• Treat email as you would a regular mail letter.
  1. Use descriptive subject headings in your emails.   
  2. Respectfully address the person you are writing, use his or her title and name (Mr., Mrs., Dr.), 
  3. Close each message with your name as recorded in the college records (Sincerely, John Doe) and your Student ID number.
  4. Limit each message to one topic and keep it succinct.   
  5. Use your employee voice.  Remain professional and do not use accusatory, vulgar or offensive.   Stick to the facts, and address how you want an issue resolved.
  6. Using all uppercase in a word or phrase SHOUTS.  Informal communication with college staff and faculty, do not use all CAPITALIZATION of words; it is received as yelling.  Sarcasm, text speak (ex. Lol), and emotion or emoticons ( :-) or symbols) are neither accepted nor needed.   
  7. If you are attaching a file, alert the reader to review the attached document. Save your document with a relevant filename.  
  8. Conduct a spelling and grammar check on all electronic communication.  
• Reply promptly to messages received.  
  1. When replying to an email, restate the message to clearly identify the context of the message.  
  2. When emailing about a specific course, list the specific area of the course in which you are concerned.  This may reduce the instructor's time locating information.
  3. Do not forward it to others without the writer’s permission.
• General Email tips
  1. Keep email for a digital paper trail.  It is digital and never goes away.
  2. Do not attempt to represent yourself as someone you are not.  
  3. Do not criticize others publicly such as on the discussion board.
  4. Practice safe communication- don’t spread viruses! Check before opening email attachments and/or downloadable executable files.  
  5. Consider your student code of ethics while on the system and behave accordingly.