To avoid an overload of course mail communication, it is recommended that you set mail guidelines for your students. Guidelines can address:
Reply Turnaround
Many instructors specify an expected turnaround time for replying to mail messages, such as one business day, or times when he or she can be expected to check mail, e.g., on weekdays only. If students are not told guidelines up front, students might expect a rapid turnaround on a 24-7 basis.
ANGEL Mail or Internet?
Some instructors prefer using ANGEL mail because the student addresses for each course section are automatically identified. Others prefer Internet e-mail because it is "pushed" to instructors with other e-mail.
Whichever you prefer, it is important to tell students which method to use. It is also generally easier to track correspondence if only one method is used.
Subject Lines
Encourage students write subject lines to summarize message content. For example, a subject line such as "A Question" is vague and may not be memorable in a large class, but "Question about Problem 2 in Assignment 3" would be more specific.
Attachment File Names
It is important to ask the students to identify themselves and the content of the attachment in the attachment file names. For example: Assignment #_StudentLastName.
