<p>I was going to do first letter of name and last name but it's just too long. It's be something like <a href="mailto:dwilkinson@bigred.unl.edu">dwilkinson@bigred.unl.edu</a>, but that just seems to long IMO. Should I do that, or should I shorten it to something else?</p>
<p>it seems fine. if you really want to shorten it, do "<a href="mailto:dwilk@whatever.edu">dwilk@whatever.edu</a>" or whatever.</p>
<p>Seems fine to me too. But go with whatever you feel comfortable with.</p>
<p>Does your university have guidelines/ rules about making it up? At my son's school, they use the first letter of the first name, first letter of the middle name and first five letters of the last name. Your school may have a similar kind of requirement for their email addresses.</p>