Doing my part to help Angie out with the "bump"!

Is having your posts sent to Hot Topics supposed to be the equivalent of Spike sending you to the teacups! lol (newbies: before Houzz and Garden Web the site was owned by Spike. If you misbehaved he would redirect your login to the Disney website ... at which time you had been sent to the teacups! The good old days!)

Glad your eyes are all good and no serious issues. To be honest I don't see the implementation of the system as anything degrading to you or your colleague who also got put on it or anything saying you got lumped in the same bucket as that with no other responsibilities. Rather I see the reason for it as you both have people that come to see you so you got added as part of the sign-in system and that is what you have in common with the other advisors. It is only to make sure that students have continuity and same method for all points of contacts. Doubt it has anything to do with your actual position. Just that they want one system for all students to use so there is no ambiguity of what to do in either case. It is unfortunate that there was really poor communication. I do think I would bring up or file an enhancement request to the system (if you have a web based IT form) to request that they update the pinging to not happen to all people as it can be quite disturbing - not only when working on other things, but while advising the students as well. Since the amount of time spent with students varies based on the advisor type this can cause several interruptions to you and your co-worker, but maybe not as much with the other advisors. I'd phrase it in a helpful way and work on solving the only problem I really see with the system. As for students just dropping in, just say - "would you mind signing in and we'll have a chat. They've implemented a new system and although my door is always open having you sign in would be greatly appreciated"

Technology and nature DO mix. This morning my niece in Florida texted me that she found a hurt owl in the road as she was on her daily run. Sent me a picture of him, I went online and found bird rescuers near her and texted her the phone #s. She used her FB neighborhood page and asked someone to bring her a box to put the owl in. 40 minutes later, she was back home with the owl in a box and a bird rescue person was en route to take the owl to a sanctuary for medical help. It was probably struck by a car and spun off. May have a broken wing, but she stood next to it in the road protecting it from more cars. We are 1400 miles apart, but close to nature - and technology helped! Jane P.S. - Violet the bunny is still with us after the bobcat visit. I think she lives under the deck.