Email: Generic Settings

The following information is for setting up your UARK email mailbox in an unsupported/open-source email client such as Thunderbird, Outlook Express, Zimbra Desktop, etc.

Students (UARK Gmail)

Incoming Mail Server (IMAP)

  • Enter imap.gmail.com as the Incoming Mail Server (IMAP).

  • The security stype is SSL.

  • The server port is 993.

Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)

  • Enter smtp.gmail.com as the Incoming Mail Server (IMAP). Select the option to use authentication.

  • The security type is STARTTLS: Yes. Some applications label this as SSL.

  • The server port is 465 or 587.

Faculty/Staff (Exchange)

Incoming Mail Server (IMAP)

  • Enter exchange.uark.edu as the Incoming Mail Server (IMAP).

  • The security type is SSL.

  • The server port is 993.

Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)

  • Enter exchange.uark.edu as the Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP).

  • The security type is TLS.

  • The server port is 587.

UA Mail

In 2012, faculty and staff will be required to migrate to Exchange and students to UARK Gmail, when UA Mail is retired.

UA Mail users are instructed to set exchange.uark.edu as the outgoing or SMTP mail server.

Incoming Mail Server (IMAP)

  • Enter mail.uark.edu as the Incoming Mail Server (IMAP).

  • You are required to authenticate using your UARK username and password. The security type is SSL.

  • The server port is 993.

Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)

  • Enter exchange.uark.edu as the Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP).

  • The security type is TLS.

  • The server port is 587.

Last Reviewed:

Byron Mayfield

02/18/2011
11:10 pm

Is it possible to use POP instead of IMAP? Gmail Mail Fetcher requires POP, I think.


Andrew Dodson

03/22/2011
1:54 pm

Yeah I would really prefer to just download my email considering there is a limit of 100 mb on the server.....(duh?)

if you have storage issues, stick with post office protocol!


Matthew Day

08/17/2011
2:05 pm

Gmail only allows SMTP setup using ports 587, 465 or 25. Can uark change its SMTP servers to use these settings? Gmail is a very popular product and Google has been strangely unwilling to allow people to use ports 2525 or 2626.


Sultan AlFarhood

08/22/2011
4:47 am

I agree with Matthew, you should support ports 2525 or 2626.


Kathy Nichols

08/23/2011
11:38 am

The recommended protocol is IMAP. You can use a POP connection, but it is not recommended. Should you choose to set up a POP connection, please set the auto-check interval to 15 minutes. Standard UA Mail SMTP ports are blocked for off-campus use. smtp.uark.edu is available off-campus on port 2626 using TLS or 2525 using SSL. Authentication is required. Gmail has the ability to set a custom 'from address' if you prefer to use their service.


Chad Cody

12/27/2011
3:17 pm

If you have an exchange account you can send uark email from gmail using these settings:

Server name: exchange.uark.edu Port: 587 Encryption method: TLS


Garrett Smith

01/02/2012
10:37 pm

What are the correct outgoing settings for outgoing mail in thunderbird 8? I currently have my outgoing server as smtp.uark.edu, port 2525, ssl/tls, and normal password authentication. I have tried 2626 and many different combinations and it just sits at "connecting to smtp.uark.edu". I have set this up a million times in outlook and windows live but can't get it to work with thunderbird.

Walter Green

01/09/2012
9:07 am

Just to clarify any Uark email user can use exchange.uark.edu port 587 to send email even if they don't have an Exchange account.


Walter Green

01/09/2012
9:13 am

There were some technical issues with smtp.uark.edu around the time Garrett was experiencing problems with Thunderbird. Please try Thunderbird again and submit an Askit case if you are still experiencing issues.


Phil Gerke

01/24/2012
9:31 am

I'm trying to configure Thunderbird 9.0.1 to the exchange.uark.edu settings, but the only two options for security are "STARTTLS" or "SSL/TLS". Which of the two should I pick?


Erin Griffin

01/24/2012
9:33 am

Phil, select SSL/TLS for the correct setting.


Phil Gerke

01/24/2012
10:38 am

Mozilla Champ "rsx11m" said:

"Use STARTTLS with port 587 (or the old 25, depending on how that server is configured) or SSL/TLS with port 465. If they explicitly ask for "TLS" then they probably refer to the STARTTLS protocol (that was the labeling prior to Thunderbird 3.0)."


Erin Griffin

01/24/2012
10:50 am

Phil, the settings outlined in this article are provided by the UARK Exchange server administrators and technical personnel. These settings are specific to the university's configuration and may not apply to other outside systems. If you are having trouble connecting to university email, please go to askit.uark.edu to submit a request for online support.