Communicating with your Instructor via Brightspace

This article contains instructions on how to both Email and Instant Message professors via Brightspace. Think of Brightspace "emails" as notifications that can also send a copy of a message or notice to someone's actual campus email address, but can only be replied to within Brightspace.

Some professors specifically ask to only be contacted through Brightspace and some prefer to only be contacted through Outlook (i.e., your normal student email). Some don't mind either way. It is always recommended to ask your professor what their preference is, if they do not specify. 

 

Emailing your professor in Brightspace

  1. Log into Brightspace
  2. Towards the top right-hand corner of the page, there are a series of icons. Click on the one that looks like an envelope. 
  3. Click "Email" in the top right of the drop-down menu. 

    Envelope and Email icons circled on the Brightspace page
     
  4. Press the blue "Compose" button in the top left, under the word Inbox.
  5. Click the "To" link. A new window with the Address Book will pop up. (Please note: you must click "To," clicking Address Book first will not work)


     
  6. Select the course with the professor you would like to contact. 
  7. Scroll down until you see your professors name. You may have to navigate to the next page.
  8. Check the box next to your professor's name and press the blue button that says "Add Recipients."
  9. You will now be able to email your professor through Brightspace. Enter a new subject and your message in the "Body" section. 
  10. Press send. 
Please note: You will be notified of emails through Brightspace in your school Outlook email. You will not be able to reply to those messages from your normal email. You must log into Brightspace to reply to it. 

 

Instant Messaging your Professor in Brightspace

  1. Click on the envelope at the top right of Brightspace.
  2. Press "Instant Messages" on the top left of the drop down menu. 

    Envelope and Instant Messages circled on Brightspace
     
  3. A pop up will appear. At the top of the screen, click on "Classlist"

    Classlist circled on the Instant Messages pop-up
     
  4. To the right of "View," you can select the class. 
  5. The list of members of the class will appear. You can scroll through to find your professor. If you do not see them, you can navigate to the next page at the top of the screen. 
  6. Click the check-box to the left of their name and then press the arrow that appears to the right of their name. 
  7. You can then type a message for them and press the blue "Send" button.
Please note: The Instant Messaging system in Brightspace only shows the notification for it when logged into Brightspace or in the Pulse app, and you will not be notified in your Outlook email. 
Print Article