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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Why You Haven’t Heard From Me: You Are Lucky!


I wasn’t brought up in a barn. I dutifully write thank you notes. I never call people after 9:00 p.m. I hold the door for everyone, regardless of age or gender, and if I happen to see anyone who is actually older than I am, I’m willing to help them cross the street.  So why don’t I ever reply to your email requests for room changes?  Because you are one of the lucky ones!

If you haven’t heard from me, I didn’t have a problem fulfilling your room request. The only time you will hear from me is if I can’t help you and we need to discuss another option. So, instead of cursing me for not getting back to you, it’s time to sing my praises for taking care of your room problem and silently slinking away.

I sent the students their schedules today. All the room changes I received as of yesterday were included in this mailing. There are about eight people for whom I haven’t been able to find the room they need and I’m still working on those (Check Banner to see if I was able to move your class).  I received seven new room change requests today.  I know more will follow.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as we blast into the frigid and frosty spring semester:

Check your room assignments TODAY. Do not rely on what was on Banner yesterday or last week. Rooms are changing all the time. If you asked for a smart room you will still be in a smart room but it might be a different one. Room changes are fluid.

In order to make a room change I need the following information—the course, the CRN and what kind of room you need. The reason I need both the course and the CRN is because it’s easy to transpose a CRN and I like to make sure I’m not changing someone else’s class by mistake. You’d be surprised how many people give me a long explanation of why they need a room change but fail to tell me the course.

The most efficient way to get a room change is to contact me by email. Include the above information. I’ll get working on it right away. The least efficient and dangerous way to contact me is by phone or in person. We have huge lines here and the office is locked. Getting in to see me is a hassle. Plus, while I’m talking to you I could have done several room changes, fixed Banner, and made room change signs. It slows down the whole process when you show up in person. Likewise with a phone call. I’ll scribble your request on a sheet of paper and it may or may not get interfiled with the email requests. Plus I like to keep my phone free for emergency calls from faculty or department secretaries. PLEASE EMAIL ALL ROOM REQUESTS!

Not all room requests can be honored. I will always do my best to get you into the room type you want but there may be a few instances when that room type is just not available.  I’ll make switches when it’s possible. I’ll steer you toward other professors who may be able to make an exchange with you. I’ll keep your request on my desk and recheck it every time someone else makes a successful room change just in case their move opens up something for you. I’ll keep looking until you ask me to stop. But every semester there are a handful of people who can’t be helped. That’s just the way the world is. I’ve often been told I’m beyond help so I know exactly how you feel.

The first week of classes is hard on all of us so keep your spirits up and try to find the humor in all the things that will undoubtedly go wrong. We’re in this mess together so it helps if we can laugh together!

Deborah Benjamin
Registration and Records
01/22/2010