Cold Email Policy

I no longer read most cold emails due to the large amounts of email I receive daily. There are only three exceptions:

• I already know you or know someone who knows you.
• You are from a professional or academic organization that I belong to (i.e., you're my professional colleague).
• You are a UCSD student or affiliate. I always prioritize emails from UCSD, but see below for details.

If you want me to consider your cold email, make sure I can read AND respond to it within one minute. Even if I respond, please don't send follow-up emails unless I ask you for more info.

If your email is about Python Tutor, read this document first and only email me if you have a credible bug report.

This is my email address: philip@pgbovine.net

If you are a UCSD student or affiliate:

• If you'd like to chat about anything, come to my office hours or talk to me after class; no need to email me! Any UCSD student or affiliate should feel welcome to come to my office hours.
• Scroll to bottom of office hours for more UCSD student FAQs.
• Please do not email me about trying to get into a course or registration/scheduling logistics. Talk to Thanh Maxwell or Quynh Dieu (undergrad advisors), or Ethel Lu (grad advisor).
  • If a course is overbooked and you are trying to get in, our policy is that we must prioritize students who fulfill all of the prerequisites and are already on the waitlist. I encourage you to always look into alternate courses to enroll in.
  • You can always come to class to talk to me.
• If you're in one of my classes, please use the course discussion forum (you can send private messages there) instead of email.
• Do not email me about course grades unless there is an error. Each course's syllabus will have grading policies listed on it.
• I'm not currently looking for undergraduate students for my research lab; but I'm happy to chat in office hours if you'd like my advice on job opportunities in general.