I am currently mulling this over (even as scramble to finish grading). When is the optimum time to put up the vacation message, to minimize pain (both short- and long-term). An hour *before* final grades will be visible to students? 24 hours after? Does it make a difference that I also need to send out a welcome/warning letter for several spring term courses ("this is an online/partly online class; that actually means it's harder in some ways than the face to face version, and it's already a pretty hard class," "this class will require significant reading, and oral presentations in front of the whole class," etc.), and should probably be available for 24 hours or so after those go out to answer questions (but/and won't get to actually writing and sending them until grades are in)?
Whatever else I decide to do, I'm definitely staying away from email between Christmas Eve and January 2nd? 6th? How long can I stretch things in that direction, I wonder?
I like to get that vacation setting on right away, but it doesn't stop me from checking.
I feel for you, Kimmie. Whatever shit news came through the email, try to let it wait a bit. You're probably strung out from the semester - like I am - and you don't want to make any hasty judgments.
I once got a grade appeal via email that I did not see for 2 weeks. By the time I got around to it, it had been settled by the Registrar because she checked my attendance roles and saw the kid had only attended about half the classes.
My students always claim they never get my emails, so during vacation I don't check at all. When a flustered student corners me on Day One about my slow reply to her desperate book order question, I just say, "Oh, the email was down. I don't know what happened."
Blame it on Pavlov. But yeah: I KNOW it's going to be a grade grubber. I know it. And yet, I cannot look away because they are all accidents happening before my eyes.
Kimmie, you've got a serious case of Responsibility. One way to keep it in check is with flavored solutions of ethyl alcohol, taken internally.
It's good to check email once or twice before the deans go off on break, I think. Better to respond to their email than for them to have to pick up the phone. But for everybody else, the vacation setting is written in stone.
As for book order questions and desperate pleas to add my classes, my vacation message includes links to the bookstore and college wait list policy.
"Deanlette"! And what for the male vice deans? Deanito?
Even if the email is dipshitty, better to answer it than to have the deanlette (or deanito) phone you. This is Care and Feeding of Middle Management 101.
I hear you, Kimmie. Less than 24h after posting my grades, and there is the flakemail asking me to change an F to a D "so my GPA won't fall below a 2.0, which would create serious problems for my college career."
I have a heart. I hate to do the right thing and say no. I hate even more having to think about how to put it nicely when I respond to the email.
Cassandra, that's a good idea: vacation message. But I don't have a "student account" separate from my general professional email. Hmm.
Also, my TSTSNBN page shows a spike of activity. Keep them coming, CMrs!
Not only did I get a flake the-sky-is-falling-because-of-my-grade email, but it's from an offspring of someone on my tenure committee. Hopefully I will be seen as one with great integrity as I gently create a picture of reality for the hard working student.
I am currently mulling this over (even as scramble to finish grading). When is the optimum time to put up the vacation message, to minimize pain (both short- and long-term). An hour *before* final grades will be visible to students? 24 hours after? Does it make a difference that I also need to send out a welcome/warning letter for several spring term courses ("this is an online/partly online class; that actually means it's harder in some ways than the face to face version, and it's already a pretty hard class," "this class will require significant reading, and oral presentations in front of the whole class," etc.), and should probably be available for 24 hours or so after those go out to answer questions (but/and won't get to actually writing and sending them until grades are in)?
ReplyDeleteWhatever else I decide to do, I'm definitely staying away from email between Christmas Eve and January 2nd? 6th? How long can I stretch things in that direction, I wonder?
Habit?
ReplyDeleteA Twitter habit alternative?
ReplyDeleteI like to get that vacation setting on right away, but it doesn't stop me from checking.
ReplyDeleteI feel for you, Kimmie. Whatever shit news came through the email, try to let it wait a bit. You're probably strung out from the semester - like I am - and you don't want to make any hasty judgments.
I once got a grade appeal via email that I did not see for 2 weeks. By the time I got around to it, it had been settled by the Registrar because she checked my attendance roles and saw the kid had only attended about half the classes.
My students always claim they never get my emails, so during vacation I don't check at all. When a flustered student corners me on Day One about my slow reply to her desperate book order question, I just say, "Oh, the email was down. I don't know what happened."
ReplyDeleteBlame it on Pavlov. But yeah: I KNOW it's going to be a grade grubber. I know it. And yet, I cannot look away because they are all accidents happening before my eyes.
ReplyDeleteKimmie, you've got a serious case of Responsibility. One way to keep it in check is with flavored solutions of ethyl alcohol, taken internally.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to check email once or twice before the deans go off on break, I think. Better to respond to their email than for them to have to pick up the phone. But for everybody else, the vacation setting is written in stone.
As for book order questions and desperate pleas to add my classes, my vacation message includes links to the bookstore and college wait list policy.
The only dipshitty one I've gotten this week is from a deanlette, not a student.
ReplyDelete"Deanlette"! And what for the male vice deans? Deanito?
DeleteEven if the email is dipshitty, better to answer it than to have the deanlette (or deanito) phone you. This is Care and Feeding of Middle Management 101.
I hear you, Kimmie. Less than 24h after posting my grades, and there is the flakemail asking me to change an F to a D "so my GPA won't fall below a 2.0, which would create serious problems for my college career."
ReplyDeleteI have a heart. I hate to do the right thing and say no. I hate even more having to think about how to put it nicely when I respond to the email.
Cassandra, that's a good idea: vacation message. But I don't have a "student account" separate from my general professional email. Hmm.
Also, my TSTSNBN page shows a spike of activity. Keep them coming, CMrs!
Terry's Subversive, Titillating Scenes of Nudes Bicycling Nearby?
DeleteThe Slowly Tanking Spinsters' Nightly Beading Network?
Ten Sisters Trying Skating North By Northwest?
The Site That Shall Not Be Named. From a recent post (December '13): Reading The Site That Shall Not Be Named.
DeleteOh, yeah, I posted a review of that proffie long ago. Perhaps you could give the link again?
DeleteNot only did I get a flake the-sky-is-falling-because-of-my-grade email, but it's from an offspring of someone on my tenure committee. Hopefully I will be seen as one with great integrity as I gently create a picture of reality for the hard working student.
ReplyDelete