My email address is potasznik@cs.umb.edu. This forwards to amanda.potasznik@umb.edu, which is where you may get replies from.
CS and IT majors, as well as almost every working person in the United States, send several emails a day.
People who receive your emails draw conclusions from your emailing style. Writing coherent messages is especially important when emailing a boss or potential employer, but also goes a long way with professors and coworkers.
Here is a summary of do’s and don’ts when sending emails at Umass Boston and beyond:
NO
This email is in sorry shape. If it isn’t sent from a UMB address, I won’t even know who sent it. There is no greeting, no closing… just a semi-grammatical group of words. There’s a file emailed, when all late homework should only be submitted via Canvas. When I’m deciding to accept late homework, this email is very discouraging and I am tempted to disregard it. It’s nothing personal against the student – it’s just terrible etiquette that needs some pointers.
YES (emailing before class starts)
YES (emailing when you’ve already missed class)
Sure, these emails took a few extra moments to write, but it makes all the difference. As the recipient, I know exactly what is going on and am encouraged to help these organized students by accepting their documentation. Remember that if you don’t have documentation to add, you don’t need to email me at all – just submit on Canvas.
Please keep the explanations simple. Unless something is happening that requires my intervention as a professor, I don’t need to know about specific medical or personal afflictions or tribulations. You should never, ever describe bodily functions to me at all. Please. Don’t.
All 285 emails, sent for any reason, should be signed with the sender’s first and last name; they should alsoclearly include the section number. As stated in the syllabus, the Editor Google Doc link for your homework should be submitted on Canvas, so emails only need to include your reasoning and optional documentation.
As mentioned on the first day of class, you can call me Professor Potasznik, Dr. Potasznik, Professor P, Dr. P, or simply Professor. I do not use my first name in professional contexts, so you should not use it when writing emails to me.
My email address is potasznik@cs.umb.edu. This forwards to amanda.potasznik@umb.edu, which is where you may get replies from.
CS and IT majors, as well as almost every working person in the United States, send several emails a day.
People who receive your emails draw conclusions from your emailing style. Writing coherent messages is especially important when emailing a boss or potential employer, but also goes a long way with professors and coworkers.
Here is a summary of do’s and don’ts when sending emails at Umass Boston and beyond:
NO
This email is in sorry shape. If it isn’t sent from a UMB address, I won’t even know who sent it. There is no greeting, no closing… just a semi-grammatical group of words. There’s a file emailed, when all late homework should only be submitted via Canvas. When I’m deciding to accept late homework, this email is very discouraging and I am tempted to disregard it. It’s nothing personal against the student – it’s just terrible etiquette that needs some pointers.
YES (emailing before class starts)
YES (emailing when you’ve already missed class)
Sure, these emails took a few extra moments to write, but it makes all the difference. As the recipient, I know exactly what is going on and am encouraged to help these organized students by accepting their documentation. Remember that if you don’t have documentation to add, you don’t need to email me at all – just submit on Canvas.
Please keep the explanations simple. Unless something is happening that requires my intervention as a professor, I don’t need to know about specific medical or personal afflictions or tribulations. You should never, ever describe bodily functions to me at all. Please. Don’t.
All 285 emails, sent for any reason, should be signed with the sender’s first and last name; they should also clearly include the section number. As stated in the syllabus, the Editor Google Doc link for your homework should be submitted on Canvas, so emails only need to include your reasoning and optional documentation.
As mentioned on the first day of class, you can call me Professor Potasznik, Dr. Potasznik, Professor P, Dr. P, or simply Professor. I do not use my first name in professional contexts, so you should not use it when writing emails to me.
Don’t let sloppy emails hurt your goals!
AP