Department of Instructional Technology → Tech Tips 

TECH TIPS

Insider technology tips, resources, and information for MCPS staff, students, and parents.

Automatic Response to Incoming Messages

If you know you are going to be away from school or the office and unable to check e-mail, turn on the “Out of Office Assistant” feature in Microsoft Outlook.

After you open Outlook on your desktop:

• Click on the “Tools” menu, then on the “Out of Office Assistant.”
• Click “I’m currently Out of the Office” dialog button.
• Draft the message you want to send while you are out of the office in the “Auto Reply” field. When senders e-mail you, they will get an automatic message to that you are out of the office, which will include your personal message.
• When you return to the office or school, remember to turn the “Out of Office Assistant” off by going back to the “Options” and clicking the “I’m currently in the Office” dialog button.

This feature also can be accessed through Outlook Web Access (MCPS homepage/For Staff/Web Access). Once you enter Outlook through the web, click “Options,” then follow the same directions.