If you need an Emory letterhead template, start with current resources from Emory University or your own school, department, or unit—not an image or document copied from an unofficial source. Whether you may use institutional letterhead depends on your affiliation and the purpose of the letter, so confirm the approved format with the relevant Emory communications or administrative contact before sending it.
What an Emory letterhead template is
Letterhead is the designed heading and identifying information used on an organization’s correspondence. An Emory version may include an approved wordmark or logo, the name of a school or unit, and contact details. The exact arrangement can vary by audience and purpose; a general university document is not automatically interchangeable with one created for a particular school, department, or affiliated organization.
A template is more than a logo placed at the top of a page. It establishes a consistent identity and leaves room for the letter’s date, recipient, message, closing, and sender information. An official file may also be set up with approved type, spacing, colors, and page margins. Those details matter because a homemade imitation can look plausible while using outdated or unauthorized branding.
There is no single generic file that every person connected to Emory should assume they can use. Students, employees, faculty, alumni, contractors, and external partners may have different permissions and different appropriate ways to identify their relationship to the institution.
Where to find the approved version
Check Emory’s current brand or communications resources and ask the communications, marketing, or administrative office for your school or unit. An organization may make approved assets available through an internal resource, provide a template on request, or direct staff to a particular version. Availability and access can differ, so do not assume a downloadable public file exists or that a template found through a web search is current.
When you ask for the file, explain what you are preparing and who will receive it. For example, a department administrator preparing a routine official announcement may need a different layout from a faculty member writing a recommendation or a researcher corresponding with an outside organization. Ask whether the file is intended for print, digital distribution, or both, and whether the unit name and contact information should be customized.
If you are unsure which office to contact, begin with your supervisor, department administrator, or school communications contact. They can help establish whether the letter should use central Emory identity, a unit-specific identity, or a plain document that describes your affiliation in the signature instead.
Branding and permission considerations
Using an institutional mark can imply that a letter represents Emory or an Emory unit. That may be appropriate for authorized institutional business, but it can be misleading on a personal letter, an outside organization’s correspondence, or a document that has not been approved. Being affiliated with Emory does not necessarily mean every message you send is an official institutional communication.
Before using a file, check that it is meant for your role and intended purpose. Keep any logo or wordmark intact: do not redraw it, stretch it, recolor it, add effects, or combine it with unrelated marks unless the applicable brand guidance specifically allows the treatment. Do not add a school, center, program, or department name in a way that suggests an official unit identity without confirming the wording and design with that unit.
Separate organizations and affiliated entities may have their own communications standards. In particular, do not assume that a university template is the right format for a healthcare organization or another distinct Emory entity. Ask the organization whose name will appear on the letter to confirm the appropriate template and permissions.
Emory letter template
Blank letter layout:
Approved Emory or unit letterhead: ________________________________________
Date: _________________________________________________________________
Recipient name and title: ________________________________________________
Organization: __________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________
Salutation: _____________________________________________________________
Opening and reason for writing: __________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Main message or details: ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Requested action or next step: __________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Closing: _______________________________________________________________
Sender name and title: __________________________________________________
School, department, or unit: _____________________________________________
Contact information: ___________________________________________________
Sample — fictional details, not an official Emory letter:
Fictional Emory department
October 14, 2026
Jordan Lee
Northside Community Arts Group
100 Example Street
Atlanta, GA 30300
Dear Jordan Lee:
I am writing to confirm our fictional department’s interest in discussing a possible community event. Please contact me by November 6 so we can identify a convenient time to talk. This example is illustrative only; it does not establish an actual Emory unit, commitment, or endorsement.
Sincerely,
Alex Morgan
Fictional Program Coordinator
Contact details omitted in this sample
How to prepare a letter once you have the file
Use the approved file as provided, then replace only the fields intended for editing. Keep the letter concise and make the purpose clear in the opening paragraph. Verify the recipient’s name, title, organization, and address rather than relying on an old message or contact list. If the letter is going to several recipients, consider whether each person should receive an individually addressed copy.
- Confirm that you are authorized to use the chosen letterhead for this message.
- Open the current template and check that the unit name and contact information are correct.
- Write the message in a clear order: reason for writing, relevant details, and any next step.
- Review the finished document at its intended size and in the format you will send or print.
- Check the final file for unintended comments, tracked edits, or leftover sample text before distribution.
For digital letters, use a stable file format that preserves the layout when opened elsewhere. If recipients need to edit the document, ask whether an editable version is appropriate; otherwise, a finalized, non-editable copy can help prevent accidental layout changes. Follow your unit’s normal process for storing and sending official correspondence.
Choosing between letterhead and a plain document
Use official letterhead when the communication is authorized institutional correspondence and the recipient needs to understand which Emory office is speaking. Examples might include a unit’s formal notice or a department’s response on its own behalf, subject to the unit’s rules. A personal note, a message sent in an outside role, or an individual’s opinion may be better on plain stationery or in an ordinary email with an accurate signature identifying the person’s affiliation.
When the purpose is ambiguous, ask who is speaking in the letter: you personally, your department, or the institution. That distinction is more useful than choosing a template based only on appearance. A polished header cannot make an unauthorized statement official, and an Emory affiliation in a signature does not itself mean the institution endorses the writer’s views.
Common problems and how to avoid them
- Using an old or unofficial file: Search results and saved documents can remain available after a design or contact detail changes. Confirm the version with the relevant office.
- Changing the logo: Resizing disproportionately, recoloring, cropping, or rebuilding a mark can compromise the approved design. Use the provided asset as directed.
- Choosing the wrong unit identity: A central university template may not be suitable for a school or separate organization. Confirm which name and identity should appear.
- Leaving sample content behind: Check names, dates, placeholder lines, and example text in headers, footers, and document properties before sending.
- Making a personal message look official: If you are writing in an individual capacity, do not use institutional letterhead in a way that could imply authorization or endorsement.
- Forgetting readability: Keep body text legible, leave adequate space, and check that the final printed or digital version does not crowd the header or footer.
Alternatives when you cannot use official letterhead
If you do not have permission or cannot obtain the approved file, do not recreate the letterhead from a screenshot. Ask the recipient or the relevant Emory office whether a plain document is acceptable. You can identify yourself accurately in a signature block, using your actual title and unit where appropriate, without presenting a personal message as official correspondence.
For routine messages, an email from an appropriate institutional account may be more suitable than a formal letter. For a document that must appear on a unit’s behalf, ask an authorized administrator or communications contact to prepare or review it. If the request concerns a situation requiring legal, tax, medical, or financial-planning advice, ask a qualified professional rather than relying on a letter template.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download an official Emory letterhead template?
That depends on the current resources and access rules for your school or unit. Check Emory’s brand or communications resources, or ask your department administrator or communications contact. Verify that any file you find is current and approved for your intended use.
Can a student use Emory letterhead?
Do not assume that student affiliation grants permission to issue correspondence on institutional letterhead. Ask the relevant office whether the particular purpose is authorized. For personal or student-group correspondence, use a format approved for that context and avoid implying that Emory endorses the message.
Can I use an Emory logo from a website?
A logo visible online is not necessarily a suitable or authorized letterhead asset. It may be an image intended for another use, and copying it can produce a low-quality or altered result. Obtain the approved file and follow the applicable guidance instead.
Is university letterhead the same as Emory Healthcare letterhead?
Do not treat them as interchangeable. Different Emory organizations may use distinct identities, templates, and approval processes. Ask the organization that will be represented which version applies to your correspondence.
What should I do if I only need a simple professional letter?
Use a clean, plain document unless you have confirmed that institutional letterhead is appropriate. Include your name and accurate contact details, and state your affiliation in the signature only when relevant and permitted.