Special Purpose Accounts (SPA) Overview

What is a Special Purpose Account (SPA)?

Special Purpose Accounts (SPAs) are intended for collaboration and sharing. A SPA is a CalNet ID. It can have a bConnected Google address and a Box account. SPAs, their contents/data, and the shared email account are owned by the institution and the primary department of the employee who creates the SPA at the time the SPA is created.

Who owns a SPA?

SPAs, their contents/data, and the shared email account are owned by the institution and the primary department (at the time the SPA is created) of the employee who creates the SPA.

Department managers have the authority to modify membership and/or disable a SPA at any time, and manage the content of the account. Department managers can email calnet-admin@berkeley.edu to transfer SPAs to different departments or modify SPA membership.

How do I create a SPA, or manage the members of an existing SPA?

SPAs can be managed via the SPA Admin App. You can manage any SPA of which you are a Direct Member via the admin app.

How do I share my SPA?

There are two ways to share a SPA:

• You can add Direct Members. See Managing SPA Membership in CalGroups
• Alternately, you can delegate access to a SPA-affiliated bMail account. See Managing SPA-affiliated Departmental bMail Accounts

How can I find the UID of my SPA account?

1. Go to calgroups.berkeley.edu
2. Search for your spa-name.
3. Click on the SP_Account-name, and the Unique ID (UID) will be listed at the top.

How do I create a bConnected Google Account for use with my SPA?

Instructions can be found here: Managing SPA-Affiliated bMail Accounts

How do SPAs appear in LDAP?

Find information on SPAs and LDAP at: People OU - SPA LDAP Attributes

Can I delete a SPA?

SPAs cannot be deleted at this time. If you want to stop using a SPA, do the following:

• Remove delegated access
• Remove all direct members
• Email calnet-admin@berkeley.edu to request future deletion.

How do I change the display name of my SPA?

For instructions, see this knowledge base article.

Contact Us

To create SPAs, use the Special Purpose Accounts Admin App. For questions, contact itcsshelp@berkeley.edu.