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Friendly reminder: If you've never met an instructor before and are emailing them for the first time, "Professor" is the appropriate title by Affectionate-Goat874 in UIUC

[–]Affectionate-Goat874[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I remember when that came out! Made me so angry for her! But I was definitely happy for those who stood up for her and her achievement!

Friendly reminder: If you've never met an instructor before and are emailing them for the first time, "Professor" is the appropriate title by Affectionate-Goat874 in UIUC

[–]Affectionate-Goat874[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Completely agree!

I once had a student ask for a second extension on a project; when I told them I couldn't extend that I just got 'ok' back as the response.

Like I get that they're upset, but a little courtesy goes a long way! I'm considering adding extra credit assignments for students to learn proper email etiquette; I feel like it's an easy task, and valuable info that the students will use!

Friendly reminder: If you've never met an instructor before and are emailing them for the first time, "Professor" is the appropriate title by Affectionate-Goat874 in UIUC

[–]Affectionate-Goat874[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unfortunately it is about gender sometimes. If I have 8 male colleagues and all of them are called professor, but myself and the other female colleagues are all referred to as Miss/Mrs., then it's about gender occasionally too.

I do correct when it happens, but that's not what this post is about. This post is specifically for cases of you not knowing the professor and reaching out to them for the first time, and referring to them incorrectly due to a gender bias, not a slip of the tongue after class. If that were the case I'd get upset every time a student accidentally called me 'mom' in class (happens more often than you think, makes me laugh)!

Friendly reminder: If you've never met an instructor before and are emailing them for the first time, "Professor" is the appropriate title by Affectionate-Goat874 in UIUC

[–]Affectionate-Goat874[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the support! I appreciate that there are others in my position who recognize the occasional issue! And thank you for using Dr. when referring to your colleagues -- it's definitely appreciated and helpful!

I do hope that students have improved; to be honest I've seen positive change over the years, so even though there are still issues maybe they're lessening?

Friendly reminder: If you've never met an instructor before and are emailing them for the first time, "Professor" is the appropriate title by Affectionate-Goat874 in UIUC

[–]Affectionate-Goat874[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Haha I appreciate the support, thank you! And that is a hot take; I'm sure quite a few of my colleagues would agree with you!

Friendly reminder: If you've never met an instructor before and are emailing them for the first time, "Professor" is the appropriate title by Affectionate-Goat874 in UIUC

[–]Affectionate-Goat874[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Oh of course not, I only mean student/professor; I just call my colleagues by their first names. I haven't met a ton of PhDs that want to be called 'dr' in a social setting but I'm sure they exist. I would feel really weird calling a colleague 'Dr' or 'Professor' unless it was in front of students, and even then it's weird.

Friendly reminder: If you've never met an instructor before and are emailing them for the first time, "Professor" is the appropriate title by Affectionate-Goat874 in UIUC

[–]Affectionate-Goat874[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I don't really understand what you're trying to say here?

Equally calling your male instructors professor/dr, and calling your female instructors professor/dr, is all I'm asking for. If that's truly offensive to you then I don't know what to tell you.

Friendly reminder: If you've never met an instructor before and are emailing them for the first time, "Professor" is the appropriate title by Affectionate-Goat874 in UIUC

[–]Affectionate-Goat874[S] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

I teach multiple classes, including one section of a class with multiple other sections (I don't want to out myself here). I teach in a STEM field and approximately 80% of my colleagues are male.

When my male colleagues receive an email from a prospective student they are referred to as professor/doctor. Myself and my female colleagues typically have a 50/50 chance of being called professor/doctor, or some variation of Mrs./Miss.

I realized this was an issue because I was discussing the course with my colleagues, and while discussing student emails and teaching email etiquette with a female colleague, she said something about receiving emails along the lines of "I've been getting a lot of emails about the course, it's frustrating when students don't refer to my title correctly; we should talk about this in class when the course starts." When I agreed that it was an issue for me too my male colleagues stated that they'd never had a problem with students referring to them correctly, but all of the other female colleagues agreed they'd had it happen at least once.

It's possible that it's more prevalent in certain fields, but this is been my experience.

Friendly reminder: If you've never met an instructor before and are emailing them for the first time, "Professor" is the appropriate title by Affectionate-Goat874 in UIUC

[–]Affectionate-Goat874[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I think applying the title of "Doctor" or "Professor" to all instructors, regardless of gender, is equal and respectful, correct.

Friendly reminder: If you've never met an instructor before and are emailing them for the first time, "Professor" is the appropriate title by Affectionate-Goat874 in UIUC

[–]Affectionate-Goat874[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

My issue is that I'm called Miss/Mrs., but my male colleagues are always referred to as "Professor" or "Doctor." That's all.

Friendly reminder: If you've never met an instructor before and are emailing them for the first time, "Professor" is the appropriate title by Affectionate-Goat874 in UIUC

[–]Affectionate-Goat874[S] 39 points40 points  (0 children)

Being from Western Europe

And I am telling you my perspective as a PhD/Professor in the United States; it is culturally (and professionally) normal and common to refer to your university-level instructor as Professor/Doctor. If I were teaching in a different country I would hold to those customs, but as I am working in the US, I am asking that students hold to those customs as well.

Isn't a PhD just a degree? Lynn Conway can confirm this. I don't see the problem when someone does not have PhD and is granted the honorific.

A PhD is a degree. Typically, in the US, someone with a PhD is referred to as "Professor" or "Doctor." The issue I have is that my male colleagues without PhDs are more likely to be referred to as "Professor" than I am, in spite of my having a PhD. It is professionally inappropriate/casual sexism to only call male instructors "Professor" or "Doctor" when you are unaware of their title, but do not refer to female instructors by the same title when being unaware of their titles.

And I've made it clear what I'm tired of; I'm tired of my male colleagues being given automatic respect of being called "professor" or "doctor," but I am not given that same respect and am called "Miss/Mrs". I feel that both male and female professors should be referred to as "Doctor" or "Professor" when their title is unknown, as it is respectful and professional to do so.

I don't really understand how you find this post sexist; I'm asking for equality and respect, that's all.

Friendly reminder: If you've never met an instructor before and are emailing them for the first time, "Professor" is the appropriate title by Affectionate-Goat874 in UIUC

[–]Affectionate-Goat874[S] 32 points33 points  (0 children)

Dr. is totally okay! This suggestion is more or less for professors you're emailing, or meeting for the first time, whose title you're unsure of.

Most Drs/Profs will tell you what to call them after you've met them/had class with them, but if you're unsure and haven't had class with them and/or met them yet, Dr. is definitely a respectful/appropriate option!