Kaz Kylheku put forth on 9/14/2010 5:35 PM:
One solution would be to set up a mail server in the CS department; maybe the University IT would go for that, depending on the rapport between them and the CS dept.
This is technically feasible.
Give this mailo server its own mail domain (MX record).
This is probably not politically feasible.
Then install whatever mail handling software you want for you and your colleagues.
The only missing piece would be to forward your University e-mail (going to you@university) to your CS mail server (you@cs.university).
This is properly done with mail _routing_ not forwarding. You don't want to use forwarding in this scenario.
This could be achieved if the university mail system provides forwarding.
Again, routing is needed here, not forwarding.
From your cs mail, you could still use the you@university address for sending; no need to reveal you@cs.university.
The only way the IT dept would go for this is if the single uni domain was used, and the mailboxes for the CS department were stored on a departmental mail server. All mail would still route into and out of the university's MX/mailhub, which would route mail destined for addresses of the CS department to the new CS mail server. This server would be configured to relay all outbound mail (assuming it is used for submission) through the uni mail hub. This is simple to do with Exim, Postfix, Qmail, and Sendmail. With Exchange I'm not sure, assuming Exchange is their mail hub. If it will do routing, that's the way to go.