September 20, 2021

PubCom’s Email Signature Recommendations

It’s the start of a brand-new academic year: the smell of pumpkin spice lattes is in the air, leaves are changing to vibrant fall colors … and it just so happens to be the best time to review and update your email signature.

Cartoon graphic of to-go coffee cup, tree with orange leaves, and email sticking out of an envelo...

The following recommendations make it easy for you to be on brand and quickly communicate the most important information anyone may need from you.

Recommendation #1

This might be obvious, but … have an email signature! Keep the line lengths short for mobile friendliness.

Recommendation #2

Include, at a minimum, the following elements. Style them as in the examples in the doc below.

  • Your name
  • Your title
  • Your office or department (if it’s not obvious from your title; hyperlinked if you so desire)
  • Your school (Lewis & Clark, Lewis & Clark College, Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling, Lewis & Clark Law School; hyperlinked if you so desire)

Recommendation #3

Judiciously add bonus elements from the following list. Style them as in the examples in the doc below.

  • Your phone number: work, cell, or both if needed
  • Your professional accreditations or credentials
  • Our land acknowledgment (use only the full, official version, provided in the example)
  • A link to antiracism resources
  • A link to our comprehensive campaign, Exploring for the Global Good
  • Links to our social media accounts
  • FERPA/privacy statements (only if required because of your work)

Recommendation #4

We hate to tell people what not to do, but here are a few things to avoid:

  • Leave out the mailing address. In this day and age, it’s rarely needed, and readily available elsewhere.
  • We love fun and personality, but signatures aren’t the best place for color, images, or personal quotes/statements.

Examples

We suggest copying and pasting the signature example that best matches your needs and then modifying with your personal information. That way, you have our recommended fonts and formatting!

Email Signature Examples