We recommend that the following general template be used for email signatures so that UC ANR presents as a unified organization to our external contacts.
Name
Title
UC ANR logo (or "UC Agriculture and Natural Resources" with no logo)
Names of associated sub-units
Street Address
City, State Zip
Email: (enter email address)
Office: (enter office phone number)
Cell: (enter mobile number)
ucanr.edu (or secondary URL you want people to visit and hyperlink UC ANR logo to ucanr.edu)
We also recommend using your email signature as a means of highlighting events, projects or educational content. It is an unobtrusive way to promote your information to your audiences. For example, add "Learn about our events at (URL)" or "Follow our blog at (URL)" or "Read our latest citrus information at (URL)" at the bottom of your email signature.
Example:
Linda Forbes
Director of Strategic Communications
2801 Second Street
Davis, CA 95618
Email: lforbes@ucanr.edu
Office: 530-750-1204
Mobile: 530-304-9297
EXTERNAL IMAG
We share UC information and practices in California communities to enhance their lives and livelihoods. Learn more at ucanr.edu and support our work at give.ucanr.edu.
Read the latest issue of California Agriculture
Ensure your emails are accessible. Refer to this Microsoft Outlook guidance:
- Best practices for making Outlook email accessible
- Check accessibility while you work in Outlook
- Avoid using tables
- Add alt text to visuals
- Add accessible hyperlink text and ScreenTips
- Use accessible font format
- Use accessible font color
- Create accessible lists
- Adjust space between sentences and paragraphs
Steps to Create an Accessible Email Signature
- Access Settings: Classic Outlook: File>Options>Mail>Signatures; New Outlook: Settings>Account>Signatures>Edit
- Text Formatting: Use accessible, standard fonts (e.g., Calibri) and legible sizes of at least 12 point.
- Add Images & Alt Text: Insert pictures, then right-click the image, select Picture, and choose Alt Text to describe the image for screen readers.
- Hyperlinks: Ensure links are descriptive and not just "click here".
- Color Contrast: Ensure high contrast between text and background.
- Alternative: For complex signatures, design them in Word first, then copy and paste into the Outlook signature editor.
- Run Check: Use the Review > Check Accessibility tool to flag potential issues.
If you need help with email signatures, contact Strategic Communications.
