How to Thank You Your Awesome Online Professor

February 13th, 2019

By Katelyn Elrod

While doing school online, it can be easy to forget that a computer is not the one grading your essays and returning your many emails about the final project. Behind every online course is a professor who is rooting for you. You may not have the opportunity to thank your online professors face-to-face, but this does not mean you cannot thank them in another way. Here are four ways you can express your gratitude to an online professor:

Write a Personal Email

Submitting assignments and asking questions aren’t the only things you can do with your school email – you can also use it to send a heartfelt thank you letter. It will surely put a smile on your professor’s face to open his or her inbox and see a meaningful letter among the plentiful emails asking questions or requesting deadline extensions.

In your email, make sure you put more than “thanks.” Think about it – the best compliments or expressions of gratitude you have received were probably specific. Wouldn’t you rather someone say “Thank you for the soft, rich chocolate chip cookies” than “thanks for the cookies”?

A genuine thank you should include naming specific parts of the course that have impacted you and particular qualities in your professor that you value. Let your professor know how you’ve grown throughout the course and applied what you have learned. An email is an easy, quick, and free gesture that could make your professor’s day.

Send an E-card

For a long time, cards have been the most popular way to show someone you care. Though you can’t give your professor a handpicked card in person, you can express your gratitude by sending a carefully selected E-card. E-cards arrive promptly over email, so there is no lag time, and you help the environment by saving paper.

E-cards are not what they were in 2003. Today, E-cards are easy to personalize and can even come in the format of a video. Since there are so many E-cards to choose from, you can make your professor laugh or tug on his or her heartstrings with a thank you card that matches your personality. Don’t forget to add a short message explaining your gratefulness!

If you are interested in highly sophisticated E-cards with many customizable elements, check out Hallmark eCards, which offers a month of unlimited E-cards for $5. If you are a little strapped for cash, check out Cross Cards for a wide variety of beautiful E-cards at no cost.

Send a Gift Card

If giving gifts fills you with joy, rejoice in the existence of online gift cards! Giving gifts cards is no longer restrained to tiny plastic rectangles – most large restaurants and other places of retail offer the option for one to send a gift card via text or email. Many local restaurants and retailers have even jumped on the train of online gift cards, so don’t count out your local favorites if your professor lives in the same region as you.

If your professor has ever indicated a taste for a specific type of food or coffee, choose a restaurant or coffee shop that would appeal to him or her. If you have absolutely no idea about the likes and dislikes of your professor, pick a popular restaurant chain, like Chili’s, or coffee chain, like Starbucks. Even just a $10 gift card would bless them with lunch or a couple tasty lattes.

Send Materials

It is likely that your professor has a great interest in the subject of your course. Ministry professors tend to enjoy reading the Bible, and English professors typically enjoy reading literature. If you ever come across material that you think would pique the interest of your professor, email it to them.

Your professor will feel appreciated and effective if you communicate with them about material not assigned in the course. For example, if a Ted Talk about leadership in business impacts you, send a link to your business professor with a message along the lines of “You’ve really helped me appreciate effective leadership in the business world. I think you may like this Ted Talk!”

Keep your eye out for an article, book, or video that may intrigue your professor. It will surely mean something to your professors if you are actively engaged with the subjects they teach.

Whether you choose one of these methods or another, don’t forget to say thank you in a way that makes your professor feel seen and valued. It only takes a few minutes to show someone you appreciate them!