The Convergence Bordeaux webmail is based on the Roundcube web client, deployed at the academic level to manage the messaging of staff from the Ministry of National Education linked to the Bordeaux academy. Access is made via the address courrier.ac-bordeaux.fr, using credentials related to the academic repository. Mastering the layout of its interface and the logic of its folders helps reduce the time spent searching for a message or sorting emails.
CAS Authentication and Convergence Bordeaux Session
Before exploring the interface, it is essential to understand the mechanism that locks it. Access to the webmail goes through a centralized CAS authentication (Central Authentication Service). This single portal also serves as an entry point to other institutional applications like ARENA or iProf.
Specifically, a single username/password pair opens the door to multiple services. The username typically takes the form of the initial of the first name followed by the last name. The password is managed via the Macadam tool, which allows for autonomous reset without contacting the rectorate.
One point of caution deserves attention: the session expires after a variable period of inactivity. Closing the tab without logging out does not end the session on a shared workstation, which exposes the inbox to unauthorized access. To learn everything about the Convergence Bordeaux webmail, the explicit logout procedure remains the only way to secure access on a shared computer.
Default Folder Structure in Convergence
The Roundcube interface of Convergence Bordeaux displays, in the left sidebar, a predefined folder structure. Each serves a specific role in the lifecycle of a message.
- Inbox: all incoming messages arrive here unless a filtering rule redirects them to a subfolder.
- Drafts: stores messages being composed, saved manually or by automatic backup (every few minutes).
- Sent Items: a copy of each sent message, provided the option is enabled in the settings. This retention is not always active by default depending on academic configurations.
- Trash: receives deleted messages. They remain there until manually or automatically emptied, with the frequency depending on the server policy of the academy.
- Junk (Spam): server-side filter, powered by an academic anti-spam system. False positives regularly slip in, especially messages containing large attachments or from unusual external domains.
The Junk folder deserves weekly checking. Legitimate administrative notifications sometimes end up in this folder, especially when sent from third-party platforms used by local authorities.
Creating Custom Folders and Sorting Rules
The default structure does not cover the organizational needs of staff receiving dozens of daily messages mixing rectoral circulars, exchanges with families, and correspondence between colleagues. Creating custom folders is done from the left sidebar, by right-clicking or using the add icon depending on the version of Roundcube.
Some principles make this organization sustainable. Limiting the depth to two levels (one parent folder and one subfolder) avoids wasting time unfolding complex structures. Naming folders by function rather than by date facilitates searching: “Pedagogical-Council,” “Parents-Students,” “Training” work better than “January” or “Term 2.”
The filtering tool integrated into Convergence then allows for automating the sorting. A filtering rule automatically redirects messages based on the sender, subject, or presence of a keyword. For example, all messages whose subject contains “circular” can be routed to a dedicated folder upon receipt.
Storage Quota and Impact on Folders
Each academic mailbox has a limited storage quota. When this quota approaches its limit, sending and receiving messages may be blocked without any visible warning in the interface. The quota bar, displayed at the bottom of the sidebar, indicates the occupancy rate.
To free up space, emptying the trash and the Junk folder is the quickest action. Deleting messages with large attachments (PDF files of several megabytes attached to circulars, for example) has an immediate effect on the remaining quota.
National Migration and IMAP Access Restrictions to Monitor
A structural change directly concerns users of Convergence Bordeaux. The Ministry of National Education has been deploying a unified messaging system at the address messagerie.education.gouv.fr since early 2026. This gradual transition involves a change of access portal while retaining the existing academic address.
The Convergence 2.0 interface is standardizing across academies. The ergonomics observed in Bordeaux should align more closely with those already in place in Créteil and Orléans-Tours. For users, this means that the current visual cues (folder layout, button placement) may evolve in the coming months.
Another significant development: in several academies using Convergence, POP and IMAP access is being disabled for migrated accounts. In Grenoble, automatic redirection to an external client like Gmail has not been allowed since mid-2025. In Créteil, partial deactivation of IMAP access has been reported for accounts migrated from September 2025.
These restrictions aim to limit account compromises and data leaks. For the staff in Bordeaux, direct consultation via the academic webmail rather than through a third-party client is becoming the recommended practice, and soon the only available option.
Therefore, managing folders and filters directly in Convergence is not just a matter of convenience. It is an adaptation to a technical environment that is deliberately closing in on the secure perimeter of the academy. Configuring custom folders and sorting rules now avoids having to reorganize everything after the migration.
