Lets just get to the point. One of my professors is very reluctant to write a short letter/email to my college’s registrar in order for me to drop the course i’m taking in her class. The judgement behind this early drop is in consideration of me taking an equivalent course previously during my high school career that abides by my colleges transfer credit policy. Let me also emphasize that the registrar realizes this course is equivalent to the course which I want to drop. The only reason why my instructor is required to write a letter is simply because of formality. But, ultimately, my instructor is being very unprofessional and reluctant on this matter.
How should i proceed? What actions would you take in this position?
Thanks
If your instructor isn’t being helpful then I would contact the head of the department. Tell them you are having problems with your instructor and that you need some advice on what to do. I don’t understand why your instructor would have such an issue with writing you a quick letter. Good luck
Or ask the Dean of Students or your adviser.
What bopper said: Go to your advisor.
Let me get this straight: your professor is so committed to having another student in the class that she won’t let you drop the course? Why would that be the case? Are you sure the high school class is really equivalent? Maybe the prof is actually trying to help you?
She’s reluctant because shes already assigned work that were intended to be due on certain dates. She might think I’m trying to escape the assignments.
This makes no sense. I mean technically you’re trying to escape all of the assignments because you don’t want to take the class. If you wanted to do the assignments, then you would stay in the class. But it doesn’t really matter why you want to drop the class. Students can drop a class for any reason. Many students drop a class after a professor has assigned work because they realize it’s more work than they thought it would be or it’s not the type of class they thought it would be or (like you) they realize they don’t need the class anymore. I don’t understand why your professor wants to force you to stay in their class. Have you sat down with her to explain your situation face-to-face?
I would ask your advisor for suggestions on what they want you to do. Try asking the registrar if they’ve ever had a situation like this before and what has happened in the past. Go up the chain of command to someone above your professor to see if there’s something else you can do (after, of course you’ve talking to your professor face-to-face to explain why you want to drop the class and get a good understanding of why they don’t want to write an email to the registrar.
I’m finding it difficult to imagine a college professor who is so anxious to grade more work, especially from a student who has indicated they want to leave the class, that they block the student’s exit. Either the OP has misunderstood something, or I’ve not understood the post, or there’s more to the story or…something.
How much discussion have you had with the professor about this? Is it just that you emailed her and she hasn’t emailed you back and you are interpreting that as reluctance (when it might just be an overlooked email), or have you actually had a discussion about it in which she states that she is unwilling to email the registrar?
Assuming that you have had a discussion about it, I would next go to the undergrad advisor.
Update: The professor and I dropped the course from my schedule after a needed meeting between the dean. In this situation the professor was out of line just as the dean of students told me. I know situations like these are rare but, all opposition was toward the professor and her actions.
Thanks
I’m glad it worked out for you!