I think the main problem has been bending over backwards and bending the rules all along for this student. The person is obviously not college material (at least not in the chosen area). Everyone would have done this person a favor by letting them know that early on. A certain amount of accomodation is ok but this sounds extreme. So, what to do? I would suggest passing the person. Give the person some extra work, allow them to hand in other assignments, re-grade subjectively given grades, anything at all to get the person out with a "C". Why? Because all the kind-hearted professors and the school were not doing this person a favor. The school has made its bed---time to lie in it. It may sound harsh on the profs etc., but I think we really need to get this 'student centered' teaching stuff under control. If they can't cut the grade, then they should be weeded out early and let them go make a fortune being a plumber. --Mike
--- On Sat, 1/10/09, DeVolder Carol L <[email protected]> wrote: From: DeVolder Carol L <[email protected]> Subject: [tips] Weighty problem To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, January 10, 2009, 9:08 AM Dear Colleagues, I need to weigh this one carefully and would appreciate input; I'll try to be brief. There is a student who has been struggling through classes for several years. This student has managed to earn As and Bs, mostly through luck, a bit through hard work, and somewhat because some faculty members have given “sympathy grades.” In other words, this student is marginal at best. The student comes from an environment where the mother was a hard drug user—crack, coke, you name it—and the mother is paying a heavy price (currently dying of hepatitis and cirrhosis). The student wants to graduate, and actually to be the first in the family to attend college and subsequently graduate before the mother dies. There have been other issues that have cropped up from time to time (i.e. an incomplete in three courses because the student was unable to attend classes due to a broken leg from an assault). Eventually the student finished the courses, but it took a great deal of time (and energy from the faculty). Here’s thecurrent problem: This student recently received a D in a course that is required for the major, and must have Cs or better in all major coursework. The professor who assigned the D is a fair and compassionate individual, and he has worked with this student a great deal over the course of the semester (which the student acknowledges). Now that the student has been informed that, in order to graduate as expected, all grades in the major must be of a certain level, the student wants another exception made and is willing to write papers or do any type of extra credit to have the grade raised to a C. There have been many exceptions made for this student in the past. On the other hand, retaking the course is problematic because of limited financial resources (financial aid won’t cover it and the student has little income). How much should be done to facilitate this student’s graduation? At what point does the integrity of the degree take precedence over the efforts of a student whom life has dealt a raw deal? At this point, I’m not the one who will make the decision, but I have been asked for my advice. I plan on thinking about this at length, but I really want to hear what others have to say. Although this isn’t a typical scenario, there have been relatively similar cases in the past. Morally and ethically, what would you advise? Carol L. DeVolder, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Chair, Department of Psychology St. Ambrose University 518 West Locust Street Davenport, Iowa 52803 Phone: 563-333-6482 e-mail: [email protected] web: http://web.sau.edu/psychology/psychfaculty/cdevolder.htm The contents of this message are confidential and may not be shared with anyone without permission of the sender. --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
