Over the years, I have had several friends reach out to me asking for advice on how to email professors, including how to ask professors for help, how to request assignment accommodations or modifications, or how to ask professors for permission or assistance with various tasks. In many cases, my friends will share a first draft of their email that contains too much information or lots of rambling, and ask if I can help them revise it. Learning how to email professors without anxiety or apologizing constantly is an important skill for college students to develop, especially when it comes to self-advocacy and self determination, but it can still be challenging to figure out how to ask for help from professors. Here are my most-used templates for emailing professors on common topics such as extensions, late work, and absences that I started using in undergrad, and continue to use as a PhD student with low vision.
Information about technical difficulties
Technical difficulties can make it challenging for students to submit assignments or quizzes/exams on time, especially if the issue is related to an accessibility bug or challenges with assistive technology. Before submitting anything to the professor, I recommend checking the IT Services website to figure out if there is a known outage or errors affecting campus services— professors will typically provide automatic extensions in these situations.
Whenever possible, email professors using your student email account or use contact information that is listed on the class syllabus— some of my professors have included phone numbers or other email addresses that students can use to contact them. If the technical difficulties are preventing access to your student email, send an email from your personal account and CC your student email so the professor can confirm your identity; one of my professors had me send a picture of my student ID and a banana to confirm my identity when I contacted them from a non-university email.
What to include:
- What type of device is being used— tablet, computer, phone, etc
- Error message and/or error code, along with screenshot and/or description of error
- Other office(s) that have been contacted about this issue
- Expected timeline for how long it will take to get fixed
Sample email
Dear Professor,
I am getting an Error 1600 message when I try to open Assignment 3 on CanBoard, which says my computer is enlarged 1600% and cannot process text. This happens when I open CanBoard on my desktop and laptop computer with screen magnification enabled. I have an appointment with the assistive technology department to troubleshoot this issue tomorrow, but I will not be able to submit Assignment 3 until this gets fixed. I should have an update tomorrow on when the issue will be resolved.
Student name
Related links
- Tips For Taking Online Classes As An On-Campus Student
- What To Know About College Assistive Technology Specialists
- Reporting Accessibility Issues: College O&M
- Questions To Ask When Choosing A Desktop Computer For College
Requesting a specific partner or presentation time
When organizing group projects or trying to figure out a time to present a project, most professors are happy to ensure that you can complete assignments or present on a timeline that works well for you. I have had no problems getting professors to let me go first/last in a presentation or asking to be in a group with a specific student(s) who are used to working with assistive technology or making information accessible. This isn’t something I request for every project, but knowing the presentation order in advance does help with setting up technology.
While these instances are rare, professors are also understanding if you request not to work with a specific student, and often don’t need a detailed reason as to why (though it can be helpful to specify if a no-contact order is in place that the professor needs to be aware of).
What to include:
- Name of project/assignment
- Name of other student you want to work with, or name of student to avoid
- Reason for requesting a particular partner
- Request for date/time for presenting a project
Sample email
Dear Professor,
For Project 2, can I be assigned to work with Jolene? Jolene and I have worked with accessible collaborative tools in the past, and she is already familiar with how to create accessible equations, so this will save time with making other components of the project accessible.
Also for Project 3, can my group be the first to present in-class on Monday? That way, I can get to class a few minutes early and set up my laptop for the projector without having to take several minutes during class to connect everything.
Student name
Related links
- How To Use Microsoft Sway With Assistive Technology
- How To Create Accessible PowerPoints
- How I Use Microsoft Whiteboard With Low Vision
- Adapting Accessible Trifold Posters For Low Vision
- How To Create An Accessible Formula Sheet
Asking for an extension
When I ask for extensions, I try to make sure that it is for a relatively short amount of time and typically connected to another issue. My most common request is for a twelve-hour extension, which I have never had a professor turn down, though I have requested a longer extension on certain projects if the reason I am requesting an extension is due to illness or another emergency that will make it difficult to use my computer. Some professors have a one-time extension pass that students can request to use without penalty, though students are still required to contact the professor ahead of time and let them know if they will be using this pass.
What to include:
- Reason for delay
- Request for extension with proposed time
- If the item is finished and just can’t be uploaded, offer to drop off a physical copy
Sample email
Dear Professor,
I am having trouble getting my program to compile and keep getting an Error 123 code, but it’s already 10 PM and I’m having trouble focusing my eyes. Is it okay if I submit the assignment by noon tomorrow so I can work on troubleshooting this in the morning? I can also drop off a printed copy of the code I’ve written at your office hours tomorrow.
Related links
- What If I Miss Assignments Or Classes In College?
- Ten Information Technology Skills Every College Student Needs
- Accessible Python IDEs For Low Vision
- Pre-Teaching Programming Languages To Visually Impaired Students
- Five Apps I Use In Statistics Classes As A Low Vision Student
Documenting illness or injury
I have an unpredictable chronic illness and have sent many emails to professors from emergency rooms and urgent care waiting rooms. That said, students can send emails at their earliest convenience to inform professors about what is going on and request extensions as needed. Since they know how much I love animals, some of my professors will send me pictures of their pets when they tell me to get well soon!
For students that are recovering at home or off-campus and won’t be able to attend class, this can also be a great opportunity to ask about attending class remotely or options for keeping up with assignments. After being discharged from the hospital but before being cleared to return to my dorm, I attended classes remotely and met with professors during virtual office hours so I could stay on track with turning in assignments.
What to include:
- Brief explanation of illness/injury
- Assignments or exams that need to be rescheduled
- Expected date/time for returning to class
Sample email
Dear Professor,
I left campus by ambulance on Tuesday and am currently in the hospital. I will not be in class on Monday, and will need to reschedule my midterm exam as I will be at home. I expect to return to campus in two weeks.
Student name
Related links
- Options For Attending College Classes Remotely
- How To Store Emergency Medical Information For Android and iOS
- Filling Out Medical Forms With Low Vision
- Disability and Classroom Accommodations For POTS
- Disability and Classroom Accommodations For Chiari Malformation
Documenting planned absence
If you are having a planned absence from classes that has nothing to do with illness or injury, I recommend writing the email at least two weeks prior to ensure that all assignments are completed or due dates can be adjusted. If there is an academic reason, it can be helpful to mention that as well (e.g. conference presentation, award ceremony).
What to include:
- Date(s) for planned absence
- Reason for absence
- Offer to complete work early or get assignments before they are posted
Sample email
Dear Professor,
I will not be in class from September 24 or September 26th as I will be attending the Grace Hopper Celebration for Women in Computing. I will turn in all assignments due for the week before I leave for Texas. Please let me know if there is anything else I need to do for class that week and I will make sure to submit it before the deadline.
Student name
Related links
- Airport Security and Low Vision
- Attending The Grace Hopper Celebration With Low Vision
- Attending The Hybrid ASSETS Conference With Low Vision
- Ten Questions To Ask When Choosing A Virtual Class
- Ten Tech Skills Every College Student Needs For Virtual Classes
Sharing information about disability accommodations
At the beginning of each semester, I share my disability accommodations sheet with my professors in a short email. I prefer to go over this information on the first day of class, but I also write a summary of my condition and ask for confirmation on the textbook ISBN so I can make sure it is available in an accessible format; since some professors don’t post course syllabi before the first day of class, I have to ask for this information over email.
What to include:
- Name and class name/section number
- Reason for having a Disability Services file
- How the accommodations will be implemented in the classroom
- Copy of faculty contact sheet or accommodations list
- Request for any classroom materials in advance, i.e textbook
Sample email
Hello!
My name is [first and last name], and I am registered for section 001 of your CATS 303 class. I have a file with Disability Services for low vision and a neurological condition and have attached my faculty contact sheet for review. The main accommodations that I will need for your class include:
- Access to PowerPoint presentations
- Digital copies of class materials (posted on the course website or emailed before class)
- A seat in the front row of the class
- Verbal warnings for content that will include strobe, flickering, or flashing lights.
Before the semester begins, can you confirm the name and/or ISBN for the required textbook, and the names of any software we’ll be using? I want to make sure I have everything I need before the first day of class and that I don’t have to wait for an accessible textbook.
Thank you!
Related links
- How To Create A Disability Services File
- How To Explain Disability Accommodations To Professors
- How I Talk To Professors About Photosensitivity
- How To Request Accessible Textbooks In College
- How To Get Disability Accommodations In Community College
- Ten Questions To Ask When Buying Digital Textbooks
- How I Find Research Sources In Accessible Formats
Questions about grades
One time, I was trying to figure out how I got a 10% on an assignment I had worked on for hours. While I didn’t eliminate the possibility that I misunderstood everything, a quick clarifying email to the professor confirmed that there was an error in the grading system, and I received a 100%.
If I had actually received a 10%, I would have asked to meet with the professor during office hours so I could go over their feedback and re-do the assignment. Many of my professors allow students to resubmit assignments for a grade, but even if my grade didn’t change, I would still want to make sure I understand the material so I could improve for future assignments.
What to include:
- Name of assignment
- Listed grade
- Screenshot, if relevant
Sample email
Dear Professor,
I noticed on the course website that I received a 10/100, or 10%, on Homework 9. Can you confirm if this is the correct grade?
Related links
- Learning to Self-Advocate With Low Vision
- How I Keep Track of Assignments With Low Vision
- Ten Spooky Inaccessible Assignments and How To Fix Them
- Testing Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- Tips To Stay Organized In Virtual Classes
Requesting extra help
While it is important that students know how to access campus resources or learn how to troubleshoot problems on their own, sometimes it can be challenging to make sense of difficult concepts. Instead of writing an email that says “I don’t get it” or “nothing makes sense,” it helps to be specific about what parts of the assignment and concept aren’t making sense, or to request to meet during office hours about a particular topic.
If the professor has a teaching assistant, it may be easier to send an email to the teaching assistant first as they may have more flexibility with office hours. Alternatively, students can reach out to services such as the writing center, tutoring centers on campus, subject librarians, or other campus resources to ask for help.
What to include:
- Name of assignment and question/section
- Ways you have tried to solve it so far, including screenshots or copies of assignment
- Request other potential methods, or ask to meet in office hours
Sample email
Dear Professor,
For Question 9 in Homework 12, I can’t figure out how to eliminate 25% of the population. I have tried using the subtraction function and multiplying the population by 0.75, but neither of these things are working and it shows the population is unchanging. Do you have any tips on how to solve this? Or should I schedule a meeting for office hours?
Related links
- How To Search For Study Resources Online
- How I Keep Track Of My Schedule With Low Vision
- Brainfuse Online Tutoring and Low Vision Accessibility
- National Homework Hotline: Free Tutoring For Blind and Visually Impaired Students
- The Best Study Tips For Visually Impaired Students
- Choosing A Tutor For Low Vision Students
- How Amazon Alexa Can Help You Study For Exams
Looking for internships or on-campus jobs
One of my friends got an interesting internship at their university by asking their professor if they knew of any local internships or on-campus jobs for students. This is also a great strategy for finding research experiences, assistantships, mentoring opportunities, and other opportunities to get involved with a chosen area of interest. Students can ask about local internships or ask about internships for larger national or international organizations— professors may also be able to connect students with alumni or others in their network.
Students can also reach out to their advisors, department chairs, or other professors that they are interested in working with, or that work in their areas of interest.
What to include:
- Timeline for internship request— I recommend starting to search 3-6 months in advance, though some tech internships have a 12 month process
- Areas of interest
- Desired location and work option— work from home, hybrid, visa, etc.
- Resume, LinkedIn profile, CV, etc.
Sample email
Dear Professor,
I’m currently looking for a Spring 2019 or Summer 2019 internship or on campus job related to data science or assistive technology. Do you know of any companies or departments I should look into? I would prefer to stay in this area if possible and am open to in-person, hybrid, or remote options. Attached is a copy of my current resume— I appreciate any recommendations you can offer!
Student name
Related links
- How I Learned To Navigate My Internship Building With Low Vision
- What’s In My Backpack: Program Management Intern With Low Vision
- How I Set Up My Tech Internship Desk: PM Intern With Low Vision
- Classes That Prepared Me For A Microsoft PM Internship
- Navigating Project Task List Spreadsheets With Low Vision
Getting into a waitlisted class
Many professors have the power to issue overrides for students to enroll in their classes, assuming prerequisites are met. I used this method when I was trying to get into a Python class and the professor was able to force add me to their class roster so I could get access to the course website. I really wanted this professor because they had experience working with low vision assistive technologies, so I was thrilled to get into their class.
What to include:
- Major/minor— some classes have a higher priority for students in select majors
- Name of class and course identification number
- Request for a force add/manual add
- Offer to send student ID number. I don’t include this in the initial email as this is considered identifiable information, and I want to be cautious when sending this to someone I haven’t emailed before.
Sample email
Dear Professor,
I’m a data science major and am interested in taking CATS 678 (class identification number 123456), but I am currently unable to enroll. Are you able to manually add me to the class if I send my student identification number, or are you planning to add more seats to the class?
Student name
Related links
- What If I Get Dropped From All My College Classes?
- How I Use The Coursicle Class Scheduling App
- How To Schedule College Classes
More tips for emailing your professors
- Some professors require students to use a specific subject line template and will not respond to emails that do not have this subject line. I share more tips for how I keep my email organized in How I Organize Emails In College With Low Vision
- Most of my professors don’t allow students to email completed assignments and require them to be uploaded to the course website. However, professors can extend the submission period for individual assignments on the course website.
- Testing accommodations are arranged through Disability Services, not with the professor. Learn more about testing accommodations in Testing Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- Learning to email professors is a vital self-advocacy skill! Learn more in Learning to Self-Advocate With Low Vision
Published July 11, 2019. Updated November 2025