COntacting professor during Spring break?

So I am doing a research with a professor in Chem. E department and spring break started 2 days ago.

I have to start work on the presentation for the end of March, and as much as I want to seek for help, I think it may be rude to contact him during spring break(Phone of email)

Is it acceptable>

My opinion is that it would be acceptable to email him. That way, he can get back to you if he wants to, but if he’s on vacation or something he can just wait to check his email until after break. I wouldn’t call him, though.

Email seems fine. No guarantee you’ll get an answer but nothing wrong with asking. I would not call. (I’m an adjunct at our state flagship, and I just answered student emails over spring break. No big deal).

Certainly acceptable to send one email. Not OK to send follow up emails every day asking why you haven’t heard yet. :slight_smile:

Include a polite sentence apologising for the timing.

Agree with the others — email is fine. Don’t call though. My H is a HS teacher, he answers emails all the time (even on break), but would certainly ignore it if we were on vacation.

One email cannot hurt. Some professors check their email every day - during breaks, weekends, whatever; and some only check their email Monday - Friday during a normal school week. You are not going to break and form of etiquette.

Agree with stradmom BUT an email early next week following up if you haven’t heard is perfectly fine.

My student emails during break with the profs she is researching with. Not a lot, but occasionally. I think one email is okay, and see if you hear back. If not, touch base the first day after break.

I had one professor email back and forth with me over break about something, so it indeed does depend on the prof and their plans. Like the others said, one email won’t hurt!

Go ahead and email. Make sure to indicate what you are emailing about, who you are, what class it is for (if at all), use proper english. If they are busy/not available, they will respond when they are no longer.

It’s actually pretty unlikely that your professor is “on break” too, honestly, particularly if you are at a research university. Most professors I know don’t take time off during the spring break. They use the time to do their own research and write.

So go ahead and email him. He may not contact you back until after the break is over, but it’s okay to email him. However, if he doesn’t respond to you, I’d give him 2 days after the break is over and then email again - your mail might get buried at the bottom of the box.