Your University Email Account

Your UMD email account is considered the primary means of communication between you and the University.

You should check your email at least twice each week. Information regarding financial aid, billing, course work, registration, advisement, and other campus announcements are sent via email and, thus, you are encouraged not only to check your email but to thoroughly read the messages and to follow up as necessary.

Use Your U of MN Email Account for All Official Correspondence

All email inquiries regarding your academic status and financial aid records must be submitted via your personal U of MN email account. Due to privacy laws, university personnel cannot reply with personal student information to email inquiries received through any other email account. Be sure to include your UMD ID number when sending an email pertaining to financial aid or any official change to your record.
It is recommended that you "cc" yourself when sending correspondence. This is especially important when you are conducting official business over email.

Preferred Email Clients

While students may choose any client they wish to read their email, ITSS provides service and support for several email clients for campus use.

Supported email clients:

• Mulberry - http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/software/mulberry/
• IMP web mail - http://www.d.umn.edu/email
• Thunderbird - http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/

ITSS Student Resource homepage - http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/students/

Email Etiquette

While email is often treated as an informal means of communication, there are rules and courtesies that should be followed.

• Clearly identify who you are. Provide your name and student ID number when communicating with instructors or university staff. Your email address alone is not sufficient.
• Provide sufficient information. For instances, when communicating with an instructor regarding a course, clearly identify the course and section number.
• Don't email your instructor or advisor for information simply because it is easier than looking it up on your own. If the information you are looking for is listed on the course syllabus or in the UMD Catalog, then look it up yourself.
• Always include a subject line in an email message. The subject should be specific and reflect the content of your message. "Help" is not sufficient; "Help with comparison writing assignment" is.
• Do not type the message in all UPPERCASE. UPPERCASE is difficult to read.
• Break the message into logical paragraphs. This will make your message easier to follow.
• Use correct grammar and spelling. Use spell-check!
• When replying to a message, include enough of the original message to provide context. An email recipient might not recall the contents of the original message.
• Don't expect an immediate answer. Some faculty check their email multiple times each day but others may only check a few times each week.
• Be courteous. Say please and thank you. Don't assume familiarity with instructors or your advisor by addressing the message by their first name unless they have indicated that as a preference. Either "Dr. Nelson" or "Professor Nelson" are appropriate when addressing faculty.