The assistant professor doesn't answer e-mails [closed]
I'v already read the similar questions here, but i'm sure those are not applicable in my case.
The assistant reminded us during the last session that we can contact him via email, he is only responsible for a chapter not the whole course. Usually my professor teaches the theory and his assistants handle the exercise sessions.
I tried to contact the person twice via email about fifteen and five days ago respectively, but I have not received any response yet, and I'm not expecting any response at all based on his behaviour before.
I really need an answer before the deadline, so I decided to to contact the professor himself, explaining why and pose my question to him, but after consulting with some academic people this is going to be highly irregular. I don't really know how to handle this in an academically manner.
email assistant-professor
edited Jan 5 at 19:23
Alan Dev
1033
asked Jan 5 at 11:29
Sam BSam B
324
closed as unclear what you're asking by Thomas, Buzz, scaaahu, Memming, Solar Mike Jan 6 at 8:13
Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
|
show 2 more comments
I'v already read the similar questions here, but i'm sure those are not applicable in my case.
The assistant reminded us during the last session that we can contact him via email, he is only responsible for a chapter not the whole course. Usually my professor teaches the theory and his assistants handle the exercise sessions.
I tried to contact the person twice via email about fifteen and five days ago respectively, but I have not received any response yet, and I'm not expecting any response at all based on his behaviour before.
I really need an answer before the deadline, so I decided to to contact the professor himself, explaining why and pose my question to him, but after consulting with some academic people this is going to be highly irregular. I don't really know how to handle this in an academically manner.
email assistant-professor
edited Jan 5 at 19:23
Alan Dev
1033
asked Jan 5 at 11:29
Sam BSam B
324
closed as unclear what you're asking by Thomas, Buzz, scaaahu, Memming, Solar Mike Jan 6 at 8:13
Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
1
Are you confident that there is no technical problem? Can you ask other students if they got replies?
– quid
Jan 5 at 18:38
1
@quid 100% positive, in the second email i asked him to upload the slides online which btw he should have done on 14/12 and he did it in about an hour after i sent the second email that could be a coincidence, but still i didn't get any answer on my question. I received an answer from other people so i guess no technical problems at all.
– Sam B
Jan 5 at 19:40
5
You probably mean 'professor assistant', as in someone that assists the professor. This is different from being an assistant professor.
– Pedro Tamaroff
Jan 5 at 22:12
2
Consider also that he may be receiving your emails and even replying to them, but his replies are for some reason not getting to you. I assume you've checked your spam folder; that's the first place I'd look.
– Wayne Conrad
Jan 6 at 1:39
@WayneConrad had a student complain to me that I had not replied and they did this in the middle of class : they were embarrased when it was their spam box...
– Solar Mike
Jan 6 at 6:42
|
show 2 more comments
I'v already read the similar questions here, but i'm sure those are not applicable in my case.
The assistant reminded us during the last session that we can contact him via email, he is only responsible for a chapter not the whole course. Usually my professor teaches the theory and his assistants handle the exercise sessions.
I tried to contact the person twice via email about fifteen and five days ago respectively, but I have not received any response yet, and I'm not expecting any response at all based on his behaviour before.
I really need an answer before the deadline, so I decided to to contact the professor himself, explaining why and pose my question to him, but after consulting with some academic people this is going to be highly irregular. I don't really know how to handle this in an academically manner.
email assistant-professor
edited Jan 5 at 19:23
Alan Dev
1033
asked Jan 5 at 11:29
Sam BSam B
324
I'v already read the similar questions here, but i'm sure those are not applicable in my case.
The assistant reminded us during the last session that we can contact him via email, he is only responsible for a chapter not the whole course. Usually my professor teaches the theory and his assistants handle the exercise sessions.
I tried to contact the person twice via email about fifteen and five days ago respectively, but I have not received any response yet, and I'm not expecting any response at all based on his behaviour before.
I really need an answer before the deadline, so I decided to to contact the professor himself, explaining why and pose my question to him, but after consulting with some academic people this is going to be highly irregular. I don't really know how to handle this in an academically manner.
email assistant-professor
email assistant-professor
edited Jan 5 at 19:23
Alan Dev
1033
asked Jan 5 at 11:29
Sam BSam B
324
edited Jan 5 at 19:23
Alan Dev
1033
asked Jan 5 at 11:29
Sam BSam B
324
edited Jan 5 at 19:23
Alan Dev
1033
edited Jan 5 at 19:23
Alan Dev
1033
edited Jan 5 at 19:23
Alan Dev
1033
1033
asked Jan 5 at 11:29
Sam BSam B
324
asked Jan 5 at 11:29
Sam BSam B
324
asked Jan 5 at 11:29
Sam BSam B
324
324
closed as unclear what you're asking by Thomas, Buzz, scaaahu, Memming, Solar Mike Jan 6 at 8:13
Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as unclear what you're asking by Thomas, Buzz, scaaahu, Memming, Solar Mike Jan 6 at 8:13
Please clarify your specific problem or add additional details to highlight exactly what you need. As it's currently written, it’s hard to tell exactly what you're asking. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
1
Are you confident that there is no technical problem? Can you ask other students if they got replies?
– quid
Jan 5 at 18:38
1
@quid 100% positive, in the second email i asked him to upload the slides online which btw he should have done on 14/12 and he did it in about an hour after i sent the second email that could be a coincidence, but still i didn't get any answer on my question. I received an answer from other people so i guess no technical problems at all.
– Sam B
Jan 5 at 19:40
5
You probably mean 'professor assistant', as in someone that assists the professor. This is different from being an assistant professor.
– Pedro Tamaroff
Jan 5 at 22:12
2
Consider also that he may be receiving your emails and even replying to them, but his replies are for some reason not getting to you. I assume you've checked your spam folder; that's the first place I'd look.
– Wayne Conrad
Jan 6 at 1:39
@WayneConrad had a student complain to me that I had not replied and they did this in the middle of class : they were embarrased when it was their spam box...
– Solar Mike
Jan 6 at 6:42
|
show 2 more comments
1
Are you confident that there is no technical problem? Can you ask other students if they got replies?
– quid
Jan 5 at 18:38
1
@quid 100% positive, in the second email i asked him to upload the slides online which btw he should have done on 14/12 and he did it in about an hour after i sent the second email that could be a coincidence, but still i didn't get any answer on my question. I received an answer from other people so i guess no technical problems at all.
– Sam B
Jan 5 at 19:40
5
You probably mean 'professor assistant', as in someone that assists the professor. This is different from being an assistant professor.
– Pedro Tamaroff
Jan 5 at 22:12
2
Consider also that he may be receiving your emails and even replying to them, but his replies are for some reason not getting to you. I assume you've checked your spam folder; that's the first place I'd look.
– Wayne Conrad
Jan 6 at 1:39
@WayneConrad had a student complain to me that I had not replied and they did this in the middle of class : they were embarrased when it was their spam box...
– Solar Mike
Jan 6 at 6:42
1
1
Are you confident that there is no technical problem? Can you ask other students if they got replies?
– quid
Jan 5 at 18:38
Are you confident that there is no technical problem? Can you ask other students if they got replies?
– quid
Jan 5 at 18:38
1
1
@quid 100% positive, in the second email i asked him to upload the slides online which btw he should have done on 14/12 and he did it in about an hour after i sent the second email that could be a coincidence, but still i didn't get any answer on my question. I received an answer from other people so i guess no technical problems at all.
– Sam B
Jan 5 at 19:40
@quid 100% positive, in the second email i asked him to upload the slides online which btw he should have done on 14/12 and he did it in about an hour after i sent the second email that could be a coincidence, but still i didn't get any answer on my question. I received an answer from other people so i guess no technical problems at all.
– Sam B
Jan 5 at 19:40
5
5
You probably mean 'professor assistant', as in someone that assists the professor. This is different from being an assistant professor.
– Pedro Tamaroff
Jan 5 at 22:12
You probably mean 'professor assistant', as in someone that assists the professor. This is different from being an assistant professor.
– Pedro Tamaroff
Jan 5 at 22:12
2
2
Consider also that he may be receiving your emails and even replying to them, but his replies are for some reason not getting to you. I assume you've checked your spam folder; that's the first place I'd look.
– Wayne Conrad
Jan 6 at 1:39
Consider also that he may be receiving your emails and even replying to them, but his replies are for some reason not getting to you. I assume you've checked your spam folder; that's the first place I'd look.
– Wayne Conrad
Jan 6 at 1:39
@WayneConrad had a student complain to me that I had not replied and they did this in the middle of class : they were embarrased when it was their spam box...
– Solar Mike
Jan 6 at 6:42
@WayneConrad had a student complain to me that I had not replied and they did this in the middle of class : they were embarrased when it was their spam box...
– Solar Mike
Jan 6 at 6:42
|
show 2 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
While there may be exceptions, I think that in most places it would be proper to ask the question of the professor. You could also mention that you haven't yet received an answer from the TA. That might get things moving better in the future.
I would't phrase the comment about the TA as an accusation or complaint; Just the fact that you asked, haven't yet heard back, and need the answer.
answered Jan 5 at 12:15
BuffyBuffy
53.3k15171264
add a comment |
15 days ago was the weekend before Christmas, 5 days ago was new years day. I am not surprised the assistant hasn't answered: my university is closed till Monday. Since I have children and the school and kindergarten are also closed till Monday, I have very little time for answering emails. Moreover, this is the time of year to focus on other things than work (why am I writing this answer?).
answered Jan 5 at 14:44
Maarten BuisMaarten Buis
21.7k34870
6
This answer seems to assume that the OP is from a country where Christmas is celebrated. I think this is not the case in most of the world.
– the L
Jan 5 at 15:07
1
Assuming you are in a country that celebrates Christmas, it is not common sense that (s)he responds in this period. It may be inconvenient, but it makes perfect sense to not work in periods that are holidays. That is what holidays are there for.
– Maarten Buis
Jan 5 at 17:42
9
Quite frankly, if you tell students explicitly that they can ask you questions by email yet you plan not to respond to emails for the two weeks right before the exam due to holidays (which is arguably legitimate) then you better also mention that. (If the situation is as described in OP and the questions are reasonable, and they do not respond by choice, I'd consider this as careless behavior on the side of the assistant professor.)
– quid
Jan 5 at 18:28
3
@theL I'm atheist and I don't celebrate Christmas. But I still have a long vacation, and I don't want to read work-related emails during my vacation. Make sense?
– qsp
Jan 5 at 19:50
1
@theL The vast majority of Stack Exchange users come from a country where Christmas is celebrated.
– Sparhawk
Jan 6 at 0:05
|
show 4 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
While there may be exceptions, I think that in most places it would be proper to ask the question of the professor. You could also mention that you haven't yet received an answer from the TA. That might get things moving better in the future.
I would't phrase the comment about the TA as an accusation or complaint; Just the fact that you asked, haven't yet heard back, and need the answer.
answered Jan 5 at 12:15
BuffyBuffy
53.3k15171264
add a comment |
While there may be exceptions, I think that in most places it would be proper to ask the question of the professor. You could also mention that you haven't yet received an answer from the TA. That might get things moving better in the future.
I would't phrase the comment about the TA as an accusation or complaint; Just the fact that you asked, haven't yet heard back, and need the answer.
answered Jan 5 at 12:15
BuffyBuffy
53.3k15171264
add a comment |
While there may be exceptions, I think that in most places it would be proper to ask the question of the professor. You could also mention that you haven't yet received an answer from the TA. That might get things moving better in the future.
I would't phrase the comment about the TA as an accusation or complaint; Just the fact that you asked, haven't yet heard back, and need the answer.
answered Jan 5 at 12:15
BuffyBuffy
53.3k15171264
While there may be exceptions, I think that in most places it would be proper to ask the question of the professor. You could also mention that you haven't yet received an answer from the TA. That might get things moving better in the future.
I would't phrase the comment about the TA as an accusation or complaint; Just the fact that you asked, haven't yet heard back, and need the answer.
answered Jan 5 at 12:15
BuffyBuffy
53.3k15171264
answered Jan 5 at 12:15
BuffyBuffy
53.3k15171264
answered Jan 5 at 12:15
BuffyBuffy
53.3k15171264
answered Jan 5 at 12:15
BuffyBuffy
53.3k15171264
53.3k15171264
add a comment |
add a comment |
15 days ago was the weekend before Christmas, 5 days ago was new years day. I am not surprised the assistant hasn't answered: my university is closed till Monday. Since I have children and the school and kindergarten are also closed till Monday, I have very little time for answering emails. Moreover, this is the time of year to focus on other things than work (why am I writing this answer?).
answered Jan 5 at 14:44
Maarten BuisMaarten Buis
21.7k34870
6
This answer seems to assume that the OP is from a country where Christmas is celebrated. I think this is not the case in most of the world.
– the L
Jan 5 at 15:07
1
Assuming you are in a country that celebrates Christmas, it is not common sense that (s)he responds in this period. It may be inconvenient, but it makes perfect sense to not work in periods that are holidays. That is what holidays are there for.
– Maarten Buis
Jan 5 at 17:42
9
Quite frankly, if you tell students explicitly that they can ask you questions by email yet you plan not to respond to emails for the two weeks right before the exam due to holidays (which is arguably legitimate) then you better also mention that. (If the situation is as described in OP and the questions are reasonable, and they do not respond by choice, I'd consider this as careless behavior on the side of the assistant professor.)
– quid
Jan 5 at 18:28
3
@theL I'm atheist and I don't celebrate Christmas. But I still have a long vacation, and I don't want to read work-related emails during my vacation. Make sense?
– qsp
Jan 5 at 19:50
1
@theL The vast majority of Stack Exchange users come from a country where Christmas is celebrated.
– Sparhawk
Jan 6 at 0:05
|
show 4 more comments
15 days ago was the weekend before Christmas, 5 days ago was new years day. I am not surprised the assistant hasn't answered: my university is closed till Monday. Since I have children and the school and kindergarten are also closed till Monday, I have very little time for answering emails. Moreover, this is the time of year to focus on other things than work (why am I writing this answer?).
answered Jan 5 at 14:44
Maarten BuisMaarten Buis
21.7k34870
6
This answer seems to assume that the OP is from a country where Christmas is celebrated. I think this is not the case in most of the world.
– the L
Jan 5 at 15:07
1
Assuming you are in a country that celebrates Christmas, it is not common sense that (s)he responds in this period. It may be inconvenient, but it makes perfect sense to not work in periods that are holidays. That is what holidays are there for.
– Maarten Buis
Jan 5 at 17:42
9
Quite frankly, if you tell students explicitly that they can ask you questions by email yet you plan not to respond to emails for the two weeks right before the exam due to holidays (which is arguably legitimate) then you better also mention that. (If the situation is as described in OP and the questions are reasonable, and they do not respond by choice, I'd consider this as careless behavior on the side of the assistant professor.)
– quid
Jan 5 at 18:28
3
@theL I'm atheist and I don't celebrate Christmas. But I still have a long vacation, and I don't want to read work-related emails during my vacation. Make sense?
– qsp
Jan 5 at 19:50
1
@theL The vast majority of Stack Exchange users come from a country where Christmas is celebrated.
– Sparhawk
Jan 6 at 0:05
|
show 4 more comments
15 days ago was the weekend before Christmas, 5 days ago was new years day. I am not surprised the assistant hasn't answered: my university is closed till Monday. Since I have children and the school and kindergarten are also closed till Monday, I have very little time for answering emails. Moreover, this is the time of year to focus on other things than work (why am I writing this answer?).
answered Jan 5 at 14:44
Maarten BuisMaarten Buis
21.7k34870
15 days ago was the weekend before Christmas, 5 days ago was new years day. I am not surprised the assistant hasn't answered: my university is closed till Monday. Since I have children and the school and kindergarten are also closed till Monday, I have very little time for answering emails. Moreover, this is the time of year to focus on other things than work (why am I writing this answer?).
answered Jan 5 at 14:44
Maarten BuisMaarten Buis
21.7k34870
answered Jan 5 at 14:44
Maarten BuisMaarten Buis
21.7k34870
answered Jan 5 at 14:44
Maarten BuisMaarten Buis
21.7k34870
answered Jan 5 at 14:44
Maarten BuisMaarten Buis
21.7k34870
21.7k34870
6
This answer seems to assume that the OP is from a country where Christmas is celebrated. I think this is not the case in most of the world.
– the L
Jan 5 at 15:07
1
Assuming you are in a country that celebrates Christmas, it is not common sense that (s)he responds in this period. It may be inconvenient, but it makes perfect sense to not work in periods that are holidays. That is what holidays are there for.
– Maarten Buis
Jan 5 at 17:42
9
Quite frankly, if you tell students explicitly that they can ask you questions by email yet you plan not to respond to emails for the two weeks right before the exam due to holidays (which is arguably legitimate) then you better also mention that. (If the situation is as described in OP and the questions are reasonable, and they do not respond by choice, I'd consider this as careless behavior on the side of the assistant professor.)
– quid
Jan 5 at 18:28
3
@theL I'm atheist and I don't celebrate Christmas. But I still have a long vacation, and I don't want to read work-related emails during my vacation. Make sense?
– qsp
Jan 5 at 19:50
1
@theL The vast majority of Stack Exchange users come from a country where Christmas is celebrated.
– Sparhawk
Jan 6 at 0:05
|
show 4 more comments
6
This answer seems to assume that the OP is from a country where Christmas is celebrated. I think this is not the case in most of the world.
– the L
Jan 5 at 15:07
1
Assuming you are in a country that celebrates Christmas, it is not common sense that (s)he responds in this period. It may be inconvenient, but it makes perfect sense to not work in periods that are holidays. That is what holidays are there for.
– Maarten Buis
Jan 5 at 17:42
9
Quite frankly, if you tell students explicitly that they can ask you questions by email yet you plan not to respond to emails for the two weeks right before the exam due to holidays (which is arguably legitimate) then you better also mention that. (If the situation is as described in OP and the questions are reasonable, and they do not respond by choice, I'd consider this as careless behavior on the side of the assistant professor.)
– quid
Jan 5 at 18:28
3
@theL I'm atheist and I don't celebrate Christmas. But I still have a long vacation, and I don't want to read work-related emails during my vacation. Make sense?
– qsp
Jan 5 at 19:50
1
@theL The vast majority of Stack Exchange users come from a country where Christmas is celebrated.
– Sparhawk
Jan 6 at 0:05
6
6
This answer seems to assume that the OP is from a country where Christmas is celebrated. I think this is not the case in most of the world.
– the L
Jan 5 at 15:07
This answer seems to assume that the OP is from a country where Christmas is celebrated. I think this is not the case in most of the world.
– the L
Jan 5 at 15:07
1
1
Assuming you are in a country that celebrates Christmas, it is not common sense that (s)he responds in this period. It may be inconvenient, but it makes perfect sense to not work in periods that are holidays. That is what holidays are there for.
– Maarten Buis
Jan 5 at 17:42
Assuming you are in a country that celebrates Christmas, it is not common sense that (s)he responds in this period. It may be inconvenient, but it makes perfect sense to not work in periods that are holidays. That is what holidays are there for.
– Maarten Buis
Jan 5 at 17:42
9
9
Quite frankly, if you tell students explicitly that they can ask you questions by email yet you plan not to respond to emails for the two weeks right before the exam due to holidays (which is arguably legitimate) then you better also mention that. (If the situation is as described in OP and the questions are reasonable, and they do not respond by choice, I'd consider this as careless behavior on the side of the assistant professor.)
– quid
Jan 5 at 18:28
Quite frankly, if you tell students explicitly that they can ask you questions by email yet you plan not to respond to emails for the two weeks right before the exam due to holidays (which is arguably legitimate) then you better also mention that. (If the situation is as described in OP and the questions are reasonable, and they do not respond by choice, I'd consider this as careless behavior on the side of the assistant professor.)
– quid
Jan 5 at 18:28
3
3
@theL I'm atheist and I don't celebrate Christmas. But I still have a long vacation, and I don't want to read work-related emails during my vacation. Make sense?
– qsp
Jan 5 at 19:50
@theL I'm atheist and I don't celebrate Christmas. But I still have a long vacation, and I don't want to read work-related emails during my vacation. Make sense?
– qsp
Jan 5 at 19:50
1
1
@theL The vast majority of Stack Exchange users come from a country where Christmas is celebrated.
– Sparhawk
Jan 6 at 0:05
@theL The vast majority of Stack Exchange users come from a country where Christmas is celebrated.
– Sparhawk
Jan 6 at 0:05
|
show 4 more comments
1
Are you confident that there is no technical problem? Can you ask other students if they got replies?
– quid
Jan 5 at 18:38
1
@quid 100% positive, in the second email i asked him to upload the slides online which btw he should have done on 14/12 and he did it in about an hour after i sent the second email that could be a coincidence, but still i didn't get any answer on my question. I received an answer from other people so i guess no technical problems at all.
– Sam B
Jan 5 at 19:40
5
You probably mean 'professor assistant', as in someone that assists the professor. This is different from being an assistant professor.
– Pedro Tamaroff
Jan 5 at 22:12
2
Consider also that he may be receiving your emails and even replying to them, but his replies are for some reason not getting to you. I assume you've checked your spam folder; that's the first place I'd look.
– Wayne Conrad
Jan 6 at 1:39
@WayneConrad had a student complain to me that I had not replied and they did this in the middle of class : they were embarrased when it was their spam box...
– Solar Mike
Jan 6 at 6:42