Emailing Your Professors: Tips for Students
“Emails are typically hasty…(but) when you are writing a serious email, absolutely the last thing you should be trying to do is to save yourself a little time.”
(Larry Trask, “How to Write Effective Emails,” Penguin Books)
The email message below provided some of the inspiration for this handout:
Hey Prof, this is nick from your bio class, i managed to set my alarm wrong and missed the test today, is it pocipal for me to take it at a difrent time. i work at night and have never functioned properly in the morning. Also, what may i do to make up the absences I have in the the class, and help would be greatly apreciated. life has been a little crazy for the past couple months. thank you-nick.
So what would a good email to a professor look like?
Hi Professor Smith,
I’m reading the Palumbi article “Humans as the World’s Greatest Evolutionary Force” and I’m not sure which section of the lecture material this relates to. Can you lead me in the right direction? Thanks.
Amy Jones, Bio 215, MWF 12:00
Consider any email to a professor a serious, business-type communication that requires a different and more formal approach than the casual emails that you “shoot” to your friends. The following tips are modified from Michael Leddy (http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2005/01/how-to-e-mail-professor.html)
ALWAYS include the course number in your subject line. “Question re Bio 361” is clear and sounds genuine, while “a question” looks like spam.
Reply with History. Include the previous emails with your response as long as the subject remains the same, so it will be immediately evident what has been discussed. When the subject changes, start a new email with a new subject-line.
This is not text messaging. Use upper case letters where appropriate, and ask politely. “I can’t make any of your office hours. Will it be convenient for me to come by on Tuesday, October 17th, at 8:30am?” is a lot better than “I need to meet u at a different time.”
Write from your university email account (if possible). That immediately lets your professor see that your email is legitimate and not spam. A cryptic, cutesy, or salacious personal email address that might be okay when you send an email to a friend is not appropriate when you are writing to a professor. Consider, in light of this advice, the following examples:
An email from “qtpie2008” with the subject line “question” or an email from a university account with the subject line “question about Biology 205 readings.”
Which one looks legitimate? Which one looks like spam?
Choose an appropriate greeting. “Hi/Hello Professor [Blank]” is always appropriate. Substitute “Dear” if you have ended up writing a letter, leave out “Hi” and your tone is too brusque.
What should a student call a professor? Some people like “Doctor;” some don’t. Some professors don’t have doctoral degrees. Professor, in the absence of any other guideline, is a good choice.
Proof read what you’ve written. Use spell check. If your email does not have spell check, then copy and paste your text into a word document that does have spell check, make the corrections, and then paste the text back into your email.
Sign with your full name, course number, and meeting time. For example, Maggie Smith, Biology 215, MWF 1pm. Signing is an obvious courtesy, and it eliminates the need for stilted self-identification (“I am a student in your such-in-such class”).
Don’t ask questions that require lengthy answers. Questions that require lengthy answers are best asked in person during office hours.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
How to Add a Closed College Class
How to Add a Closed College Class (aka “Crashing”) created by Scott Brewer, SBCC Academic Counselor
Every college student will find themselves needing a class that is closed. You still have options for getting into that class. The key is to communicate with the instructor and to make a request that is likely to be accepted. Here’s how:
Start Early. Contact the instructor before classes begin. Find out the instructor’s email, voicemail and/or office location. You can usually find this info on the college’s web-site or in their catalog.
Be courteous. You are asking for a favor and the instructor is under no obligation to add you. Thank them for considering your request. Address them as, “Professor” and strike a professional tone (no text/IM style here).
Be specific and brief. Request the exact course (section number, dates and times) you would like to add. Briefly describe the reasons you would like to add the course. If you have a good reason for not registering before the class closed, mention it.
Project commitment. Instructors want hard-working and motivated students in their classes. Establish yourself as such in your communication. Lazy students who simply waited till the last minute have less of a chance of getting in.
Attend early the first day. If you can’t contact the instructor in advance or you do not hear back from them, go to the first class meeting. Arrive early. Ask the instructor if s/he will be accepting adds. If the answer is yes, ask if you can be put on the add list. If not, politely excuse yourself and move on to the next potential class.
Be persistent. If the instructor expressed a chance that you may add, tell him/her that you would like to keep attending for a space that may become available. Often one or more students will drop the course and you may end up with a spot.
No whining. Do not insist or beg the instructor. It won’t get you anywhere and it’s embarrassing.
Show gratitude. If the instructor allows you to add the class, thank the instructor immediately. But perhaps the best way to give thanks is to be a positive, involved and hard-working student in the course.
Be responsible. If you are allowed to add the class late, take responsibility for catching up. Find out the instructor’s office hours and make the time for a visit to collect any class materials you have missed. Talk to other students to get notes on what you have missed.
Plan ahead. Next time, plan your registration so you are on the roster the first day and won’t have to go through the stress of adding.
Never show up in the middle or at the end of a class and ask, “Can I add your class?” This does not make you look like a dedicated student. It’s easy to say no to someone who hasn’t even bothered to be there on time.
Every college student will find themselves needing a class that is closed. You still have options for getting into that class. The key is to communicate with the instructor and to make a request that is likely to be accepted. Here’s how:
Start Early. Contact the instructor before classes begin. Find out the instructor’s email, voicemail and/or office location. You can usually find this info on the college’s web-site or in their catalog.
Be courteous. You are asking for a favor and the instructor is under no obligation to add you. Thank them for considering your request. Address them as, “Professor” and strike a professional tone (no text/IM style here).
Be specific and brief. Request the exact course (section number, dates and times) you would like to add. Briefly describe the reasons you would like to add the course. If you have a good reason for not registering before the class closed, mention it.
Project commitment. Instructors want hard-working and motivated students in their classes. Establish yourself as such in your communication. Lazy students who simply waited till the last minute have less of a chance of getting in.
Attend early the first day. If you can’t contact the instructor in advance or you do not hear back from them, go to the first class meeting. Arrive early. Ask the instructor if s/he will be accepting adds. If the answer is yes, ask if you can be put on the add list. If not, politely excuse yourself and move on to the next potential class.
Be persistent. If the instructor expressed a chance that you may add, tell him/her that you would like to keep attending for a space that may become available. Often one or more students will drop the course and you may end up with a spot.
No whining. Do not insist or beg the instructor. It won’t get you anywhere and it’s embarrassing.
Show gratitude. If the instructor allows you to add the class, thank the instructor immediately. But perhaps the best way to give thanks is to be a positive, involved and hard-working student in the course.
Be responsible. If you are allowed to add the class late, take responsibility for catching up. Find out the instructor’s office hours and make the time for a visit to collect any class materials you have missed. Talk to other students to get notes on what you have missed.
Plan ahead. Next time, plan your registration so you are on the roster the first day and won’t have to go through the stress of adding.
Never show up in the middle or at the end of a class and ask, “Can I add your class?” This does not make you look like a dedicated student. It’s easy to say no to someone who hasn’t even bothered to be there on time.
Visiting Representatives
Santa Barbara City College Transfer Center
Visiting Representatives
Spring 2011 Schedule
Antioch University
January 26th
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
Campus Center Patio
February 1st
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February 2nd
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9:00am until 6:00pm
Transfer Center
February 8th
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February 9th
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February 15th
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West Campus
February 16th
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February 22nd
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Campus Center Patio
February 23rd
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March 1st
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
West Campus
March 2nd
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March 8th
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9:00am until 1:00pm
Campus Center Patio
March 9th
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9:00am until 6:00pm
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March 15th
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
West Campus
March 16th
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9:00am until 6:00pm
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March 22nd
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Campus Center Patio
March 23rd
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April 5th
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April 6th
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April 13th
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April 19th
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April 20th
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April 27th
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May 3rd
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May 4th
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May 10th
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March 1st
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February 10th
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March 9th
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April 7th
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Brandman University
January 26th
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February 15th
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10:00am until 2:30pm
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March 8th
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10:00am until 2:30pm
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10:00am until 2:30pm
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April 6th
Tabling
10:00am until 2:30pm
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10:00am until 2:30pm
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April 27th
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10:00am until 2:30pm
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Cal Lutheran University
February 1st
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9:00am until 12:00pm
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March 14th
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1:00am until 4:00pm
Transfer Center
Academy of Art University
February 23rd
Tabling
11:00am until 2:00pm
Campus Center Patio
Visiting Representatives
Spring 2011 Schedule
Antioch University
January 26th
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
Campus Center Patio
February 1st
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
West Campus
February 2nd
Appointments
9:00am until 6:00pm
Transfer Center
February 8th
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
Campus Center Patio
February 9th
Appointments
9:00am until 6:00pm
Transfer Center
February 15th
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
West Campus
February 16th
Appointments
9:00am until 6:00pm
Transfer Center
February 22nd
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
Campus Center Patio
February 23rd
Appointments
9:00am until 6:00pm
Transfer Center
March 1st
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
West Campus
March 2nd
Appointments
9:00am until 6:00pm
Transfer Center
March 8th
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
Campus Center Patio
March 9th
Appointments
9:00am until 6:00pm
Transfer Center
March 15th
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
West Campus
March 16th
Appointments
9:00am until 6:00pm
Transfer Center
March 22nd
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
Campus Center Patio
March 23rd
Appointments
9:00am until 6:00pm
Transfer Center
April 5th
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
West Campus
April 6th
Appointments
9:00am until 6:00pm
Transfer Center
April 13th
Appointments
9:00am until 6:00pm
Transfer Center
April 19th
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
Campus Center
April 20th
Appointments
9:00am until 6:00pm
Transfer Center
April 27th
Appointments
9:00am until 6:00pm
Transfer Center
May 3rd
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
West Campus
May 4th
Appointments
9:00am until 6:00pm
Appointments
May 10th
Tabling
9:00am until 1:00pm
Campus Center Patio
May 11th
Appointments
9:00am until 6:00pm
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UC Santa Barbara
February 2nd
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12:00pm until 4pm
Transfer Center
February 16th
Appointments
10am until 2:30pm
Transfer Center
March 2nd
Appointments
12:30pm until 4:30pm
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March 16th
Appointments
12:00pm until 4:00pm
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April 6th
Appointments
12:00pm until 4:00pm
Transfer Center
April 20th
Appointments
10:00am until 2:30pm
Transfer Center
May 4th
Appointments
1:00pm until 5:00pm
Transfer Center
UC San Diego
March 1st
Appointments
9:00am until 12:00pm
Transfer Center
International Student Admissions Presentation
12:00pm until 1:00pm
TBA
CSU, Channel Islands (International Student Rep)
February 10th
Tabling
12:30pm until 1:30pm
Campus Center Patio
Appointments
1:30pm until 2:30pm
Transfer Center
March 9th
Tabling
12:30pm until 1:30pm
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1:30pm until 2:30pm
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April 7th
Tabling
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Campus Center Patio
1:30pm until 2:30pm
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May 10th
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February 16th
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March 22nd
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10:00am until 3:00pm
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April 21st
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Brandman University
January 26th
Tabling
10:00am until 3:00pm
Campus Center Patio
February 15th
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10:00am until 2:30pm
West Campus
Appointments
10:00am until 2:30pm
Transfer Center
March 8th
Tabling
10:00am until 2:30pm
Campus Center Patio
Appointments
10:00am until 2:30pm
Transfer Center
April 6th
Tabling
10:00am until 2:30pm
West Campus
Appointments
10:00am until 2:30pm
Transfer Center
April 27th
Tabling
10:00am until 2:30pm
Campus Center Patio
Cal Lutheran University
February 1st
Appointments
9:00am until 12:00pm
Transfer Center
March 14th
Appointments
1:00am until 4:00pm
Transfer Center
Academy of Art University
February 23rd
Tabling
11:00am until 2:00pm
Campus Center Patio
Monday, January 24, 2011
CSU Monterey Bay Ranks 4th in California for Racial Diversity
CSU Monterey Bay Ranks 4th in California for Racial Diversity Ethnicity backgrounds of about 4,200 students who attended California State University, Monterey Bay in Spring 2010, according to the school’s Institutional Assessment and Research.White: 2,099; 50 percent Latino American: 1,105; 26 percent Asian American: 231; 6 percent Two or more: 181; 4 percent African American: 165; 4 percent Pacific Islander: 31; 1 percent Native American: 29; 1 percent Other/decline: 357; 9 percent Source: http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20100819/NEWS12/8190310/California-State-University-Monterey-Bay-ranked-fourth-in-state-for-racial-diversity
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