User Import CSV: Applicant changing email breaks link to application responses

Tamara Tsang

Does anyone else have this trouble with their student emails? Because email addresses aren't static, and students can change them, the user import csv is constantly creating new records or failing to link to previous responses because BAM's import setting require BOTH the UID and email.

Is it possible to just use the UID header, since it is unique and remains constant throughout their academic career? Did Blackbaud consider this option?

OR

Has anyone figured out a way to prevent the duplicates or mismatched data from changing email addresses? You can't stop students from changing their preferred email. :/

I've got over 80,000 records now instead of 65K because this keeps happening. NOT to mention they look unqualified on many opportunities because their data is sitting on prior email combos. :(

Crystal Bruce

Hi @Tamara Tsang - I am checking with my team on this!

Tamara Tsang

Thanks! I keep wondering if I can just use a blank on the email import setting, and leave the UID one….but afraid that might not work! Maybe I'll try that in my test instance!

Crystal Bruce

Hey @Tamara Tsang just wanted to see how things were going with your testing and if that worked!

Tamara Tsang

It doesn't work without both. Customer support told me that if the UID is correct though, the email address should overwrite versus creating a new record. Not sure if that is true or not given the number of additional records I'm seeing, but I have cycle management in less than a month, so thankfully I'll have a clean slate to work with. :)

Victor Swindell

I know in the past I've had to ask BB support to change them on their end.
in a few years we are going to change the mail server part of our emails..and all the Student and Staff emails are going to change…and wonder how to best update them.