How should a new professor sign their name in emails to students?

Question

I just finished my PhD and am starting an adjunct position at a local community college. I was responding to my first email from a student when I came across a problem I've never had before: I don't know how to sign my email.

Some options I've considered are:

• First Name: this is how I've signed every academic email my whole life.
• First Name Last Name: I have signed business, legal, or other official letters like this, and I suppose since this is my first job I could sign it the same way?
• Professor Last Name: this makes the most sense because that's what I want to be addressed in the classroom, but I have never seen a professor write their title out like this.
• Initials: I always thought professors signed their emails like this to shave precious seconds from their inbox time, but I'm now suspecting it has more to do with avoiding making the decision of how to sign.

I'm sure the best answer isn't going to be one of the above suggestions. No matter what I pick, I want to be consistent, so there's no confusion as to how I should be addressed.

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Edit: this is in the US.

Answer 1

Sign as you wish to be addressed by the recipient. When I sign an email with my first name, I am giving the recipient permission to address me by my first name. I almost always sign off with my first name, but in the rare instances that I don't want them to address me that way and do want to retain more formality, I use "Dr Firstname Lastname" instead. If I'm really feeling ambivalent, I'll use "Firstname Lastname", which I feel leaves the decision up to them.

I usually also have my full name with title and contact details in the sig at the bottom of my email, separated from my sign-off by a line containing only "--". This is so my contact details are handy, but also for clarity -- even if I am giving them permission to use my first name, it is sometimes useful for them to know my position and qualifications.

Answer 2

I would recommend signing your emails in the way that you would like your students to address you.

In my own experience in the US, most of the professors that I interacted with were quite informal with their students, preferring to be on a first-name basis in class, and likewise signed their emails in that manner (or even more informally, e.g., "-P").

Not all were, however, and those who wanted to be called Prof. Lastname tended to sign their emails thus as well. A few signed as a full "Prof. Firstname Lastname", which I found frustrating as a student, because it gave no indication as how they actually wanted to be addressed.

Note that in other institutions or other countries, the general custom may vary greatly, but I think the principle remains the same: if you sign your emails how you'd like your students to address you, it will be a clear and unambiguous signal to them, which they will likely appreciate.

Answer 3

Do as your colleagues.

There might be a specific tradition in your department, and you should respect it (especially if you just arrived).

If you are in a Department where the professor are referred to as "Dr. Last Name", you would seem too familiar by allowing your students to call you "First Name". On the other hand, if everyone goes by "First Name", it would seem pedantic to go by "Pr. Last Name".

And, as all the answers pointed out, you want to sign the way you want to be addressed.

Answer 4

You could just not sign emails. The overwhelming majority of professional emails I send are unsigned.

Emails might end in something like "Thanks" or "Thanks!", or "I hope this helps." or "Let me know if this was unclear." That brings the email to enough of a conclusion.

I hope this helps.

Answer 5

#2, Firstname Lastname

Students will automatically call you Professor Lastname (or more likely Dr Lastname, in a community college), unless you take the first move to call you Firstname, or more affectionately, Dr Firstname.

If a student calls you by your first name (it could happen!) but you are uncomfortable with this, there is a simple solution. (This is also a good preventative measure.) Address your emails to students as Dear Mr./Ms. Lastname. You will come across as old-fashioned and respectful.

I predict that with time it will become less important to you to be called Prof. Lastname. But for now, that's what you want, and it's not hard to achieve.

I suppose if you find yourself in an informal environment where students naturally want to call you by your first name, it might help you achieve your goal if you wear a suit and tie to class and office hours.

You could also post a formal photograph of yourself with the caption "Prof. Lastname" on your home page and your office door (or next to it). (You may allow yourself to smile for the photograph, if you wish.)

By the way, make yourself an automatic signature for your email, with your title, department name and contact information. But don't use "Professor" in your signature. You may certainly put ", PhD" after your name, though.