<p>Hi. My child called this afternoon and he was really upset. He doesn't know where to go with this, and he asked hubby and I for advice. </p>
<p>Son goes to a very small state school, part of the state uni system. Courses are extremely limited (due to school size) and many students have to take online courses or other coursework (tutorials) outside of the school. Core courses that you would think would be offered every semester or at least once a year are rotated.</p>
<p>Just before the Christmas holidays our son looked into taking an online science course at another state school; if he didn't take it he would be a year behind, because it's wasn't offered at his school this year. After finding the appropriate course--which is uniform throughout the state uni system--at another school, son went to his registrar's office to get the Transient Form approved. The people at registrar sent him to the dean's office, and the (I think) asst dean signed off on it. </p>
<p>Son started the course in Jan, and it was paid for out of his 529 plan. He's been plugging along on his own until today, when he was called to the registrar's office. He was told the class he is taking will NOT receive any credit whatsoever at his present school, that it was a "mistake" that the Transient form was signed, and consequently, his courseload will drop to below f/t status and thus, he will lose his scholarships and be put on probation! When son tried to explain to the Registrar that the course--a core science course--is a state standard course and the text is used by all our state schools, the Registrar replied that (s)he has the final word and it's a no. Son was in shock.</p>
<p>Since my son had a class later today he asked me to do a bit of research. I called our state DOE and I was told that state schools are supposed to accept the same courses taken at other schools, and it was "highly unusual" for this course to not be accepted. But more importantly, since the form was signed off and approved, son's school can't rescind the decision...especially 3 months into the course, and only 1 month left. However, his present school contends that although the course name, the text, and the credit hours are the same, the numbering is NOT the same and thus, it won't be accepted. </p>
<p>Any suggestions as to what to do next? Son is pretty mild-mannered and will need a strong shot of conviction to speak up for himself.</p>
<p>I don’t see how the school has a leg to stand on on this one mostly due to -
You S did everything right. At a minimum he should go back and see whoever signed off on it and work his way up from there. If none of this works then maybe it’s worth getting a lawyer since there’s money at stake. He shouldn’t let some administrator attempt to turn his life around by acting ridiculous like this.</p>
<p>I think it’ll likely all get straightened out but he might have to do a bit of work to get there.</p>
<p>This sounds like a good college to try to transfer away from to a college that can meet his needs with real classes (not dependent on online classes which he could do just as well without even being there) on a reasonable schedule.</p>
<p>Registrar dpes not have final word. This is go to the top moment, and that mean dean, president of school, board of regents. The registrar could have signed off she they wanted to. Go right to the top. Don’t wuss around. After seeing the assistant dean, if they can’t help cause registrar is being a jerk, then go tom the registrars boss. Seriously, and this is where a parent can go to the top, it your money.</p>
<p>Looks like the school is unsuitable for him anyway (does not offer needed courses), so, regardless of the resolution about the creditability of the course from the other school, he should be doing transfer applications to more suitable schools.</p>
<p>Haven’t we told him that already! And he knows the school is limited, and since he has been there it has been problem after problem (sigh). But he loves the location, has a lot of friends among the student body, and is very negative on the impersonal nature of a big U, despite the better selection of classes. There is a great deal of status at his present small school as he is part of a distinguished honors program that is not available at any other state school. But if he can’t find the classes he needs, then what is the point? (parent banging head against wall). </p>
<p>Thank you for the support. I’ll tell son to speak to the Ombud, though I have a feeling it will take more than just son doing so.</p>
<p>Definitely time for the parents to step in! Might even consider contacting your local state representative. And even a lawyer. They are going to drop his F/T status and therefore his scholarship? Are you kidding? That registrar might just be crazy. Seriously. There is something very very wrong here. Big wrong. Go immediately over the registrar’s head. Immediately. Now your child has to suffer the anxiety associated with all this and let’s hope it does not affect the kid’s grades. This is not a time to worry about if you’re helicoptering. This is a time to step in and cut through the red tape but fast. Wonder how many other kids this registrar has d***ed around with this foolishness. Time for it to stop.</p>
<p>Make sure that your son has signed the proper FERPA release form for YOU to speak on his behalf at the college. Otherwise, they will likely NOT talk to you about this…or anything else.</p>
<p>I’m not all about parents stepping in when it is something the student should handle, but this is not that kind of case. Even if it were, there’s no way focusing on this won’t impact his normal studies, esp. as we approach end of year.
My son was in a very different but equally alarming situation and was making strides but still getting some runaround. The minute I started in copying in and calling the Provost, Dean etc., things immediately picked up and the issue was addressed.
Unfortunately some admins will run roughshod over students because they can. This is 100% the case where you need to take this off of your son’s plate and be that insane raving lunatic I know you can be and get this corrected!
Keep us posted</p>
<p>One point: before you hire a lawyer, start rampaging, etc., make sure you REALLY have the full story. But if you do have the full story, I agree that parents should get involved.</p>
<p>I had to smile at the idea that he
. How’s the personal touch working out for him right now?</p>
<p>And this is how they treat their distinguished honors program participants? I (the parent) would also talk to the Honors Program director. He or she may have some input on who to talk with to get results.</p>
<p>You need to get son to email you a timeline of what happened exactly. Tell him you can help but need all details, names, form names, class title, etc.</p>
<p>He needs to do this yesterday. Then when you go above Registrars head, you will. K t be surprised by a “well, did son do this”. You want to have a polite answer for anticipated push back. </p>
<p>Do not wait. And this is an okay one for parents to step in, as loss of scholarships directly impact parents.</p>
<p>Since this has become a financial issue (potential loss of scholarship, possible health insurance implications since son is no longer a full time student, etc.), I as a parent would just step in at this point. Make sure son has signed whatever he needs to for you to be able to discuss this with the school on his behalf. I assume your son kept copies of the paperwork when he got this online course approved; I’d get a copy of that to add to the information you’ve received from your state DOE. Since your son has already struck out with the registrar, I doubt I’d start there, except perhaps to confirm the information he’s been given and make sure the reason for the denial is as reported by your son. Also, where is your son’s adviser in all this?</p>
<p>Hire a lawyer who specializes in educational law. Schools try to run roughshod over the young adults that are their students. They also run roughshod over parents that they perceive to be a nuisance. However-when faced with a lawyer they often quake in their shoes.</p>
<p>It sounds like your son did everything right, got his approvals in order and the school backed out of the agreement. I am not a lawyer but it sounds like your son had a sort of contract with the school and it is breaking the contract. </p>
<p>I agree with the others that this is the sort of situation where it is fine for parents to help their young adult children.</p>
<p>I would ask for specific clarification from the registrar. It is possible that the student will be able to receive transfer credit from the other college, but lose his full-time status at his home college because he isn’t truly enrolled there full-time this term. If something like that is the case, there may be nothing that can be done unless someone at the home college is willing to cook up an independent study for billing purposes only. Something like that would require the intervention of very high powers indeed.</p>
<p>Do NOT hire a lawyer. (Yet.) Make an appointment with the dean, and accompany your son. Bring any back-up documents. Let him do all the talking. Most university administrators are reasonable people and on the side of the reasonable student. Having the parent there is only to show just how seriously the family treats this situation. If the story is as you tell it, I’d bet the mess will be quickly straightened out. </p>
<p>If it isn’t, then it may be time to involve an attorney. But bringing one with you to the initial meeting sets up an adversarial atmosphere, dean could maybe want to have school’s own counsel there - it just gets messier that way.</p>