Do's and don'ts of email

Because of issues related to confidentiality and document retention, there are some important guidelines to keep in mind regarding the use of email. From a retention point of view, email should be treated in exactly the same manner as any other document.

Concordians should note that working for a public institution means that email may be subject to an access to information request. Such knowledge should encourage faculty and staff to be prudent in how and what is written in electronic missives.

People should never send emails that they wouldn’t formally sign. A good rule of thumb when drafting any document, whatever its form, is to imagine that the person one least wishes to see a text may, in fact, receive a copy of that text.

Learn more about the do’s and don’ts of email by consulting the Internal Memorandum regarding electronic mail usage prepared by Me Frederica Jacobs, Concordia General Counsel, and Nancy Marrelli, retired Director of Archives.


Related links:
•    Concordia University Policy on Records Management and Archives
•    Quebec act respecting access to documents held by public bodies