I am in the 4th semester of a 5 semester program. I have suffered from bullying by a couple of teachers that run the program since the 1st semester. I have been handling this alone and managed to stay in the program despite their passive aggressive behavior. I have worked hard and made A’s and B’s in all my classes except one. The grades in this one class can be subjective and have been unfair. Other students have witnessed and agree that I am not treated the same. I have dealt with additional scrutiny of my work and lack of instruction (not the rest of the class) that has caused me to “fall behind”. I admit that I am not the best all-knowing perfect student, but nor am I a failure. I have been informed they will not approve me to take board exams and been encouraged to withdraw for a month. I cannot move forward in the program without this class or take board exams without their approval. I have had to go to the Dean (who referred me to the VP) and now the VP of the school. While waiting to hear back from the VP, the teachers that I filed a complaint against have started subjecting the rest of the class to behaviors that I have been experiencing all along. The other students know it is because of my complaint… The teachers are trying to cover the fact that I have not been treated the same, by all of a sudden subjecting the rest of the class to extra scrutiny. Now the class is worried that if my complaint is successful, the whole class may not be allowed to graduate and that the classes we have completed and are currently completing may be deemed invalid… They no longer want to speak in my defense out of fear. How likely is it that the school would do this? Is there anything I can say or do to calm my fears and those of my peers? Is the VP actually diplomatic or is the school and his employees really his first concern? Will I be “squashed” by the politics and bureaucracy of the school?
Nervous and concerned for myself and the class…
Thank you in advance for any advice or support.
Sometimes taking a stand, which if your complaints are real, takes bravery and risk. You are not responsible for repercussions toward other students. If what is going on is wrong, it’s wrong. I would encourage your friends/peers to document their own situations. Also check if there are any whistleblower protections for you.
Thank You NorthernMom61
I know I cannot take responsibility for the instructors’ actions, but cannot help but have empathy for my peers. The handbook says I should be “protected”, but this whole situation leaves me feeling very vulnerable… and the waiting to hear what is going to happen next is very stressful…
Absolutely justifiable feelings. Hang in there. If the “protected” status is violated that’s another thing to bring forward in your favor. Sometimes fighting for something is painful but helps you plus a whole lot of others down the road.
Never handle this alone. Talk to the Department head/your adviser about this.
Talk to the counseling center.
Maybe it is the professor, maybe it is you, maybe it is the combo of you two
Thank you Bopper for your response. Unfortunately my adviser is the head of the program and one of the instructors I have complained about… Since going to the dean and VP of the school, treatment towards me has changed drastically. I have been working hard to “catch back up” with the requirements and truly made some improvements with my progress, but I still don’t know if it will be enough to convince them to let me continue in the program. I am not quitting (as they advised) and completing what I can before the end of the semester (Dec 13th). This is when I will find out their final decision and my fate… the only options I will have left at that point is to appeal the grade (if the course turns out to be unsuccessful). An appeal consists of presenting my case in front of a “jury” of 9 school staff members and 2 students. My fear is I do not want to “burn bridges” in this process since the program credits are not transferable and the only way to graduate (if the appeal is unsuccessful) is to reapply for the program next year, with the same instructors. Reapplying delays my graduation by 2 years. I do not want to wait another 2 years to graduate, but nor do I want to quit and waste the 2 years of hard work I have already completed. I really don’t know what I am going to do. Right now I am praying I have done enough to change their minds by the 13th…