Nancy wrote "I actually prefer email. I have a terrible time with the telephone - I cannot remember to return calls and I don't even enjoy talking on the phone with people I like. I can answer questions better by email. I don't feel put out as I am at my computer a lot. If the student is making an inappropriate request (I would NEVER send a student notes for a class that was cut - I tell them right up front it's not my responsibility to catch them up) -I just tell them no dice. I don't feel as disempowered by email as most of the profs who were interviewed for that piece apparently do. I much prefer it to phone messages. I tell my students this up front."
I'm 100% with Nancy. I HATE voice mail and thoroughly enjoy answering questions from students via e-mail, especially at midnight on a Saturday night. If I'm already on line (and I usually am), why not answer student queries? And I find that students, far from feeling entitled, are exceedingly grateful that I get back to them so quickly. I LOVE e-mail. I also have class (and advisee) e-mail dist. lists so I can send them interesting articles, info on interesting programs, colloquia,job opportunities, reminders about scheduling, etc. As far as I'm concerned, those profs interviewed by the NYTimes are self-centered jerks and are likely the reason that students have so many commplaints about advisement (or lack thereof). Ed Edward I. Pollak, Ph.D. Department of Psychology, West Chester University of Pennsylvania Web site: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/epollak/home.htm <http://mywebpages.comcast.net/epollak/home.htm> Husband, father, grandfather, biopsychologist, bluegrass fiddler, and herpetoculturist................. in approximate order of importance. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
