In 2013 a new feature is coming to Carleton.ca email addresses: a dot.

At the moment, official email addresses use an underscore (_) to separate first and last names.  In the new year, the dot (.) will replace the underscore as a separator.

Introducing this new email format will provide the Carleton community with a modern email address. The use of a dot (.) to separate first and last names is an industry standard.

When email addresses are included in email messages and on webpages, they are displayed as hyperlinks making it difficult to see the underscore.   The dot will eliminate this issue.

There is no action required by the Carleton community.  Please continue to publicize email addresses with the underscore.   In January 2013, both firstname_lastname@carleton.ca and firstname.lastname@carleton.ca will be accepted for incoming mail.  However, in the new year, all outgoing mail will appear to come from the “dotted” email address.

After January 2013, all new Carleton email addresses will be issued with a dot.