I’m seeking advice. I registered for a Fall class with an exceptional professor. Like minded folks caused the class to fill long before the other 24 sections. Now, two months later, I have learned the professor was reassigned to other classes and there are no other sections available that fit my schedule. The college advised me that it is their policy not to let students know if their professor has changed. They don’t yet know who would teach my section. My concern is not getting a poor teacher. They have professors teaching the subject rated as low as 2.6; mine was 4.9. I’d like to know how common it is for colleges to disregard student interests and give them no information in such a situation. Might I have any leverage, based on anything like an implied contract in the course schedules which I and 23 others used to choose this class section? Any advice or suggestions are appreciated?
No. Schedules do change. Ratings of profs (ex. 2.6 vs 4.9) are notoriously affected by bias and factors unrelated to teaching quality. You could contact the original prof to see if he or she has any influence on letting you into another section.
Some students tweak their classes many times over the summer until they get a schedule they like. Should colleges charge them for every class they registered for even though they changed them within the drop/add period? The college could cite an implied contract too, but they don’t.
My son keeps an eye on his portal. Good thing, because he just realized one of his classes no longer had a professor listed. Turns out the guy got a job at another college and is moving OOS. A spot in one of the sections taught by the professor my son originally wanted opened up so he took that. I’m not sure what will happen to the sections taught by the prof who’s leaving. It’s an elective, so maybe they won’t be filled at all and the kids will have to choose something else.
It’s important to be flexible. Unless the class is a prereq for something else, you could take it another semester. If you really want this professor this semester, you may have to make some adjustments to your schedule. My son didn’t want 8am classes, but took one to open up space for the Eng. professor he wanted. You have to make difficult choices sometimes.