Go to the Dean of Students?

[Gamingphreek]

EDIT: UPDATE
Hey Everyone,

Sorry it took so long for an update.

I took my advisor's advice and got a couple other students who were upset and went to him after class and said we were concerned about graduation as well as our grades for the course given the assignment.

He said he understood and he wouldn't let it make/break us.

The next class, he announced that the Project was completely extra credit. (Best news EVER). He also gave us all tentative grades. The class average was a 72%, I made a 74%. If term ended that day, I would receive a B+.

So then I went to studying for my final while waiting for my other grades to come back. I got my grades and they were far short of what I was expecting - it was like they were arbitrarily assigned. I took the final knowing that I still had little chance of failing the course, but personally feeling that a D would not suffice.

I got 65% which curved up to a C for the final grade. It was really unfortunate because, I got A's and B's for the rest of my classes ....

BUT - I graduated today Thanks for all the advice on this everyone, it proved invaluable!

-Kevin

Well it is 2 weeks until my college graduation and I am still hoping to receive the ever knowledgeable advice from everyone here in ATOT!

Here is the situation:

• Signed up for a class listed as a 4000 level for one of my in-major electives.

• First day revealed that it was a graduate class cross-listed for undergrads; however, assignments would be different between the 2.

• First half of the semester passes and we don't do much at all because Professor is too busy with research.

• Class meets on M,W - After being gone without warning for both of those classes, we get an E-Mail Saturday morning that we have a mid-term on Wednesday!

• Project 1 is assigned and is rather easy. I have a partner and I get to work. Friday before the deadline (Sunday) my partner drops out of contact. Phone, IM, E-Mail, Google, Facebook - I have literally no way to get in touch with him. Tells me on Sunday he is dropping the class and I have to finish the entire project myself.

Time to turn in is listed 3 different places for 3 different times. 1155, 12, and 1205. I surmised that the 1205 was to allow for different times on different computers as a buffer. I tried to submit at 12:03 (After getting everything done myself) and it was closed. Typed up an E-Mail and had it sent by 12:08, he said that I get a 0.
​

Couldn't sleep, so at 8AM, I went to his office hours. 10:30AM passes and he still hasn't shown up. I go back to my room and E-Mail the TA's - they responded immediately saying they understand and will help me out - just to talk with Professor after class. I also E-Mailed my partner and he sent an E-Mail saying it was his fault.
​

Show up, and class is canceled that day without warning. On Wednesday, show up and after class he says he doesn't have time to deal with each student. Communications problems should go to him. Also said he doesn't view my situation as extenuating enough. Says the E-Mail came at 1208 (Like I have them pre-typed out). Says if he makes an extenuating circumstance for me, then he needs to do it for everyone else. Says I should have chosen a better partner. I ask how much this will hurt my grade, he says he doesn't know because he doesn't know how much the weights are yet.
​

Eventually argued my way to a 66% of whatever I end up getting (No grade yet).
​

• Final project given out last week. Gives us a program made by Los Alamos National Lab and tells us to implement TCP for cluster computing. The TA's can't provide help and he wont provide help (No responses to E-Mails). The only help (and the person who will be grading) is 2000 miles away working in Los Alamos - we can't E-Mail him either - only post in a special forum.

Class had a meeting amongst ourselves yesterday - out of a ~24 person class, 12 were present. No one knew what to do or how to receive help. Project is due Wednesday - still no response from Professor or researcher on questions.
​

• There has been absolutely no difference in work or grades among undergraduates.

-----------------
*Classmates say that he was laughing at students for coming to him with questions. TA's claim that he doesn't expect anyone to get the project done.

If anyone makes it through that and this, I appreciate any help you can give. Right now, this I need to pass this class (D-) to graduate. If I don't graduate, my Security Clearance and Job offer can potentially go away while I retake a single in-major elective.

Right now, my plan is to work through this weekend and, if at the end, I still can't get the project working, to go to my advisor and the dean of students. Do I have anything to stand on?

Thanks...

 

[olds]

cliffs?

 

[Gamingphreek]

cliffs?

I'm not sure how much I can abbreviate it.

1. Class was graduate/undergraduate - told there would be a difference for ugrads and grads - no difference.
2. Professor missed a week without warning, told class Saturday that midterm was Wednesday.
3. Didn't acknowledge extenuating circumstances for project 1. Said didn't have time to deal with students 1:1 and stuff. (You'll have to read that bullet to understand this point).
4. Provides no support via himself or TA for our last project. Outsourced grading to researcher at Los Alamos. Class is lost. Will not respond to E-Mails or phone calls asking for assistance.

 

[DrPizza]

You need to go over the college catalog/book of rules thing, (whatever it's called) - it should outline exactly what you have to do, how long you have to do it, etc. Document everything - contact dates on the special forum, lack of response, etc. Document - that the times were listed as 11:55, 12:00, and 12:05. Show that your email was set at 12:08 about how your project didn't go through at 12:03. Have all this stuff prepared before you go see the dean. Most importantly, make sure you make them aware that you're not going to stop until you're satisfied with the outcome - that you're not going to just bend over and take it. This, assuming you're telling the whole story.

 

[olds]

If you can complete the work, do it.
If you can't because of unreasonable expectations/other student bailing, talk to professor.

 

[kinev]

Definitely. Try talking to him directly one more time. If that fails, take it to his Department Chair first. Don't go to the Dean; follow the chain of command. When you talk to the chair, bring any printed out material showing his "less than interested" view of the class. That could be e-mails, the syllabus, graded assignments , etc.

Depending on the school and the department, you may or may not get a remedy from the Chair. If not, take it to the Dean. Always be respectful when talking to anyone in the department. The last thing they want to hear is a whiny student complaining about failing. In actuality, the time to have brought this issue up was earlier in the semester, but you do have valid complaints.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Well, start by contacting the head/dean for that department. Its best to go through the proper levels and escalate it as necessary. Get other people in the class to do the same thing. Also, contact student affairs (or whatever program your college should have set up specifically for things like this) and find out what they recommend to do.

 

[Gamingphreek]

You need to go over the college catalog/book of rules thing, (whatever it's called) - it should outline exactly what you have to do, how long you have to do it, etc. Document everything - contact dates on the special forum, lack of response, etc. Document - that the times were listed as 11:55, 12:00, and 12:05. Show that your email was set at 12:08 about how your project didn't go through at 12:03. Have all this stuff prepared before you go see the dean. Most importantly, make sure you make them aware that you're not going to stop until you're satisfied with the outcome - that you're not going to just bend over and take it. This, assuming you're telling the whole story.

Everything I told you isn't exaggerated in the slightest.

I'm not looking for an A or a B or to simply bump up my grade. Honestly, this isn't like me, but I just want pass so I can graduate. I have put in countless hours of work for a class where the Professor is unable/unwilling to support his students in anyway, shape, or form- in fact the Professor is doing everything in his power to ruin everything the students have worked for.

I have copies of all the E-Mails that I sent and received. I have the E-Mail from my partner to the Professor saying it was his fault.

I don't have documentation saying that the Los Alamos researcher is the only one who can provide support. The TA's did state that they weren't doing the project and the Professor refuses to answer any E-Mails. Is that enough?

I have all the announcements (particularly the one received on February 26 @ 6PM stating there was an exam on March 3)

Should I be worried that, if I do all of this, it could get back to the Professor and he could just fail me right then and there?

Thanks...

 

[lxskllr]

Key his car. It won't do anything for your grades, but it'll make you feel better ;^)

 

[Gamingphreek]

Wow - thank you so much for all the replies.

I'm a very (perhaps too much so) respectful person. I would never show anything but respect for this Professor and the others in the department. I will of course keep that in mind.

I wanted to bring this up earlier in the semester, but if I could complete the work in some way, I wanted to do that to show I was making every effort on my part. I didn't want to go to someone higher up the chain of command without having done everything in my power to rectify the situation before hand.

I plan on going to my advisor (Not sure how much power they have) on Monday should all my work this weekend with my partner not work out. That way, I can honestly say that, for this class, I gave 110% effort on every assignment before I raise issues.

I'm so worried about graduation and what will happen if this gets back to my professor....

 

[lxskllr]

Wow - thank you so much for all the replies.

I'm a very (perhaps too much so) respectful person. I would never show anything but respect for this Professor and the others in the department. I will of course keep that in mind.

Fuck that professor. Respect has to be earned, not doled out according to position. He hasn't given you respect, and he's failed in his duties at the school, as well as wasted your time and money. He hasn't earned your respect, and should be treated accordingly.

 

[Babbles]

Was the midterm scheduled on a syllabus? Or rather were all class projects, exams, and expectations listed on the syllabus? If so it may be difficult to argue the sort of suddenness which caused confusion.

Anyhow, it does sound like the instructor is an ass. It is a bit late to just now raising concerns, but you may not have a choice. It may be prudent to get many students to file a complaint with the chair. If it is just one student then it may appear to be just one whiney person, however a greater volume of student may indicate an actual problem.

As others mentioned go through the chain of command - a sure fire way of pissing off the entire department is to go straight to the top without respecting the system.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Fuck that professor. Respect has to be earned, not doled out according to position. He hasn't given you respect, and he's failed in his duties at the school, as well as wasted your time and money. He hasn't earned your respect, and should be treated accordingly.

spoken like a true child in jr High School..........
You`ll learn later on in life that the word RESPECT takes on many different meanings....

 

[lxskllr]

spoken like a true child in jr High School..........
You`ll learn later on in life that the word RESPECT takes on many different meanings....

Fuck off jackass. I've probably spent more time on this planet than you have ;^)

 

[Gamingphreek]

Fuck that professor. Respect has to be earned, not doled out according to position. He hasn't given you respect, and he's failed in his duties at the school, as well as wasted your time and money. He hasn't earned your respect, and should be treated accordingly.

The fact remains that I am a 22 year old college undergraduate and he is a 30/40's year old Associate Professor with a PhD. Me being disrespectful isn't going to do anything but hurt me more.

Was the midterm scheduled on a syllabus? Or rather were all class projects, exams, and expectations listed on the syllabus? If so it may be difficult to argue the sort of suddenness which caused confusion.

We were not told the number of projects, labs, or homeworks on the syllabus. As such, we were given no due dates.

No due dates were given for the mid-term exam.

nyhow, it does sound like the instructor is an ass. It is a bit late to just now raising concerns, but you may not have a choice. It may be prudent to get many students to file a complaint with the chair. If it is just one student then it may appear to be just one whiney person, however a greater volume of student may indicate an actual problem.

So was I wrong in my assessment that it is better for me to do everything in my own power to help the situation first? As a student, I am given the impression that the Dean of Students and other people in the department don't care what I have to say... perhaps that is not what is intended, but that is what is perceived.

I know of 12 people that are frustrated and in a similar situation that I am. I don't know that I would be able to get them to go to the dean of students; however, I do feel that if a higher up in the department were to contact the students - virtually all of them (plus the rest of the students) would echo my feelings on the course.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Fuck off jackass. I've probably spent more time on this planet than you have ;^)

Ok...lets say that is true( which it is not)....then why are you giving moronic stoopid idiotic childish advice to this person who has a legitimate complaint???

Judging by your responses what else was I to think...iether Jr High school or kindergarten....your choice.

By the way regardless your age the advice you give reeks of coming from a child.

 

[lxskllr]

Ok...lets say that is true( which it is not)....then why are you giving moronic stoopid idiotic childish advice to this person who has a legitimate complaint???

Judging by your responses what else was I to think...iether Jr High school or kindergarten....your choice.

By the way regardless your age the advice you give reeks of coming from a child.

I don't think I've given any (serious)advice in this thread, other than to not let that joker treat the OP like a doormat. You may be willing to bend over to anyone with a title, but that doesn't fly with me.

 

[KK]

small claims court. get your money back.

 

[kinev]

Also, if the Chair and Dean don't do anything, check to see if your school has an ombudsman. The Dean would likely refer you to them anyway.

"however, I do feel that if a higher up in the department were to contact the students"

Frankly, that's not going to happen. Don't put the leg work on the Dept Chair. Convince all of your classmates to bring the issue to him/her.

 

[Matthiasa]

Funny thing about Associate Professors is they tend to cave when senior people tell them or talk to them about just about anything.

 

[SandEagle]

take it straight to the Provost.

 

[Gamingphreek]

take it straight to the Provost.

I don't know if it means anything, but I am a Senior RA. We have had meetings with the Provosts and Vice Presidents before. Some may still recognize me actually. I suppose that might lend a little bit more credibility to what I am saying - or at least give me contacts with some higher-ups that can forward my concerns to the appropriate people.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Ok...lets say that is true( which it is not)....then why are you giving moronic stoopid idiotic childish advice to this person who has a legitimate complaint???

Judging by your responses what else was I to think...iether Jr High school or kindergarten....your choice.

By the way regardless your age the advice you give reeks of coming from a child.

The ironing...

 

[Leros]

It would help if you can get multiple students to voice the same complaint. Maybe even go together to meet with the higher ups.

 

[Babbles]

So was I wrong in my assessment that it is better for me to do everything in my own power to help the situation first? As a student, I am given the impression that the Dean of Students and other people in the department don't care what I have to say... perhaps that is not what is intended, but that is what is perceived.

I know of 12 people that are frustrated and in a similar situation that I am. I don't know that I would be able to get them to go to the dean of students; however, I do feel that if a higher up in the department were to contact the students - virtually all of them (plus the rest of the students) would echo my feelings on the course.

I do think you should do what you can in your own power to help the situation, however given that your semester is likely coming to an end you may have to think about all of your alternatives. Every university is different, but I would like to think that many administrators do genuinely want to hear feedback from the students - too much negatively does affect rankings and funding so it may not be a truly altruistic desire to hear feedback, though, but again they may be genuinely interested.

If your classmates have the same problem as you, they just need to suck it up and go to the appropriate administrator to voice their concerns. One thing that administrators tend not to like (and this can be a generalization) is going to the students to "fix" things - rather I think on average they want student initiated activities. Maybe you can present the problem to the administrator and have the other interested classmates sign a document stating their concern, but you can take the lead on it.

You can can always screw him on his evaluation. If he is not tenured but on is tenure-track then many negative student reviews can impact his job review. That may not help you now, though.

Somebody else mentioned checking your course catalog/guidance book to see what policies are. You may want to document any deviations the instructor has in his approach with the "rules" of the department/college/university. If he has clearly gone against policy then that may give you a stronger argument when dealing with administration.