James Madison University Information Technology said Microsoft began retiring older email technology this month, affecting some applications used to access JMU email in Harrisonburg. In an Oct. 5 announcement, JMU IT said it has put a temporary workaround in place for Apple Mail on macOS, but Microsoft is expected to eliminate the workaround in early 2027.
JMU IT said Apple Mail for macOS is the only JMU-supported email client still using Exchange Web Services, the technology being retired. The university’s workaround applies only to Apple Mail; JMU IT said it cannot extend it to unsupported applications, including DavMail, EdisonMail and Fantastical 2 for Mac.
Microsoft Outlook on Windows, Mac and mobile, iOS Mail and Outlook on the web are not affected, according to JMU IT. The department said Apple may address Apple Mail’s compatibility issue in a future update to macOS Golden Gate, but neither Apple nor JMU can guarantee whether or when that update will be released. JMU IT also said Golden Gate will not run on Intel Macs.
JMU IT said it expects to begin distributing Golden Gate to eligible university computers during the academic year. For JMU-issued Macs that cannot run the operating system, the department recommends replacement planning through employees’ departments.
Users with questions or who need help moving to Outlook can contact the JMU IT Help Desk at (540) 568-3555 or helpdesk@jmu.edu, according to the announcement.