Craig Tompkins wrote:
I can't speak from experience with this sort of problem in an academic environment, but I can speak from experience in providing advice about complaints by employees towards management in a bureacratic organizational environment (in my job as a Human Resources advisor in a government agency).
If a valid problem isn't resolved to the complainant's satisfaction at the first level, the complainant can elevate to the next level in the hierachical organization, report the problem to an via a formal process set up for this purpose. Probably something like the Dean of Student Affairs or Academic Affairs. I would recommend that the student put the complaint in writing, include dates and times and a factual description of the teacher's conduct in as much detail as possible, and articulate the remedy the student is seeking.
A remedy was already described in Craig's message as transfer to another teacher, but I would recommend adding to the requested remedy that the complaint result in no negative impact on the student's academic career, and that the Department Chairman be required to recuse herself from juries and other professional decisions involving the student. In any sort of process in adjudicating a complaint like this, the person complained about will have the opportunity to provide their side, and somebody makes a decision based on the evidence. Sometimes there may be additional fact-finding.
In this case, if I were reviewing the information provided in my professional HR role, I would find this allegation not to be an acceptable explanation for the inappropriate conduct by the teacher, even if the allegation concerning the student were proved to be true. Also, in my experience, we always start by assuming everyone is telling the truth, and only get to credibility determinations if the evidence we have can't be reconciled any other way. And if I had to get to credibility, I would question the credibility of an allegation of "laziness" by a teacher who has seen a student only a few times and for such a short duration.
I don't think that a letter to the school from an uninvolved party (i.e., former teacher in another school) is appropriate or necessary at this point, unless the student learns specifically that her credibility is a real issue in adjudicating the complaint.
The student could also consider consulting a lawyer if there is no process as the school to resolve the problem.
If it were me, and this were otherwise a practical solution, I'd consider asking for a refund of tuition and a good academic recommendation and then go to a new school, because a run-in with the Department Chairman is never a good thing, no matter how it turns out.
I wish your former student good luck with a very difficult and upsetting situation!
Peggy
-- Margaret Harrison, Alexandria, Virginia, USA "Music for a While Shall All Your Cares Beguile" mailto:peggyh@i...
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