Re: Email Etiquette

By Avery Slavin News Editor Andrea Zereski Staff Writer Hello, all! We hope this finds you well. We are reaching out regarding the recent lack of etiquette when it comes to sending emails. Since coming back to school and having to regularly use Outlook again, we’ve noticed a lot of little peeves that have bothered us when it comes to emailing in terms of both students and faculty. First, the greeting. This sets the tone for the entire email. For us, we love to let the recipient know we care. “Good morning! Hope your day is off to a great start!” or “Good afternoon! Hope you had a good weekend!” establishes sincerity. When we receive an email with just our names or no greeting at all, it makes us feel like we are in trouble. While you can’t read tone over the computer, it just gives a lackadaisical undertone - like they would rather be doing anything else than communicating with us. Growing up, we were taught to always be professional when sending an email. When did this message fall silent? It seems like as time goes on, the formatting of these emails gets lazier and lazier. Punctuation sometimes stops being a priority, run-on paragraphs become hard to follow, and it looks more like a casual text than a seemingly professional email. It is not uncommon for professors to give out their phone numbers to their students. If they want their message to be in text form, then text. This professionalism has been considered a sign of respect for decades, and its recent absence speaks volumes. Not only has the quality of emails decreased, but the frequency of opening Outlook has as well. Responses have started to take days, or even weeks, sometimes even missing the target completely when a response is finally administered. Students miss group project communications between peers and critical messages from departments across campus. Most professors expect us to check our email every day for important updates regarding courses. However, it seems they do not always follow the practice they are preaching. While we understand their inbox may be flooded, it only takes a minute to skim a message. Most of the time, when students reach out via email, it means that they are in urgent need of help. As they typically steer clear of the app altogether, it’s almost a given that the content of their email is seeking clarification. A single response could drastically affect a grade. Higher education is about preparing students for the real world. Isn’t that what is always emphasized? The ways we communicate throughout these years will directly translate to our behaviors in the workplace, whether we believe it or not. Writing professionally is a critical skill that will translate far beyond the classroom. If we expect to be taken seriously in our careers, we must implement better habits. The total responsibility for this does not just fall on the students, though. We are learning through example. If professors take days to respond and have unprofessional content, we will meet them where they are and adopt these approaches. Faculty must hold themselves to professional standards as well. Email etiquette is a two-way street, and professors and students need to start practicing it. Our Verdict: Ultimately, professionalism starts with accountability, and it’s time for everyone on campus to start taking it. Thank you for your time, Avery and Andrea