Shared / Office-wide Email Address

A shared email address represents an entire department, office or service, rather than an individual person.

What does a shared email address look like?
pediatrics@wustl.edu, MDadmissions@wustl.edu, diversity.med@wustl.edu

Benefits of a shared email address

A shared email address is recommended for communications and marketing materials, both digital and print, for a variety reasons:

• If the email address is consistent with your website address, your group’s digital identity is more cohesive and memorable
  (Ex. website: diversity.med.wustl.edu || Ex. email: diversity.med@wustl.edu)
• A general email address is more professional and recognizable (for general inquiries) than an individual’s email address
• When staffing changes, materials won’t need to be updated with a new email address
• Mail sent to a shared email address can automatically forward to one or more recipients, and anyone with the username and password can access the account as-needed

Tips for a memorable email address

• Mirror your website address (see our guide to selecting a web address)
  (Ex. website: diversity.med.wustl.edu || Ex. email: diversity.med@wustl.edu)
• Use real words, which people can more easily comprehend and remember; avoid acronyms
• Avoid hyphens, underscores or other characters, with the exception of a period to add .med (if needed to mirror your web address)

How to request a shared email address