How does the new NAAA Database differ from the old Electronic Phonebook?
Who will have access to the information I submit?
How will my information be used?
What do I have to do to access the database?
Will my subscriptions on the NAAA email lists continue to be updated automatically when I change my email in the database?
Will I still be able to use my personal naaa email alias (firstname.lastname@nasa-academy.org)?

Other questions? Contact NAAA Membership

1. How does the new database differ from the old system?
The new database architecture provides significant new capabilities and is much more automated than the system used in the past.  The most significant differences you will notice are:

• Access to the database will be controlled via login and password
• You will be able to view and edit your database record from the same screen, with changes updated online immediately
• There are a number of new fields
• Improved search capabilities
  From the administrative perspective, the new database is much easier to maintain, and will elimate a lot of work that used to have to be done manually.

2. Who will have access to the information I submit?  
In addition to providing more utility to NAAA members, the new database actually makes it much easier to safeguard your personal information from unauthorized users.

There are three levels of access to information in the database:

• Basic information such as your academy center and year, sponsoring state and university, and current job title and city is accessible to to any web user to visits the NAAA website.
• NAAA members with a valid login and password will also have access to your email, preferred us mail address, as well as some miscellaneous fields such as interests, birthday, academic info.  However, you can elect to keep this information private even from authorized users.  
• Database administrators will obviously have access to all of the fields.

3. How will my information be used?
The NAAA maintains the alumni database for two primary purposes, 1) to maintain current contact information on all alumni as a service for the Academy program offices, and 2) to support the vitality of the NAAA community by providing a means for the members to stay in contact.

As an authorized user, you will be able to look up the contact info of fellow alumni, perform searches to determine which alumni came from a particular state, attended a certain university, worked for a specific company, etc.  

The new database incorporates several new fields that were added at the request of the NASA Academy program office and Dr. Julius Dasch, the Director of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program at NASA HQ.  They have asked the NAAA to collect specific, statistical information on the NASA Academy alumni that can be used to help justify continued NASA and Space Grant support of the Program.  To this end, data and statistics will be periodically collected and provided to NASA Academy staff, Space Grants, or other officials.

In the future, select groups or individuals (ie: NAAA sponsors, space grants, etc) may be given special access to certain fields (via login/passwords).  As an example, a company may be given access to an online alumni resume database in return for providing sponsorship or funding for the NAAA.

4. What do I have to do to access the database?
The database is accessible from any web browser.  All NAAA members in good standing will be issued a login and initial password.  You are asked to change your password the first time you login.  If you fail to maintain a current membership in the NAAA, your login could be disabled until your membership has been renewed.

5. Will my subscriptions on the NAAA email lists continue to be updated automatically when I change my email in the database?
The email you specify in the database will be automatically kept up to date on the "news" email list, used for official announcements and postings from the NAAA officers and staff.

You will be responsible for maintaining your own subscriptions to the other email lists, including the "alumni" list, and the individual "city-area" lists.  The NAAA will be introducing a new web-based interface that can be used to maintain and update these subscriptions.

6. Will I still be able to use my personal naaa email alias (firstname.lastname@nasa-academy.org)?
The email aliases redirect email to the primary address you specified in the database.  The new database will eventually support a similar service, however the existing links have not
been updated in several months, since the transition to the new database started.  If you have not changed your primary email address lately, your alias should still work; however, it will be a few weeks before this service gets transitioned to the new database.