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Who should respond when supervisor is also included as main recipient
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
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I am a graduate assistant responsible for teaching a lab.
I am in the United States.
I received an email from a student explaining a situation that we have to act on.
He sent the email to both me and my supervisor (included in the To section). I do have the authority to act on it usually so that's not the issue.
He addressed it this way: Dear <my name> and Dr <supervisor>,
Do I go ahead and respond directly to the student? Do I include the supervisor in the "To" the way the student sent it or do I move it the Cc section? Or do I allow the supervisor to respond as he has the higher authority here? He teaches the lecture, I teach the lab.
edited Oct 3 '14 at 1:38
Andrew Medico
44749
asked Oct 2 '14 at 2:11
Tom
82
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I am a graduate assistant responsible for teaching a lab.
I am in the United States.
I received an email from a student explaining a situation that we have to act on.
He sent the email to both me and my supervisor (included in the To section). I do have the authority to act on it usually so that's not the issue.
He addressed it this way: Dear <my name> and Dr <supervisor>,
Do I go ahead and respond directly to the student? Do I include the supervisor in the "To" the way the student sent it or do I move it the Cc section? Or do I allow the supervisor to respond as he has the higher authority here? He teaches the lecture, I teach the lab.
edited Oct 3 '14 at 1:38
Andrew Medico
44749
asked Oct 2 '14 at 2:11
Tom
82
4
If in doubt about whether or how you should respond, send a note to the supervisor saying "This is what I plan to reply with -- is that OK, or do you want it treated another way, or should I let you reply?" On the other hand, if you're confident you know what the answer should be, reply to the student with copy to the supervisor (and yes, CC is a slightly better way to handle that, to make it clear who you're talking to and who's receiving a courtesy copy).
– keshlam
Oct 2 '14 at 2:20
1
I would totally upvote this as an answer.
– bethlakshmi
Oct 2 '14 at 5:14
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I am a graduate assistant responsible for teaching a lab.
I am in the United States.
I received an email from a student explaining a situation that we have to act on.
He sent the email to both me and my supervisor (included in the To section). I do have the authority to act on it usually so that's not the issue.
He addressed it this way: Dear <my name> and Dr <supervisor>,
Do I go ahead and respond directly to the student? Do I include the supervisor in the "To" the way the student sent it or do I move it the Cc section? Or do I allow the supervisor to respond as he has the higher authority here? He teaches the lecture, I teach the lab.
edited Oct 3 '14 at 1:38
Andrew Medico
44749
asked Oct 2 '14 at 2:11
Tom
82
I am a graduate assistant responsible for teaching a lab.
I am in the United States.
I received an email from a student explaining a situation that we have to act on.
He sent the email to both me and my supervisor (included in the To section). I do have the authority to act on it usually so that's not the issue.
He addressed it this way: Dear <my name> and Dr <supervisor>,
Do I go ahead and respond directly to the student? Do I include the supervisor in the "To" the way the student sent it or do I move it the Cc section? Or do I allow the supervisor to respond as he has the higher authority here? He teaches the lecture, I teach the lab.
edited Oct 3 '14 at 1:38
Andrew Medico
44749
asked Oct 2 '14 at 2:11
Tom
82
edited Oct 3 '14 at 1:38
Andrew Medico
44749
edited Oct 3 '14 at 1:38
Andrew Medico
44749
edited Oct 3 '14 at 1:38
Andrew Medico
44749
44749
asked Oct 2 '14 at 2:11
Tom
82
asked Oct 2 '14 at 2:11
Tom
82
asked Oct 2 '14 at 2:11
Tom
82
82
4
If in doubt about whether or how you should respond, send a note to the supervisor saying "This is what I plan to reply with -- is that OK, or do you want it treated another way, or should I let you reply?" On the other hand, if you're confident you know what the answer should be, reply to the student with copy to the supervisor (and yes, CC is a slightly better way to handle that, to make it clear who you're talking to and who's receiving a courtesy copy).
– keshlam
Oct 2 '14 at 2:20
1
I would totally upvote this as an answer.
– bethlakshmi
Oct 2 '14 at 5:14
suggest improvements |Â
4
If in doubt about whether or how you should respond, send a note to the supervisor saying "This is what I plan to reply with -- is that OK, or do you want it treated another way, or should I let you reply?" On the other hand, if you're confident you know what the answer should be, reply to the student with copy to the supervisor (and yes, CC is a slightly better way to handle that, to make it clear who you're talking to and who's receiving a courtesy copy).
– keshlam
Oct 2 '14 at 2:20
1
I would totally upvote this as an answer.
– bethlakshmi
Oct 2 '14 at 5:14
4
4
If in doubt about whether or how you should respond, send a note to the supervisor saying "This is what I plan to reply with -- is that OK, or do you want it treated another way, or should I let you reply?" On the other hand, if you're confident you know what the answer should be, reply to the student with copy to the supervisor (and yes, CC is a slightly better way to handle that, to make it clear who you're talking to and who's receiving a courtesy copy).
– keshlam
Oct 2 '14 at 2:20
If in doubt about whether or how you should respond, send a note to the supervisor saying "This is what I plan to reply with -- is that OK, or do you want it treated another way, or should I let you reply?" On the other hand, if you're confident you know what the answer should be, reply to the student with copy to the supervisor (and yes, CC is a slightly better way to handle that, to make it clear who you're talking to and who's receiving a courtesy copy).
– keshlam
Oct 2 '14 at 2:20
1
1
I would totally upvote this as an answer.
– bethlakshmi
Oct 2 '14 at 5:14
I would totally upvote this as an answer.
– bethlakshmi
Oct 2 '14 at 5:14
suggest improvements |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
If your supervisor has delegated to you the authority and responsibility to respond in his name, then take over and respond while making sure that you cc: your supervisor.
The rule is that if you are addressing your supervisor directly, then you place his name in the "To:" section. If all you're doing is keeping him in the loop and you don't have any expectations of direct action from him, then you cc: him.
If you respond and he wants to add to your response, then he is free to do so as you kept him in the loop.
As a matter of courtesy and accountability (yours), make a point of keeping your supervisor in the loop unless he requests and expects otherwise. For example, if I were your supervisor and I know you well enough that I can trust that you can handle yourself without my input, I'd not be really interested in every detail of what you are doing with the students and I'd limit my involvement to anything that's escalated to me by either you or the student - I have plenty of other fish to fry :)
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:21
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
0
down vote
The worst thing that can happen is that you both reply to the student with contradicting answers. Talk to each other! Sounds crazy, but it could be that simple.
And if he didn't answer after 5 minutes, it is very likely he won't!
edited Oct 2 '14 at 6:58
tomjedrz
1,11669
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:26
user27453
131
suggest improvements |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
If your supervisor has delegated to you the authority and responsibility to respond in his name, then take over and respond while making sure that you cc: your supervisor.
The rule is that if you are addressing your supervisor directly, then you place his name in the "To:" section. If all you're doing is keeping him in the loop and you don't have any expectations of direct action from him, then you cc: him.
If you respond and he wants to add to your response, then he is free to do so as you kept him in the loop.
As a matter of courtesy and accountability (yours), make a point of keeping your supervisor in the loop unless he requests and expects otherwise. For example, if I were your supervisor and I know you well enough that I can trust that you can handle yourself without my input, I'd not be really interested in every detail of what you are doing with the students and I'd limit my involvement to anything that's escalated to me by either you or the student - I have plenty of other fish to fry :)
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:21
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
If your supervisor has delegated to you the authority and responsibility to respond in his name, then take over and respond while making sure that you cc: your supervisor.
The rule is that if you are addressing your supervisor directly, then you place his name in the "To:" section. If all you're doing is keeping him in the loop and you don't have any expectations of direct action from him, then you cc: him.
If you respond and he wants to add to your response, then he is free to do so as you kept him in the loop.
As a matter of courtesy and accountability (yours), make a point of keeping your supervisor in the loop unless he requests and expects otherwise. For example, if I were your supervisor and I know you well enough that I can trust that you can handle yourself without my input, I'd not be really interested in every detail of what you are doing with the students and I'd limit my involvement to anything that's escalated to me by either you or the student - I have plenty of other fish to fry :)
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:21
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
If your supervisor has delegated to you the authority and responsibility to respond in his name, then take over and respond while making sure that you cc: your supervisor.
The rule is that if you are addressing your supervisor directly, then you place his name in the "To:" section. If all you're doing is keeping him in the loop and you don't have any expectations of direct action from him, then you cc: him.
If you respond and he wants to add to your response, then he is free to do so as you kept him in the loop.
As a matter of courtesy and accountability (yours), make a point of keeping your supervisor in the loop unless he requests and expects otherwise. For example, if I were your supervisor and I know you well enough that I can trust that you can handle yourself without my input, I'd not be really interested in every detail of what you are doing with the students and I'd limit my involvement to anything that's escalated to me by either you or the student - I have plenty of other fish to fry :)
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:21
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
If your supervisor has delegated to you the authority and responsibility to respond in his name, then take over and respond while making sure that you cc: your supervisor.
The rule is that if you are addressing your supervisor directly, then you place his name in the "To:" section. If all you're doing is keeping him in the loop and you don't have any expectations of direct action from him, then you cc: him.
If you respond and he wants to add to your response, then he is free to do so as you kept him in the loop.
As a matter of courtesy and accountability (yours), make a point of keeping your supervisor in the loop unless he requests and expects otherwise. For example, if I were your supervisor and I know you well enough that I can trust that you can handle yourself without my input, I'd not be really interested in every detail of what you are doing with the students and I'd limit my involvement to anything that's escalated to me by either you or the student - I have plenty of other fish to fry :)
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:21
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
edited Oct 2 '14 at 2:29
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:21
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:21
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:21
Vietnhi Phuvan
68.9k7118254
68.9k7118254
suggest improvements |Â
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
0
down vote
The worst thing that can happen is that you both reply to the student with contradicting answers. Talk to each other! Sounds crazy, but it could be that simple.
And if he didn't answer after 5 minutes, it is very likely he won't!
edited Oct 2 '14 at 6:58
tomjedrz
1,11669
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:26
user27453
131
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
0
down vote
The worst thing that can happen is that you both reply to the student with contradicting answers. Talk to each other! Sounds crazy, but it could be that simple.
And if he didn't answer after 5 minutes, it is very likely he won't!
edited Oct 2 '14 at 6:58
tomjedrz
1,11669
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:26
user27453
131
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
The worst thing that can happen is that you both reply to the student with contradicting answers. Talk to each other! Sounds crazy, but it could be that simple.
And if he didn't answer after 5 minutes, it is very likely he won't!
edited Oct 2 '14 at 6:58
tomjedrz
1,11669
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:26
user27453
131
The worst thing that can happen is that you both reply to the student with contradicting answers. Talk to each other! Sounds crazy, but it could be that simple.
And if he didn't answer after 5 minutes, it is very likely he won't!
edited Oct 2 '14 at 6:58
tomjedrz
1,11669
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:26
user27453
131
edited Oct 2 '14 at 6:58
tomjedrz
1,11669
edited Oct 2 '14 at 6:58
tomjedrz
1,11669
edited Oct 2 '14 at 6:58
tomjedrz
1,11669
1,11669
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:26
user27453
131
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:26
user27453
131
answered Oct 2 '14 at 2:26
user27453
131
131
suggest improvements |Â
suggest improvements |Â
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4
If in doubt about whether or how you should respond, send a note to the supervisor saying "This is what I plan to reply with -- is that OK, or do you want it treated another way, or should I let you reply?" On the other hand, if you're confident you know what the answer should be, reply to the student with copy to the supervisor (and yes, CC is a slightly better way to handle that, to make it clear who you're talking to and who's receiving a courtesy copy).
– keshlam
Oct 2 '14 at 2:20
1
I would totally upvote this as an answer.
– bethlakshmi
Oct 2 '14 at 5:14