What’s in a Name?

I received an email from a student the other day to notify me of an absence. The email began, “Hello Sue.” I was a little taken aback since I had not invited students to call me by my first name, nor do we have a campus where that is common.

In a culture where students think anything goes, I feel it is my duty as a teacher to turn even small errors into a learning moment. I could have written something nasty. Or ignored it. I’ve heard of some professors who blow up when titles are used improperly. However, I chose to think there was no disrespect intended.

I simply replied with the following, “Thanks for letting me know about your absence. Just in case you aren’t aware, it is customary to address your professors by their titles unless they instruct you otherwise. –Dr. Young”

One more communication error corrected, three hundred million more to go. ---KSY