A communications note: I have frequently heard students complain that faculty do not return student calls

A communications note: I have frequently heard students complain that faculty do not return student calls. In my experience I am unable to return many of the calls I receive because the student forgets to leave a phone number or never answers the phone when I do call back.

So in the interest of clarity and communication, my general rule is that whenever a student leaves me a voice mail or an e-mail message I return the call or e-mail within 24 hours if I am in town.

So, if you call me or e-mail me and I do not get back to you within 24 hours then one of the following happened:

1. I was out of town when you left your message. I will return the call or e-mail within 24 hours of returning to town (during the summer or during breaks it could be weeks before I get back to you).

2. I tried three times to return your call, but there was no answer and no answering machine (three strikes and you're out applies here).

3. I returned your call and left a message on your answering machine, but, alas, your answering machine broke or was defective or your roommate accidentally erased my message (or whatever) so you never got my message.

4. Either my e-mail crashed or your e-mail crashed.

5. You did not leave your name or number, or you mumbled your name or number, or you left the wrong number (you would be surprised how frequently this happens!!!)

6. I never got your message because you dialed the wrong number or my voice mail was full.

There are probably other things that can go wrong with our advanced civilization's communications systems. The point is that I always promptly return your efforts to contact me.

If you don't hear from me then either I never got your message or you never got my response, in which case you must try to contact me again.