<p>I was attending an environmental science class, and I just recently dropped it. The reason why is because I had an instructor that was grading unfairly, and the dean of the school did not want to do anything. What happened is that I was under the flu for 6 days, and I was unable to turn in any work due to this, so I e-mailed my instructor and asked for an extension on the due dates. He e-mailed back and said that he wasn't going to do this, because it would be unfair to the other students, and then he was comparing this situation to me working with an employer (which I thought was immature). I then asked him if he would take a doctor's note, and he still refused to give me an extension. On top of this, he gave me five F grades without even granting me his 7 day grace period for getting 50% of the points. He was also refusing to answer questions in my e-mails which made things more frustrating, and was being very rude. He has a 2.40 on RateMyProfessor.com which is the worst I've ever seen. </p>
<p>I spoke to the dean about this situation, and they told me he was in the wrong, but they said they were not allowed to intrude into his class and change grades, so they said I had to drop. I also spoke to two advisers, and they also said he was in the wrong, but told me my only option was to drop as well. I ended up dropping the class, but financial aid is only giving me a partial refund, because I've been in the class for 3 weeks. Because of me dropping and going under 6 credits, this will land me in my financial aid grace period. I do not think that this is fair at all, so legally, what can I do about this situation? So I guess if a student gets a rotten teacher like this, then they are screwed? What are my options? Can this situation ever be prevented?</p>
<p>You’ve got this posted in the wrong place, but the quick answer is that illness is undoubtedly addressed in the school rules somewhere. You just need to find the relevant rules and find an administrator with the spine to apply them.</p>
<p>I’m also guessing that you asked for the extension after not showing up for class for a week. Bad move, you need to let teachers, and employers, know you’re sick in real time, as it’s happening. Too many people abuse the rules by claiming they were sick while actually goofing off that anything short of showing up coughing and sneezing in his face immediately raises suspicion.</p>
<p>MrMom62: The class is online, and yes, I e-mailed him about my illness before the due dates of the assignments. No, I was not goofing off, I was sick in bed these entire 6 days.</p>
<p>We’ve had other posts where a college dean doesn’t intervene, where there seems to be either policy or practice that they don’t. If dropping took you under 6 credits, it does sound like you were already not taking a full load-? If so-</p>
<p>You did a lot of things backwards, beginning with learning the instructor was the worst rated you’ve seen only after you took the class. You bear some responsibility here. If you cannot find support from among the administrators, I don’t think there’s any help for you. Life ain’t fair. Be prepared.</p>
<p>At most schools, it’s considered very bad form for department heads and deans to intervene in the small stuff (and yes, in their eyes, this is small stuff). College instructors expect a lot of independence. This usually works out to the student’s advantage. If every little thing were subject to scrutiny, there would be no cool professors.</p>
<p>That said, it’s a drag when this kind of thing can happen. As a professional myself, this guy does not sound professional.</p>
<p>Firstly, RMP is unreliable at best. It’s not required of all students, so students who have a bone to pick could go there to give low ratings of professors they didn’t like. This is called selection bias.</p>
<p>Secondly, why is it “immature” of your professor to compare your performance in his class to performance with an employer? College is, in part, supposed to be preparing you for the work world. </p>
<p>I disagree that a sick policy is “undoubtedly” addressed in the “school rules.” Most colleges don’t have blanket sick policies for courses - they’re usually left to the discretion of the instructor. (However, for-profit online colleges may operate a bit differently, I don’t know.)</p>
<p>There is nothing legally you can do about the situation. There is nothing illegal about refusing to accept late work (regardless of reason) or being unfair to you. You’ve already taken it to the dean and they said that they cannot help you. I suppose you could try to talk to whoever supervises the dean, but I doubt it will do you any good.</p>
<p>It would have been a judgment if I had written that the guy IS unprofessional. I know that I only have OP’s description, and based on that, the professor sounds unprofessional. I stand by that.</p>