Is a course syllabus a contract?
December 5, 2008 6:09 AM Subscribe
Is a course syllabus a contract?
A professor of mine for graduate school has issued a new assignment, and I'm trying of trying to fight this, but am unaware of what recourse I have as a student (I understand there may be different policies for different universities, but, generally speaking).
I'm taking a seminar class with about 18 people, at a high-ranking US university. It is a Wednesday late afternoon class. The Wednesday before the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (8 days before), the professor asked us who thinks they would be absent the following week (the day before Thanksgiving). Several people, including myself, raised their hands. He made a witty comment, and moved on with discussing the readings for the week.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, about half the class was absent.
This past Sunday night, he sends the entire class an e-mail suggesting that it would be in the best interest of those who were absent to write a 6 page paper on the readings as they pertain to the class.
I find this extremely unfair and a bit unethical. It's not that we have an additional 6 pages to write and be turned in with our term paper, but that this was absolutely not stated ahead of time as policy. Those who had missed prior classes received no such additional assignment. Nothing is stated of this in the syllabus, or had been mentioned in class. He picked one class in which many people were absent, and assigned them additional work, and informed them of their new assignment several days after. A classmate of mine asked if he could meet with him on this issue, and he outright said "no."
I (and others) feel take advantage of, and a bit threatened (grade-wise) by his ambiguous e-mail that it "may be in our best interest." And the fact that all of this was post-facto.
Are there any professors on the website? Is this something professors can do? Do we have any recourse as students? What rights to grad students have in being told of their expectations/requirements ahead of time? What are the rules that I'm unaware of - both generally written and unwritten?
A professor of mine for graduate school has issued a new assignment, and I'm trying of trying to fight this, but am unaware of what recourse I have as a student (I understand there may be different policies for different universities, but, generally speaking).
I'm taking a seminar class with about 18 people, at a high-ranking US university. It is a Wednesday late afternoon class. The Wednesday before the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (8 days before), the professor asked us who thinks they would be absent the following week (the day before Thanksgiving). Several people, including myself, raised their hands. He made a witty comment, and moved on with discussing the readings for the week.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, about half the class was absent.
This past Sunday night, he sends the entire class an e-mail suggesting that it would be in the best interest of those who were absent to write a 6 page paper on the readings as they pertain to the class.
I find this extremely unfair and a bit unethical. It's not that we have an additional 6 pages to write and be turned in with our term paper, but that this was absolutely not stated ahead of time as policy. Those who had missed prior classes received no such additional assignment. Nothing is stated of this in the syllabus, or had been mentioned in class. He picked one class in which many people were absent, and assigned them additional work, and informed them of their new assignment several days after. A classmate of mine asked if he could meet with him on this issue, and he outright said "no."
I (and others) feel take advantage of, and a bit threatened (grade-wise) by his ambiguous e-mail that it "may be in our best interest." And the fact that all of this was post-facto.
Are there any professors on the website? Is this something professors can do? Do we have any recourse as students? What rights to grad students have in being told of their expectations/requirements ahead of time? What are the rules that I'm unaware of - both generally written and unwritten?
This post was deleted for the following reason: poster's request. -- jessamyn
I'm pretty sure you don't have any rights of this kind (though it probably depends heavily on the university etc. etc.). I personally wouldn't be likely to do this because it is the kind of thing that shows up in course evaluations, but I totally understand why he would do it; think of it like a surprise quiz (that you missed). He is effectively allowing you to make up work that you chose, purposefully, well in advance, for what is likely neither an academic (e.g. attend conference) or health reason, to miss. Your only concession to missing it, as far as you report, was to raise your hand when asked -- you didn't even try to go talk to him in his office hours about what you would miss. Wed. before thanksgiving is not a vacation day, despite the fact that undergrads tend not to show up then, and for a graduate class, attendance / class discussion is very important.
posted by advil at 6:22 AM on December 5, 2008 [6 favorites]
posted by advil at 6:22 AM on December 5, 2008 [6 favorites]
I once had a professor in one of my undergraduate classes who penalized absences by placing related questions on a final exam. Since you're a grad student, I suppose you probably don't have finals - but I think that perhaps you can raise this issue with the chair of the department? Or if not the chair, then setting up an appointment with someone higher up in the Faculty? In the end though, the fact that the professor simply said "it may be in your interest" makes it seem optional.
If you're feeling snarky, send him back an email - "It may be in your best interest to stick to your syllabus." ;)
posted by perpetualstroll at 6:23 AM on December 5, 2008
If you're feeling snarky, send him back an email - "It may be in your best interest to stick to your syllabus." ;)
posted by perpetualstroll at 6:23 AM on December 5, 2008
No, it's not a contract, but departments don't tend to like it when profs play shenanigans. If it's not the kind of thing that would potentially hurt your career (we don't know the political situation, the tenure status of the professor, what kind of degree you're going for, etc.), you could complain to the department head or the ombudsman. Depending on the specifics, it may or may not get you anywhere. I complained about something sort of similar in undergrad and we still had to do the assignment but the department told the prof not to do it again.
posted by phoenixy at 6:26 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by phoenixy at 6:26 AM on December 5, 2008
IANAP, but my meager undergrad experiences indicate that yes indeed Professors may change a course syllabus at a moments notice.
Additionally, he is assigning you additional tangible work to do. Those who showed up to class also did work, by showing up and discussing the material. You also had the opportunity to go to class, but chose not to . Though I am not a grad student, much less a professor, I was always under the assumption that attending class with the other students and discussing the course work to be one of the most critical aspects of the grad school experience.
Six pages is nothing, and you are making it more trouble than it is worth. I would not consider a syllabus a contract, and if it is, it is like a credit card contract where they change it at a moments notice.
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 6:31 AM on December 5, 2008
Additionally, he is assigning you additional tangible work to do. Those who showed up to class also did work, by showing up and discussing the material. You also had the opportunity to go to class, but chose not to . Though I am not a grad student, much less a professor, I was always under the assumption that attending class with the other students and discussing the course work to be one of the most critical aspects of the grad school experience.
Six pages is nothing, and you are making it more trouble than it is worth. I would not consider a syllabus a contract, and if it is, it is like a credit card contract where they change it at a moments notice.
posted by wocka wocka wocka at 6:31 AM on December 5, 2008
There might be a rule in the graduate student handbook, so you should look there first. But odds are you're stuck with it; this is incredibly mild by grad school standards, where the expectation is that you'll show up without hand-holding or the perks usually afforded to undergrads (e.g. taking extra time off around holidays). You're unlikely to get more than a brush-off from the chair/administration, depending on whether the prof is tenured and what field you're in. The bad blood engendered might very well hurt you more than just doing the work and keeping your head down. Do you have a read on the general disposition of your department chair?
posted by Dr.Enormous at 6:34 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by Dr.Enormous at 6:34 AM on December 5, 2008
At my university, a course syllabus is treated very much like a contract. Thus, a student angry about this sort of thing could easily raise a big stink. But profs know this -- read your syllabus very carefully for statements about makeup work, unexcused absences, participation grades, and the like. If you still feel like arguing, why not start by asking the prof (via email, ideally) what it means by this being "in your best interest" as that pertains to course grades?
I have to say, though, that I really think you should suck it up. Seriously. You're a graduate student. We grad students are supposed to be the motivated types, not the petty, immature undergrads who try to get out of any work they don't absolutely have to do. Which is exactly what whining about this, or taking it out on the evals, makes you look like. You took an unexcused absence. You didn't ask what work you'd miss. You're likely going to be dealing with this professor for years. Put on your big girl (or boy) pants and do the work.
posted by amelioration at 6:34 AM on December 5, 2008 [7 favorites]
I have to say, though, that I really think you should suck it up. Seriously. You're a graduate student. We grad students are supposed to be the motivated types, not the petty, immature undergrads who try to get out of any work they don't absolutely have to do. Which is exactly what whining about this, or taking it out on the evals, makes you look like. You took an unexcused absence. You didn't ask what work you'd miss. You're likely going to be dealing with this professor for years. Put on your big girl (or boy) pants and do the work.
posted by amelioration at 6:34 AM on December 5, 2008 [7 favorites]
I treat my syllabus as a type of contract, but only in regards to policy issues like absences, late paper policies, and plagiarism. I don't put deadlines for specific assignments on my syllabus or even list how many there will be during the semester; they get these as the semester progresses because my plans sometimes change depending on a specific class.
Teachers usually have a great deal of discretion about their class planning. An instructor has a right to assign what he wants as long as he/she isn't discriminating against any one student. It bugs me too that students don't show up for classes that fall too close to holidays, but I've made peace with that and make it worth my student's while to attend and let students who don't know the penalty in advance (it's not an extra paper, btw).
You may get some satisfaction going to the Department but I'd caution you on doing that. The professor may being a jerk and all, but faculty talk, and this could bite you harder if you raise a fuss. It's not fair, but it's a possible outcome.
I'd do the assignment and make a mental note to never take that teacher's class again. Oh...and I'd let other future students know if you can do it anonymously.
I have a Wednesday evening class as well and I did expect students not to show up. Those that did received some welcome advice on an upcoming difficult assignment.
posted by answergrape at 6:44 AM on December 5, 2008
Teachers usually have a great deal of discretion about their class planning. An instructor has a right to assign what he wants as long as he/she isn't discriminating against any one student. It bugs me too that students don't show up for classes that fall too close to holidays, but I've made peace with that and make it worth my student's while to attend and let students who don't know the penalty in advance (it's not an extra paper, btw).
You may get some satisfaction going to the Department but I'd caution you on doing that. The professor may being a jerk and all, but faculty talk, and this could bite you harder if you raise a fuss. It's not fair, but it's a possible outcome.
I'd do the assignment and make a mental note to never take that teacher's class again. Oh...and I'd let other future students know if you can do it anonymously.
I have a Wednesday evening class as well and I did expect students not to show up. Those that did received some welcome advice on an upcoming difficult assignment.
posted by answergrape at 6:44 AM on December 5, 2008
Different schools have very different expectations of how much like a contract a syllabus is. At some it is a really rigid document, and at others it is a broad suggestion of what the course will entail.
But remember, this is the kind of thing where if you fight it and win, you might still lose, because you are reliant on the faculty for recommendations, advising, help finding funding, and so on. And most classes I've taken or taught leave a pretty hefty chunk of the final grade for "course participation," with the particulars unspecified. So there is a lot of room there for punishment, were a prof to want to do so.
And I've done this before -- giving pop quizzes (sometimes just oral, even) on days when I know a lot of people will have unexcused absences. The prof is being super nice, honestly, to give you a way to make up for that, and doesn't need to at all.
In grad school I was always careful to never miss a day without taking the courtesy of letting the professor know ahead of time, and there was never any problem with it. It sounds like you and half your class had the attitude of "class isn't important to me" in how you approached missing class, and the professor is reacting to that.
Personally I'd suck it up, write the paper, and move on. But definitely, there are routes to fight this, beginning with talking with the prof and moving up both the departmental and university chains of authority. This is seriously small potatoes though, and is anchored in your blowing off class, so don't expect much sympathy from anyone who isn't a student (and not even from most of them, I'd guess).
posted by Forktine at 6:45 AM on December 5, 2008
But remember, this is the kind of thing where if you fight it and win, you might still lose, because you are reliant on the faculty for recommendations, advising, help finding funding, and so on. And most classes I've taken or taught leave a pretty hefty chunk of the final grade for "course participation," with the particulars unspecified. So there is a lot of room there for punishment, were a prof to want to do so.
And I've done this before -- giving pop quizzes (sometimes just oral, even) on days when I know a lot of people will have unexcused absences. The prof is being super nice, honestly, to give you a way to make up for that, and doesn't need to at all.
In grad school I was always careful to never miss a day without taking the courtesy of letting the professor know ahead of time, and there was never any problem with it. It sounds like you and half your class had the attitude of "class isn't important to me" in how you approached missing class, and the professor is reacting to that.
Personally I'd suck it up, write the paper, and move on. But definitely, there are routes to fight this, beginning with talking with the prof and moving up both the departmental and university chains of authority. This is seriously small potatoes though, and is anchored in your blowing off class, so don't expect much sympathy from anyone who isn't a student (and not even from most of them, I'd guess).
posted by Forktine at 6:45 AM on December 5, 2008
Um...I taught the Wednesday before Thanksgiving....is what I meant.
posted by answergrape at 6:45 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by answergrape at 6:45 AM on December 5, 2008
The course syllabus at my university is also treated like a contract, though many professors act as if it is not. It's one of those things that you COULD fight on technical grounds if you really wanted to, but it's likely to make you very unpopular and your victory may not be worth the battle.
On the other hand, he is rightfully upset because he also views the time schedule for the course to be something of a contract. He has agreed to teach the course on certain days (including the day before Thanksgiving) and you have agreed to attend the course on those days. If he shows up to teach the course, why shouldn't the class also turn up? I suspect it may be a bit of a backlash to the phenomenon (in my experience) of "break creep" wherein students start complaining about assignments the day before a break, then two days before the break, then the day after break ends, and so forth. The school has seen fit to designate the break as Thursday and Friday. It may not seem like much (that's what we get too) but that's what it is.
posted by proj at 6:47 AM on December 5, 2008
On the other hand, he is rightfully upset because he also views the time schedule for the course to be something of a contract. He has agreed to teach the course on certain days (including the day before Thanksgiving) and you have agreed to attend the course on those days. If he shows up to teach the course, why shouldn't the class also turn up? I suspect it may be a bit of a backlash to the phenomenon (in my experience) of "break creep" wherein students start complaining about assignments the day before a break, then two days before the break, then the day after break ends, and so forth. The school has seen fit to designate the break as Thursday and Friday. It may not seem like much (that's what we get too) but that's what it is.
posted by proj at 6:47 AM on December 5, 2008
Seriously, dude? How have you made it into a graduate program and never had a professor do something like this?
Confront your professor! Ask him, "Is this an extra credit opportunity? How will this paper fit into the rest of the grading? Is it optional?"
Is attendance and class participation part of your grade? If so maybe your professor is actually doing you a favor by allowing you to make up your absence in the form of a piddly six-page paper.
posted by wfrgms at 6:48 AM on December 5, 2008 [3 favorites]
Confront your professor! Ask him, "Is this an extra credit opportunity? How will this paper fit into the rest of the grading? Is it optional?"
Is attendance and class participation part of your grade? If so maybe your professor is actually doing you a favor by allowing you to make up your absence in the form of a piddly six-page paper.
posted by wfrgms at 6:48 AM on December 5, 2008 [3 favorites]
As a university teacher and former graduate student grievance committee member, I can tell you two things. First, that while syllabi do carry some acknowledgment of formality for expectations (i.e. something like a contract, but bound by institutional policy rather than legality), it works in the professor's favor. Any syllabi that myself or anyone I work with has ever constructed says, in effect, this is a tentative plan that I can change if I believe I need to do so to meet the objectives of the course. I would also give myself enough wiggle room grade-wise in a discussion oriented class for participation, which your absence would directly impact. I also have an attendance policy that states what happens when you are absent, which again in a discussion class like a seminar (particularly one that only meets 14 times a semester rather than 40-something times) is a negative consequence. I may offer you a 6-page paper to work to your benefit so that you can demonstrate that you did the work and don't deserve a letter-grade off of your final grade, but that would be at my discretion.
Now the other side of things. Look in your graduate school handbook, and your big, big book of university policies. Read the section on students' rights and responsibilities. There will be legal-sounding language about what relationship students are expected to have with their classes and with their professors. If, for reasons that you haven't stated here, there is some reason that your professor is rewarding one group or punishing another group on a, and this is key, discriminatory basis, or if they are violating the university's code of conduct, by all means go directly to your university's ombudsman for further information.
All this stuff you are reading here about how departments don't like professors that play games and that evaluations are really, really important take with a major grain of salt. Departments don't like that, and evaluations are *said* to be important, but neither are going to matter a lick of difference to a tenured professor (whose compensation is almost certainly based on seniority and research contributions at an R1 university like yours). To someone like me, who adjuncts while finishing my diss, they mean a hell of a lot. To your professor, at best (and I mean *at best*) he is just going to be told to stop it unless he is continuously creating grievable or litigious situations. You, however, have a lot more to lose.
posted by mrmojoflying at 6:51 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
Now the other side of things. Look in your graduate school handbook, and your big, big book of university policies. Read the section on students' rights and responsibilities. There will be legal-sounding language about what relationship students are expected to have with their classes and with their professors. If, for reasons that you haven't stated here, there is some reason that your professor is rewarding one group or punishing another group on a, and this is key, discriminatory basis, or if they are violating the university's code of conduct, by all means go directly to your university's ombudsman for further information.
All this stuff you are reading here about how departments don't like professors that play games and that evaluations are really, really important take with a major grain of salt. Departments don't like that, and evaluations are *said* to be important, but neither are going to matter a lick of difference to a tenured professor (whose compensation is almost certainly based on seniority and research contributions at an R1 university like yours). To someone like me, who adjuncts while finishing my diss, they mean a hell of a lot. To your professor, at best (and I mean *at best*) he is just going to be told to stop it unless he is continuously creating grievable or litigious situations. You, however, have a lot more to lose.
posted by mrmojoflying at 6:51 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
I'm gonna have to go with amelioration on this one. Syllabi are, despite the first few answers here, frequently treated by universities as semi-binding legal documents. Granted, there's a lot of flexibility involved, as professors inevitably fall behind, etc., but things like the nature and weight of assignments are a lot less fungible. Look in your graduate student handbook for details on who to talk to; your department or college is bound to have someone dedicated to fielding academic complaints like this one.
Still, I'd say it's a low odds proposition. Your professor would have been entirely within his rights to just give blindingly easy pop quiz the day you were absent to punish those people who skipped. At least he's giving you the opportunity to protect your grade rather than just dinging you. Be grateful for small mercies.
I'm also going to second amelioration's second paragraph: if you can't knock out a six page essay in an afternoon, you need to seriously reconsider your dedication to your program. All told I'll probably hand in about 100 pages of writing this semester, most of which was written no earlier than the middle of November. It took me most of the day, but I wrote fifteen pages this Wednesday. By this point in your academic career you should have trouble writing anything as short as six pages. Coming across as a whiner over something so trivial isn't going to help you when it comes time for evals or getting your dissertation topic approved.
This all assumes that you're actually in a graduate program. But your consciousness about grades--and your concern about what is really a very minor assignment--suggests to me that you may actually be in a professional program like business school or something similar. If this is the case, I'm not sure I have anything for you.
posted by valkyryn at 6:52 AM on December 5, 2008
Still, I'd say it's a low odds proposition. Your professor would have been entirely within his rights to just give blindingly easy pop quiz the day you were absent to punish those people who skipped. At least he's giving you the opportunity to protect your grade rather than just dinging you. Be grateful for small mercies.
I'm also going to second amelioration's second paragraph: if you can't knock out a six page essay in an afternoon, you need to seriously reconsider your dedication to your program. All told I'll probably hand in about 100 pages of writing this semester, most of which was written no earlier than the middle of November. It took me most of the day, but I wrote fifteen pages this Wednesday. By this point in your academic career you should have trouble writing anything as short as six pages. Coming across as a whiner over something so trivial isn't going to help you when it comes time for evals or getting your dissertation topic approved.
This all assumes that you're actually in a graduate program. But your consciousness about grades--and your concern about what is really a very minor assignment--suggests to me that you may actually be in a professional program like business school or something similar. If this is the case, I'm not sure I have anything for you.
posted by valkyryn at 6:52 AM on December 5, 2008
If you're feeling snarky, send him back an email - "It may be in your best interest to stick to your syllabus." ;)
Terrible idea.
You're a graduate student. There is a much higher expectation when it comes to class participation and analysis of reading. If I was in your professor's shoes, and I had taken the time to assign a reading that I thought was important to the class as a whole and a large chunk of the class did not show up, regardless of the day I would be seriously peeved. The prof did not take the day off, although I'm sure they could have used the time the day before Thanksgiving as well.
I say suck it up and write the six pages. It's really not that long and considering how many people skipped out that day, you will at least be in good company. You are not personally being singled out, don't act like a martyr.
posted by piratebowling at 6:53 AM on December 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
Terrible idea.
You're a graduate student. There is a much higher expectation when it comes to class participation and analysis of reading. If I was in your professor's shoes, and I had taken the time to assign a reading that I thought was important to the class as a whole and a large chunk of the class did not show up, regardless of the day I would be seriously peeved. The prof did not take the day off, although I'm sure they could have used the time the day before Thanksgiving as well.
I say suck it up and write the six pages. It's really not that long and considering how many people skipped out that day, you will at least be in good company. You are not personally being singled out, don't act like a martyr.
posted by piratebowling at 6:53 AM on December 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
Also, I say all this as a person that made a huge stink (I loudly stormed out of a class one time) as an undergrad in my freshman when I got assigned papers that were sprung at the last minute and I thought were unfair. I got over myself and I got over it. These are all doable, and if you truly have gripes, it's much more satisfying to write a detailed, fair assessment of the instructor.
posted by piratebowling at 6:56 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by piratebowling at 6:56 AM on December 5, 2008
Life is different as a graduate student, because if you make one professor mad, you not only lose their recommendation, but they might also badmouth you to other faculty, or stand in the way of some important milestone you have to pass like a general exam. I know of worse examples of professorial revenge when most of a grad student course failed to show up for something. So just do it.
posted by grouse at 7:07 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by grouse at 7:07 AM on December 5, 2008
A professor can assign assignments at will pretty much. They can give pop quizzes, extra credit assignments, and the like when they feel like it. This assignment your professor gave out is his discretion. Is it a dick move on his part.. Yea it is. However you as a student are pretty much at his mercy. You could complain to the department head but if the professor has tenure then your SOOL. You could also talk to the Dean of Student Affairs about this. However the outcome of this could be the Dean talks to your professor and says do me a favor and get rid of the absent assignments. Professor says ok. However then this professor knows who when above him. Most professor are professional people in their field that can take this with a grain of salt. Your situation sounds a bit different. The professor obviously was pissed that half the class didn't show up and he gave extra work because of it. Now ask yourself this, "Do I want this professor mad at me because I went over his head?" Also if this professor teaches in your major you might have to take another class from him. My advice is do the assignment, turn it in, and buy your time. College is a war, pick and choose your battles wisely.
posted by Mastercheddaar at 7:18 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by Mastercheddaar at 7:18 AM on December 5, 2008
The syllabus said that you were supposed to go to your freaking class. You chose not to, and your professor is rather graciously giving you an opportunity to make that up and you are complaining?
Either take the opportunity to do the work, or don't. But this is a result of your decision not his. So deal with it, or get back on the Waaaahmbulance.
posted by BobbyDigital at 7:20 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
Either take the opportunity to do the work, or don't. But this is a result of your decision not his. So deal with it, or get back on the Waaaahmbulance.
posted by BobbyDigital at 7:20 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
Contracts? Really?
Before you go wading into the political minefield of throwing down with a professor in your graduate program over a six page paper (one you probably could've written in the amount of time you'll spend involved with this AskMe question), I highly recommend taking wfrgms's advice: figure out what the consequences are for not doing it.
You might feel awfully silly if you go gripe to the dept. chair, chair calls a meeting, you sit down with the two of them and the professor says: "All I meant was that people were missing out on the class discussion and they would be well served by doing a little writing on the topic to force them to think about the same issues we talked about in class... it was never going to affect anyone's grade!"
posted by toomuchpete at 7:26 AM on December 5, 2008
Before you go wading into the political minefield of throwing down with a professor in your graduate program over a six page paper (one you probably could've written in the amount of time you'll spend involved with this AskMe question), I highly recommend taking wfrgms's advice: figure out what the consequences are for not doing it.
You might feel awfully silly if you go gripe to the dept. chair, chair calls a meeting, you sit down with the two of them and the professor says: "All I meant was that people were missing out on the class discussion and they would be well served by doing a little writing on the topic to force them to think about the same issues we talked about in class... it was never going to affect anyone's grade!"
posted by toomuchpete at 7:26 AM on December 5, 2008
Its not a contract. There's no consideration, i.e. each party performing for the other. Nor is he the contracting party in the pay-the-university-and-they-will-educate-you contract. He's only the employee.
posted by Ironmouth at 7:27 AM on December 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by Ironmouth at 7:27 AM on December 5, 2008 [2 favorites]
It is not a contract. It is a suggested schedule for the class. The professor has the right to change this as he/she wishes.
On preview, Ironmouth nails it exactly in terms of the legal part of your question.
Also, you're a grad student. Getting into a pissing match with a professor who might to be able to help or hurt your career will not help you in any way. Think of this as training for the real world. If you work in private industry, you will have things changed on you at the last minute plenty of times. In a job, you either do the work or get fired. There are no appeals to a higher power due to unfairness.
posted by reenum at 7:40 AM on December 5, 2008
On preview, Ironmouth nails it exactly in terms of the legal part of your question.
Also, you're a grad student. Getting into a pissing match with a professor who might to be able to help or hurt your career will not help you in any way. Think of this as training for the real world. If you work in private industry, you will have things changed on you at the last minute plenty of times. In a job, you either do the work or get fired. There are no appeals to a higher power due to unfairness.
posted by reenum at 7:40 AM on December 5, 2008
You're being a bit of a dingbat. This is graduate school, so... Do The Work. I'm not sure why you would feel taken advantage of -- are you asserting that the professor sinisterly enticed you into skipping class by not threatening you with hellfire and damnation in the syllabus? The professor is probably annoyed that half of the students missed the class. One or two missing isn't a big deal, but half the class missing means that any class discussion ends up stunted. You didn't just not do the work, you also hurt the other students.
Writing up a few pages of critical comments about that week's readings should not take you more than the allotted class time if you actually read and engaged with the readings. You should do so. If you wanted to be particularly clever, email it to the prof as an attachment, and in the email ask any questions you have about the readings.
If you think this is unfair, wait until you get to your comprehensive exams where everything that has ever been written in a given tested area is fair game for questions. Even if it wasn't ever in a class. Even if it wasn't on a reading list.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:41 AM on December 5, 2008
Writing up a few pages of critical comments about that week's readings should not take you more than the allotted class time if you actually read and engaged with the readings. You should do so. If you wanted to be particularly clever, email it to the prof as an attachment, and in the email ask any questions you have about the readings.
If you think this is unfair, wait until you get to your comprehensive exams where everything that has ever been written in a given tested area is fair game for questions. Even if it wasn't ever in a class. Even if it wasn't on a reading list.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:41 AM on December 5, 2008
In the end, it will be far easier just to do the assignment.
Missing a seminar due to illness is acceptable; missing one because of travel plans is not.
posted by oaf at 7:44 AM on December 5, 2008
Missing a seminar due to illness is acceptable; missing one because of travel plans is not.
posted by oaf at 7:44 AM on December 5, 2008
The issue to me isn't so much the additional assignment but that only some of the students are required to complete it, and that smells fishy to me. As an assistant in an academic department, I'd handle this situation by first asking if you had contacted the professor and if you have and the response was not appropriate, I'd instruct you to contact the chair of my department --- and then I'd be sure to mention to the chair that this would be coming across his/her desk.
I cannot speak to what the results would be/have been in similar situations at my school, but I know this is how these situations get addressed.
posted by zizzle at 7:47 AM on December 5, 2008
I cannot speak to what the results would be/have been in similar situations at my school, but I know this is how these situations get addressed.
posted by zizzle at 7:47 AM on December 5, 2008
suggests to me that you may actually be in a professional program like business school or something similar.
And if that's the case, once you get a job, things frequently get sprung on you. Anyone ever have to stay late or unexpectedly come in on a Saturday to work on a client issue?
posted by Pax at 7:47 AM on December 5, 2008
And if that's the case, once you get a job, things frequently get sprung on you. Anyone ever have to stay late or unexpectedly come in on a Saturday to work on a client issue?
posted by Pax at 7:47 AM on December 5, 2008
If participation is part of your grade, this is more of a favor than a burden.
posted by starman at 7:49 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by starman at 7:49 AM on December 5, 2008
nthing you're a graduate student and should not be missing class. Period.
Also, no matter how big your department or school may be, this professor likely knows people on your thesis committee or who will be grading your written/oral exams. Do you really want to endanger the story your faculty tell about you over an unexcused absence? [On preview, what ROU_Xenophobe said: it would be a very good idea to make sure you knew this stuff, because if someone wants to teach you a lesson, you might be asked a question on this material, and that is neither unfair nor unheard of.]
posted by catlet at 7:49 AM on December 5, 2008
Also, no matter how big your department or school may be, this professor likely knows people on your thesis committee or who will be grading your written/oral exams. Do you really want to endanger the story your faculty tell about you over an unexcused absence? [On preview, what ROU_Xenophobe said: it would be a very good idea to make sure you knew this stuff, because if someone wants to teach you a lesson, you might be asked a question on this material, and that is neither unfair nor unheard of.]
posted by catlet at 7:49 AM on December 5, 2008
On preview, I should mention that my department works both with undergrad and grad students and complaints of this sort from either set are taken and looked at seriously. Though again, I can't speak to the outcomes.
posted by zizzle at 7:52 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by zizzle at 7:52 AM on December 5, 2008
Check the syllabus closely; the template used in the core curriculum I teach in has a disclaimer that states, essentially, that the entire syllabus can be changed at any time during the semester. Syllabi are considered living documents -- assignments are often revised and amended throughout the semester, lecture topics may be switched around from session to session.
posted by macadamiaranch at 8:02 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by macadamiaranch at 8:02 AM on December 5, 2008
I'm in the "suck it up and do the paper" and "it's not a contract" camps.
posted by craven_morhead at 8:12 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by craven_morhead at 8:12 AM on December 5, 2008
Well, he certainly didn't ask you to write 6 pages for his own health and intellectual betterment.
I don't believe a syllabus is a contract.
posted by anniecat at 8:19 AM on December 5, 2008
I don't believe a syllabus is a contract.
posted by anniecat at 8:19 AM on December 5, 2008
You are seriously this pissed off about a 6 page paper? Yes the prof sounds like a jerk but I haven't run into a prof yet who's not a bit of a jerk. You are a grad student and missed a class for no good reason. Just write the six pages and thank the prof for the opportunity to do some extra credit work.
posted by sid at 8:19 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by sid at 8:19 AM on December 5, 2008
Maybe this will help put things in perspective. Since you're a grad student, your career will probably take one of two paths:
- You take your graduate degree into the workforce, in business, medicine, law, etc. where unexpected, last minute work pops up all the time.
- You go on to become a college professor in which case you may get tired of people skipping classes that you put a lot of time and effort into.
I know it doesn't feel like it, but this is a real opportunity for you to turn something negative into a positive. Demonstrate a little grace under adversity by knocking the paper out in an afternoon and using it as an excuse to build a relationship with the professor. "Hey thanks for the opportunity to make up the classes. Sorry I didn't talk to you about it beforehand," and just take the conversation somewhere else from there.
Good luck!
posted by txvtchick at 8:24 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
- You take your graduate degree into the workforce, in business, medicine, law, etc. where unexpected, last minute work pops up all the time.
- You go on to become a college professor in which case you may get tired of people skipping classes that you put a lot of time and effort into.
I know it doesn't feel like it, but this is a real opportunity for you to turn something negative into a positive. Demonstrate a little grace under adversity by knocking the paper out in an afternoon and using it as an excuse to build a relationship with the professor. "Hey thanks for the opportunity to make up the classes. Sorry I didn't talk to you about it beforehand," and just take the conversation somewhere else from there.
Good luck!
posted by txvtchick at 8:24 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
I'm a college teacher and I think what you're professor did is petulant, but I don't think it's unfair and I certainly understand it. The Wednsday before Thanksgiving is not a holiday. He had to be there. Why shouldn't you?
Also, not to sound mean, but I would be more worried about my reputation as a graduate student than I would about the syllabus. Have you ever read the site "Rate Your Students?" Here you can find out how (some) professors feel about teaching and students. The kind of behavior your considering - approaching your professor like a well-armed lawyer - is just the kind of behavior that gets skewered on the site. There was even a discussion on RYS about students mising the day before Thanksgivingecause they're just so precious and have to get home to mommy. That's what makes the day different from other days people have missed - it's like senior skip day - you made the choice to go with the crowd and now there is a price to pay.
I feel like I sound snarky, which is certainly not my intention, but it's almost the end of the term and I'm so tired of all the whining and weaseling I'd like to pull my hair out. If a student came to me with this kind of complaint I would shoot them down with both barrels. I would also keep their name in my memory for future discussions/mocking with other professors. I would just do the work and let it go. It's the better long-term choice.
posted by orsonet at 8:27 AM on December 5, 2008
Also, not to sound mean, but I would be more worried about my reputation as a graduate student than I would about the syllabus. Have you ever read the site "Rate Your Students?" Here you can find out how (some) professors feel about teaching and students. The kind of behavior your considering - approaching your professor like a well-armed lawyer - is just the kind of behavior that gets skewered on the site. There was even a discussion on RYS about students mising the day before Thanksgivingecause they're just so precious and have to get home to mommy. That's what makes the day different from other days people have missed - it's like senior skip day - you made the choice to go with the crowd and now there is a price to pay.
I feel like I sound snarky, which is certainly not my intention, but it's almost the end of the term and I'm so tired of all the whining and weaseling I'd like to pull my hair out. If a student came to me with this kind of complaint I would shoot them down with both barrels. I would also keep their name in my memory for future discussions/mocking with other professors. I would just do the work and let it go. It's the better long-term choice.
posted by orsonet at 8:27 AM on December 5, 2008
I have taught at the undergraduate level for approximately 8 years. Even if someone were to consider my syllabus a contract, I have a line in there that reads 'subject to revisions'. I can make whatever changes I want throughout the semester to facilitate the student's needs.
As for assigning projects on the day before a holiday break...I have done this. I am not starting my break early and I don't feel the students should be entitled to start their break early either. If class is scheduled for a certain day, you attend it. If you decide your trip to grandma's house (or Cancun or wherever) is more important than your education, then you suffer the consequences.
posted by LightMayo at 8:37 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
As for assigning projects on the day before a holiday break...I have done this. I am not starting my break early and I don't feel the students should be entitled to start their break early either. If class is scheduled for a certain day, you attend it. If you decide your trip to grandma's house (or Cancun or wherever) is more important than your education, then you suffer the consequences.
posted by LightMayo at 8:37 AM on December 5, 2008 [1 favorite]
I think you'll find he would be able to justify the essay very easily as (i) adding value to the course and (ii) assisting students in meeting their learning needs, thus actually exceeding whatever you were contracted to recieve. Since the paper probably adds to his own workload without reducing it in any way you're going to be pushed to prove it was done for any petty reason.
At my institution students are - technically - only allowed to skip classes with permission, and something similar may apply at your institution, so you might find yourself having to justify why you didn't show without good reason.
Pissing people off if they may later have power over you (i.e grading or deciding on your progression) is a bad idea. They're only human, you don't know what the reaction will be.
Calling this out will likely fail to see the Prof. censured, may result in grief for you, and long-term may not stand you in good stead if you have any difficulties with your studies.
posted by biffa at 9:12 AM on December 5, 2008
At my institution students are - technically - only allowed to skip classes with permission, and something similar may apply at your institution, so you might find yourself having to justify why you didn't show without good reason.
Pissing people off if they may later have power over you (i.e grading or deciding on your progression) is a bad idea. They're only human, you don't know what the reaction will be.
Calling this out will likely fail to see the Prof. censured, may result in grief for you, and long-term may not stand you in good stead if you have any difficulties with your studies.
posted by biffa at 9:12 AM on December 5, 2008
1. Welcome to graduate school. Professorial caprices are part of the experience.
2. Piling on: the syllabus is a plan and a statement of expectations, not a contract. (At least, this is true in academic culture as I know it.) It is sometimes presented in a contract-like manner, especially in undergrad courses, in an attempt to forestall pleas for exceptions, extensions, and excuses. Nevertheless, the terms of the course are always at the discretion of the professor.
3. Echoing ROU_Xenophobe: I understand that you feel this extra work is unfair because people who missed class on other days don't have to do equivalent make-up work. From the professor's perspective, though, there's a difference between those other absences and the mass absence on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving: people who missed class one or two at a time only hurt themselves, whereas people who missed class en masse (and presumably because they just didn't want to be there on that day) hurt everyone else, too.
4. If I were you, I wouldn't even press the professor to clarify the meaning of the "in your best interest" phrasing. I would just do the extra work, do it well, and try to carry it off with sprezzatura. The prof is annoyed at your actions and is trying to transfer that annoyance back to you. Nonchalance is the best defense.
posted by Orinda at 9:43 AM on December 5, 2008
2. Piling on: the syllabus is a plan and a statement of expectations, not a contract. (At least, this is true in academic culture as I know it.) It is sometimes presented in a contract-like manner, especially in undergrad courses, in an attempt to forestall pleas for exceptions, extensions, and excuses. Nevertheless, the terms of the course are always at the discretion of the professor.
3. Echoing ROU_Xenophobe: I understand that you feel this extra work is unfair because people who missed class on other days don't have to do equivalent make-up work. From the professor's perspective, though, there's a difference between those other absences and the mass absence on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving: people who missed class one or two at a time only hurt themselves, whereas people who missed class en masse (and presumably because they just didn't want to be there on that day) hurt everyone else, too.
4. If I were you, I wouldn't even press the professor to clarify the meaning of the "in your best interest" phrasing. I would just do the extra work, do it well, and try to carry it off with sprezzatura. The prof is annoyed at your actions and is trying to transfer that annoyance back to you. Nonchalance is the best defense.
posted by Orinda at 9:43 AM on December 5, 2008
Oh, and to build on a point that's already been made upthread: missing class the day before Thanksgiving break is a very undergraddy thing to do. The mass flake-out by half your seminar on that day was a violation of grad school culture. The prof is retaliating by violating YOUR expectations and assumptions. I say this not to defend his choice (I wouldn't do the same) but to suggest some clues to the psychology at work here.
posted by Orinda at 9:53 AM on December 5, 2008
posted by Orinda at 9:53 AM on December 5, 2008
He is giving you an opportunity. Don't do the paper if you don't want to. Hell stop going to class if you don't want to.
An 18-person seminar? Many classes I've taken and particularly seminars make it clear that attendance and/or participation are part of your grade. As far as I can tell everyone who failed to show up and participate is BEHIND. As far as I can tell your professor is doing you a favor by offering you alternative work.
What rights to grad students have in being told of their expectations/requirements ahead of time?
Were you under the impression that class attendance and participation did not affect your grade in this class?
posted by Wood at 10:43 AM on December 5, 2008
An 18-person seminar? Many classes I've taken and particularly seminars make it clear that attendance and/or participation are part of your grade. As far as I can tell everyone who failed to show up and participate is BEHIND. As far as I can tell your professor is doing you a favor by offering you alternative work.
What rights to grad students have in being told of their expectations/requirements ahead of time?
Were you under the impression that class attendance and participation did not affect your grade in this class?
posted by Wood at 10:43 AM on December 5, 2008
I'm not a professor, but I am in grad school. Syllabi are not contracts, and professors can do whatever they want. I don't think missing the class before Thanksgiving is "undergraddy." Lots of grad students (and professors and staff for that matter) in my dept leave early on that day. It is a good idea to notify the teacher that you're going to be gone (esp. if it's a small class), and it's perfectly fair for the prof to have an attendance policy, but one would hope there would be some leeway.
Just sending an email saying an additional 6 page paper is due at the end of the semester does strike me as unfair and kind of unprofessional. If it really bothers you, I'd talk to him about it in a calm manner maybe along with the other students in the course that also received the email (if only to clarify his expectations -- is it just for the students that missed the seminar or for the entire class of students? how will it be graded?). But, if he stands firm, then you'll have to do the work. I wouldn't make a big deal about it (maybe just warn next year's students about his capriciousness).
If it really is impossible for you to do the paper on such late notice (I can't imagine a reason why this might be true, but my imagination is limited), you can talk to your dept/program chair. The director of my program is a wonderful lady and a great mediator for these sorts of situations. In my experience, most directors of grad programs are this way.
posted by bluefly at 10:53 AM on December 5, 2008
Just sending an email saying an additional 6 page paper is due at the end of the semester does strike me as unfair and kind of unprofessional. If it really bothers you, I'd talk to him about it in a calm manner maybe along with the other students in the course that also received the email (if only to clarify his expectations -- is it just for the students that missed the seminar or for the entire class of students? how will it be graded?). But, if he stands firm, then you'll have to do the work. I wouldn't make a big deal about it (maybe just warn next year's students about his capriciousness).
If it really is impossible for you to do the paper on such late notice (I can't imagine a reason why this might be true, but my imagination is limited), you can talk to your dept/program chair. The director of my program is a wonderful lady and a great mediator for these sorts of situations. In my experience, most directors of grad programs are this way.
posted by bluefly at 10:53 AM on December 5, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
Some universities put a great deal of store in the end of term evaluations. (Rumor had it at my undergrad, 25% of a professor's salary was pegged to student evaluations.)
posted by Comrade_robot at 6:22 AM on December 5, 2008