Room Scheduling Accusations and Excuses #2
Why do I have to submit my room requests via email rather than on the phone or in person? What does the email need to include?
I receive requests for rooms year round, sometimes six months before a semester starts. If I have them all in one format, email, they are easy to store in their appropriate folders, easy to see when the requests were made, easy to print off if I need to make notes or work on a tough problem. Information taken over the phone, especially when I am busy, may be misinterpreted (my fault) or misplaced (my fault again!). If it’s in my email folder for the appropriate term it’s difficult for even me to lose it.
In person requests are a waste of your time. You need to make the trip to the R&R office, wait to get clearance to get past our locked door (they don’t want me to escape!), wait to talk to me if I am on the phone (it better not be a room request) or in a meeting (likewise) and then make pleasant small talk with me. It’s inefficient for both of us. And, because I do the requests in the order in which I receive them, all I can usually do is take down the information and then work on the request when its time comes. That has used up 15-20 minutes of your time versus an email which would take about 3 minutes.
Some people feel they need to plead their case for a different room with me. This is not necessary. If you need a different room and if I can provide it, I will. If you still feel you need to explain, doing it via email packs more of a punch because I get to read it over and over and over again.
Please keep in mind that I can process your request much faster if you tell me the ALL of following things:
Complete number of the course (XYZ 101200)
What kind of room you need (smart)
That’s it! The more concise, the better. I love a nice, “I’m teaching XYZ 101200. I need a smart classroom.” If you want to add some words of praise or appreciation or bribery, that is also quite acceptable.
Deborah Benjamin
Registration and Records
09/06/2005 |