Favorite student emails

[FishProf]

"Good afternoon, My name is [Stu]. I know this isn't the best look as it was the first week of class last week but I had no computer at the time. I plugged mine in the day before classes and it wouldnt turn on. I ended up needing to buy a whole new one. My phone doesnt have the best storage and I couldn't see the blackboard until yesterday when I got my computer. I do have [accomodation] letters I need to share with you as well. I just did not have access to anything till now. Now also there were some assignments I missed, Is there any way I could do them? If not I 100% understand it is my fault coming to school not prepared."

It is such a shame that in our digital world, people are only allowed to use their own computer.  It would be so nice if there were places to go that had computers available for anyone to use.  I should suggest that to our IT department and my local library.

 I just checked.  First semester Freshpeep.

They should not be allowed to take online classes right out of the gate.

[kaysixteen]

When you answer him, will you remind him that the library, etc., do have public ol access?

[FishProf]

I didn't, because by the time she emailed, she had computer access.

But I do have a line about that in my syllabus.  Which she didn't read because "no computer".

[apl68]

"Good afternoon, My name is [Stu]. I know this isn't the best look as it was the first week of class last week but I had no computer at the time. I plugged mine in the day before classes and it wouldnt turn on. I ended up needing to buy a whole new one. My phone doesnt have the best storage and I couldn't see the blackboard until yesterday when I got my computer. I do have [accomodation] letters I need to share with you as well. I just did not have access to anything till now. Now also there were some assignments I missed, Is there any way I could do them? If not I 100% understand it is my fault coming to school not prepared."

It is such a shame that in our digital world, people are only allowed to use their own computer.  It would be so nice if there were places to go that had computers available for anyone to use.  I should suggest that to our IT department and my local library.

 I just checked.  First semester Freshpeep.

They should not be allowed to take online classes right out of the gate.

True.  Most first-semester traditional-age students really shouldn't be encouraged to take online classes that early, for all kinds of reasons.  There are exceptions who could probably do it well.  But they are exceptions.

[FishProf]

I replied to the student at 3:30 PM on Sunday.  At 12:33 AM today, she sent me the exact same email and had still not done any work.

I can't help if you don't do ANYTHING

[Sea_Ice]

I replied to the student at 3:30 PM on Sunday.  At 12:33 AM today, she sent me the exact same email and had still not done any work.

I can't help if you don't do ANYTHING

Fantasy response:

"Dear Stu;  Please see my reply (date, time) to your previous email of (date, time). If there is anything else I can do to assist you, please let me know.  Yours sincerely..."

[the_geneticist]

I replied to the student at 3:30 PM on Sunday.  At 12:33 AM today, she sent me the exact same email and had still not done any work.

I can't help if you don't do ANYTHING

I don't reply to emails after 5:00 on Friday.  I also make sure that nothing is due after 5:00 on a Friday.  No way I'm giving up my weekend time for non-emergency questions.

Yes, it's in the syllabus that if you email me M-F 8-5 you can expect a reply that day/early the next morning.  Emails after hours are answered the next day, emails over weekends = expect a reply on Monday

[evil_physics_witchcraft]

I replied to the student at 3:30 PM on Sunday.  At 12:33 AM today, she sent me the exact same email and had still not done any work.

I can't help if you don't do ANYTHING

I don't reply to emails after 5:00 on Friday.  I also make sure that nothing is due after 5:00 on a Friday.  No way I'm giving up my weekend time for non-emergency questions.

Yes, it's in the syllabus that if you email me M-F 8-5 you can expect a reply that day/early the next morning.  Emails after hours are answered the next day, emails over weekends = expect a reply on Monday

I have a very similar policy.

[the_geneticist]

Got one today:

Hello Dr. [Geneticist],

My name is [commuter stu], and I am a commuter student. The train arrives at [campus] at 9:04AM but it would take about 20-30 to arrive to class. Since this course starts at 9AM I would be late only on Tuesdays, are there any accommodations to insure this time difference doesn't interrupt the [basketweaving lab] ? I have communicated with [campus folks] and my academic advisor, however they have stated I cannot change my schedule due to it being [reserved for freshmen set of courses]. I will contact them again today to see if I could find a better alternative.

If I am unable to switch to a better [basketweaving lab] with a better start time, then I am excited to be in your lessons. This is the only class in which I would be missing from the start. Thank you so much for listening, and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week.

Sincerely,
[commuter stu]

Stu is polite and classes haven't started yet so they are planning ahead.

But the short version is "I will be 20-30 minutes late to lab every week.  But it's only your class I'll be late for!  So that's OK, right?"

My reply:

You will have to either adjust your schedule or your commute. Labs start on time & students who arrive late are not allowed in the room.

[bio-nonymous]

Got one today:

Hello Dr. [Geneticist],

My name is [commuter stu], and I am a commuter student. The train arrives at [campus] at 9:04AM but it would take about 20-30 to arrive to class. Since this course starts at 9AM I would be late only on Tuesdays, are there any accommodations to insure this time difference doesn't interrupt the [basketweaving lab] ? I have communicated with [campus folks] and my academic advisor, however they have stated I cannot change my schedule due to it being [reserved for freshmen set of courses]. I will contact them again today to see if I could find a better alternative.

If I am unable to switch to a better [basketweaving lab] with a better start time, then I am excited to be in your lessons. This is the only class in which I would be missing from the start. Thank you so much for listening, and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week.

Sincerely,
[commuter stu]

Stu is polite and classes haven't started yet so they are planning ahead.

But the short version is "I will be 20-30 minutes late to lab every week.  But it's only your class I'll be late for!  So that's OK, right?"

My reply:

You will have to either adjust your schedule or your commute. Labs start on time & students who arrive late are not allowed in the room.

There is likely a very early train that they don't want to get up for (workers need to get to work before 9am!)...sometimes in life you have to suffer through sub-optimal conditions. Your answer is perfect!

[the_geneticist]

I'm getting a few of these:

I'm sick & won't be in class. What did I miss/let me know how to make it up?

Which class?? 

If it's lecture, the slides are posted. If it's discussion [X], go to TA office hours.  If it's discussion [Y], you missed a quiz but we drop your lowest score anyway.  If it's [baskets lab], I can give you permission to attend another section, but need to know which ones you could make it to.

I need to know who you are & what you are taking to help you!

Plus, at least half the time they 'suddenly feel well enough to go to class' when they realize they have an assignment and/or we don't excuse any assignments in lab.  We offer an online makeup lab that will take you just as long as going to class, and only offer it once.

The learning curve for freshmen is rather steep

[apl68]

I'm getting a few of these:

I'm sick & won't be in class. What did I miss/let me know how to make it up?

Which class?? 

If it's lecture, the slides are posted. If it's discussion

• , go to TA office hours.  If it's discussion [Y], you missed a quiz but we drop your lowest score anyway.  If it's [baskets lab], I can give you permission to attend another section, but need to know which ones you could make it to.

I need to know who you are & what you are taking to help you!

Plus, at least half the time they 'suddenly feel well enough to go to class' when they realize they have an assignment and/or we don't excuse any assignments in lab.  We offer an online makeup lab that will take you just as long as going to class, and only offer it once.

The learning curve for freshmen is rather steep

It honestly takes youths some time to realize that they and their situations don't loom as large in the instructor's conscience as the instructor does in theirs.  That they're only a small part of what instructors and others have to deal with.  I guess it's because they haven't yet made the transition away from being the center of attention of their family household to starting to realize their place in the world. 

Like Francis Chan once put it:  "Some people think that the movie of life is about them."  When in reality, we all amount to extras in a crowd scene.

[kaysixteen]

It is also that these kids are used to being able to do stuff like this in hs, and their parents then, ahem, well... you get the idea.

[the_geneticist]

Must be time for me to send out my quarterly "I need to know who you are so I can help you + there are 700 of you and just 1 of me" emails.

[EdnaMode]

An email exchange with a student who is "very concerned" about his grade (bold added for emphasis in his reply).

Stu,

I understand you are concerned about your overall grade, attending class regularly is important for success. For example, last week, you skipped Monday's lecture, were significantly late to lab on Tuesday morning, and missed lab on Thursday. This week you were significantly late for Tuesday's lab and turned your work in late which earned a late penalty.

To improve your work on graded assignments, I suggest reading the feedback you have received on your work. You continue to repeat similar errors on your work, and this leads me to believe you are not paying close attention to the feedback supplied on the grading rubrics. Once you have done that, and if you have questions about what you are not doing correctly, stop by my office during office hours and we can answer those questions.

Dr. Mode

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hey,

I know I missed lecture last week, and I had [another class exam] that day that I was studying for, and I know that's no excuse and then I saw we had a 5 point assignment that day, which was irritating. I am usually up on the weekends and especially monday night until 2 am every week trying to make your labs the best that I can and I just can't seem to do it. My grade is low right now so I need everything I can at this point to pass. I never emailed you or asked for help before but I figured it was worth a shot so thank you. Just let me know what I can do to make things better, thank you again.
 
Stu

What does he expect me to do? I already told him what he could do to make it better. Guess he wants 'bonus points' or perhaps to redo previous work. Who knows? I'm delaying another reply.