Absent Professor
Nov. 2nd, 2003 08:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
qosI am taking an online class through an accredited theological school. Tuition for the class is the same as if I were on campus: around $1,500 for the quarter. In exchange for my money, weekly participation in the online discussions about the assigned reading, and a competent 20-page paper, the school will award me a grade and three credits toward my M.Div. It's a nice arrangement, since I live in another state, and would not be able to take the class at all were it not offered online.
At least, it should be a nice arrangment. The fact is that our professor has been absent since about the second week of class. First it was because he had technical difficulties logging into the Bulletin Board site -- and it took him a month to get a solution. We heard from him two weeks ago saying he had access again, and would get to work responding to our comments and posting new lectures -- but we haven't heard from him since.
My fellow students are bright people, and have interesting comments on the readings, but if I wanted to join a theological book club, I would have done so, and saved myself $1,500 of student debt. I have no idea how Dr. X is justifying his absence to himself. If this were a traditional classroom, he could not hope to get by with not showing up for a month or more of seminars.
Last Thursday, I contacted the Program Director of the school, and she has assured me she will be subjecting Dr. X to pressure to meet his responsibilities. If the he doesn't materialize -- with substantial contributions -- by Thursday, I'm placing a phone call to the dean. The situation is absolutely unacceptable.
At least, it should be a nice arrangment. The fact is that our professor has been absent since about the second week of class. First it was because he had technical difficulties logging into the Bulletin Board site -- and it took him a month to get a solution. We heard from him two weeks ago saying he had access again, and would get to work responding to our comments and posting new lectures -- but we haven't heard from him since.
My fellow students are bright people, and have interesting comments on the readings, but if I wanted to join a theological book club, I would have done so, and saved myself $1,500 of student debt. I have no idea how Dr. X is justifying his absence to himself. If this were a traditional classroom, he could not hope to get by with not showing up for a month or more of seminars.
Last Thursday, I contacted the Program Director of the school, and she has assured me she will be subjecting Dr. X to pressure to meet his responsibilities. If the he doesn't materialize -- with substantial contributions -- by Thursday, I'm placing a phone call to the dean. The situation is absolutely unacceptable.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-11-03 07:27 am (UTC)Hear Hear
Date: 2003-11-04 09:14 pm (UTC)An absent professor is about as useful as a boat full of holes.
Inexcusable to do that to students who would be failed if they exercised the same behavior.
Good luck.