TA / course conflict - 3 semesters running

Graduate School
1

<p>Hello, I am currently in graduate school and have what I believe to be a serious problem. I need some disinterested, third-party advice.</p>

<p>I am a current graduate student who has been in my master's program for about two years (i.e., my 6th consecutive semester). For the last three semesters, I have had TA responsibilities scheduled on top of one class, 2 of them required. Typically, I am forced to miss 1/2 or 1/3 of all lectures of any given class (i.e., one day a week).</p>

<p>In particular, one of the "required classes", a distance learning class, I found out is actually a 3000-level undergraduate class for juniors! That is going on this semester. However, the current chair of the department has listed it as a 4000-level graduate-credit class. </p>

<p>The former chair of the department wrote all three schedules and the current one approved them. I am writing here because I did not tell anybody at the school, except recently. A faculty member described this as "totally unacceptable." Is this true?</p>

<p>When I also told another student about it, he seemed angry at ME for not doing something about it already. Others have just said they have never heard of that happening before.</p>

<p>When I started researching the issue on the internet, I discovered that it seems to be a rare occurrence, where special signed forms are needed to take care of the conflict. I have never been presented with a form to sign.</p>

<p>I feel like this is not normal and I wonder what I am allowed to do w.r.t. complaining to somebody. Is filing a grievance procedure too serious? I will also be asking in "Ask the Dean" section, since if I file, I will be talking to the Dean.</p>

2

<p>I know this is very long but I would appreciate any replies/advice, helpful or not. I won’t argue, I just need some perspective.</p>

3

<p>I’m not quite sure I understand what the problem is, going forward, considering that this semester is either over or almost over. What would you be grieving? Something that’s already over and done with?</p>

<p>You need to talk to your advisor about potential schedule conflicts in the future, and determine ways to work around them.</p>

4

<p>First of all, yes, it is totally unacceptable that you have had this scheduling conflict 3 times and have only now told someone. Why would you think it is acceptable to miss 33-50% of the lectures for a class instead of asking someone to help you fix your schedule?</p>

<p>Going forward, if your TAing responsibilities are scheduled at the same time as a class you need to take, talk with your advisor and the director of graduate studies for your program. They can help you move things around or satisfy your requirements in some other way. But for the love of God, don’t just skip class.</p>

<p>Also, I agree - don’t file a grievance. This is actually your fault. It’s your responsibility to manage your class schedule; how is the person who schedules TAs at your school supposed to know when you are taking class? They have dozens of people to schedule and you only have one. Why would you complain to anyone? That’s only going to make you look like you don’t understand how grad school works, and they’re going to wonder why you are raising a stink now instead of politely explaining your problem to someone 3 semesters ago.</p>