need any special software installed on my computer? 

No, you will always access your email online and log in through a website. 

How do I get my @retiree mail on my mobile device? 

Call the ITS Service Desk at 304-293-4444 or follow these instructions to connect your mobile device to Microsoft 365: 

• Connect iPhone, iPad & iPod Devices to Microsoft 365

• Connect Your Android Device to Microsoft 365

I didn't keep my account active, but now I want to use it. Can it be reactivated? 

If you either didn't claim your @retiree account within a year, or did not keep the account active and you can't log in to it now, contact the ITS Service Desk at 304-293-4444 and request that your retiree account be reinstated. Note that any content generated before your account was deactivated may not be recoverable. 

What if I don't want an @retiree email account, now or ever? 

No problem. This is a voluntary service. Accounts aren’t active until you claim them.

How do I get Emeritus status? 

Emeritus is an honorary status granted to some faculty when they retire. Contact your SBA to request Emeritus status. View WVU's Emeritus Status policies and the Emeritus status benefits for more information. 

Need help or receiving an error message? 

Call the ITS Service Desk at 304-293-4444 or email ITSHelp@mail.wvu.edu.  

I still have questions. Who do I call? 

Please direct questions about this email service to ITSHelp@mail.wvu.edu or call 304-293-4444.

Direct questions about retiree benefits and services to retirement@mail.wvu.edu or visit the Talent and Culture website.