Special Purpose Accounts (SPA) Overview

A Special Purpose Account (SPA) is a shared CalNet ID used by multiple users for collaborative purposes. SPAs are primarily used for departmental email accounts (bMail) and shared file access.

How SPAs Work

• No Shared Passwords: Instead of sharing a single password, authorized users authenticate using their own personal CalNet ID and passphrase to gain access to the SPA.
• Collaboration: Direct members of a SPA can collaborate on emails and documents using a single, consistent identity.
• Ownership: SPAs, their data, and any associated bMail accounts are owned by the institution and the primary department of the employee who created the account.

Eligibility and Membership

• Creation: Only UC Berkeley employees are eligible to create and manage a SPA.
• Direct Membership: Any campus employee, student, or affiliate can be added as a "Direct Member" to access the account's resources.

---

Quick Links for SPA Management

Action	Link
Create or View My SPAs	SPA Admin App
Edit Membership in CalGroups	Edit Direct Membership
Manage or Share bMail	SPA bMail Instructions

---

Support

For more detailed policy information, visit the Special Purpose Accounts (SPA) policy page.