advicecommunity college problem (Updates post 16 and 23)

[RitaZ.]

OP, if he was on the roll, receiving grades, turning in hw and everything was done as though he was in the class--by him and the instructor; what is their reason for not just putting him in the class in their system?

I can't imagine it would be that different from our system and its something that takes about 5 seconds. (system for the college itself, not just the online classes)

If I were you, I would call them and see if they can at least explain it "hypothetically". They will not be able to tell you anything that pertains only to your son, but they should be able to answer the general questions.

They should at least be able to answer the question as to why not. It really doesn't make any sense that they can't just put him back in the class.

It doesn't, but maybe the OP's son has disclosed more details to her and she doesn't want to come back to discuss it further.

 

[Debbie Jean]

It doesn't, but maybe the OP's son has disclosed more details to her and she doesn't want to come back to discuss it further.

Possibly.

Students are routinely dropped here when financial obligations are not met... not saying that is what happened with OP, but the August date makes me wonder.... if payment was not received... or the computer glitch did not credit the payment properly... then OP's son would have been dropped...

Here there is a "drop dead" date for all payments in the third week of classes and I routinely will have several "removed" from my rolls. Usually when the bill is cleared they can re-enroll through the Registrar... professors have no power to add or drop students... so I will tell them as long as they anticipate resolving the issues, they should continue to come to class and do the work.

 

[bballmom56]

The student is 17. The parent would be responsible for the bill so she should know if there is any balance. The college can and should speak to the parent. FERPA applies to students who are 18 and over. This student is still a minor.

 

[Debbie Jean]

The student is 17. The parent would be responsible for the bill so she should know if there is any balance. The college can and should speak to the parent. FERPA applies to students who are 18 and over. This student is still a minor.

Funny story...

back when I was a young'un and attending a large state university, I went to registration one fall... this was back when computers had just made their appearance in the financial offices on campus... I was told I couldn't register because my parents hadn't paid my bill I said their must be a mistake but they insisted... so I called home and my mother gave me the check number and said that it had indeed been sent and cashed

well, to make a long story short, mine was one of 12 checks... on a campus of over 25,000 students... that the system spit out In the end it was made right, but I was denied registration for nonpayment.

Not saying that's what happened to OP, but it definitely can and does happen...

 

[tasha99]

It sounds like the glitch was on the registrar's end, not the instructor. An instructor cannot just remove a name from his roster if the system is computerized. It has to be generated from the registrar's office.

But the instructor could have added him back. That's usually at the instructor's discretion, and even if it meant a very full class, it would have been the right thing to do (provided there was no real reason for the drop).

 

[bballmom56]

But the instructor could have added him back. That's usually at the instructor's discretion, and even if it meant a very full class, it would have been the right thing to do (provided there was no real reason for the drop).

An instructor can not just "add him back". It has to go through the registrar's office. The student was in the class, he was turning in work, he was emailing with the instructor. The instructor would not just drop him (nor does he have that authority once he is duly registered for the class). Instructor's discretion comes into play when a student not previously registered for the course asks the instructor if he can enroll in a class that is already at capacity. If instructor agrees, he would have to sign the add slip which would then go to registrar to add him to the roster

I absolutely agree that this student should be allowed to stay in the course. But I believe the problem is at the registrar's end and they need to address it.

 

[NMAmy]

These things vary from college to college so what is verboten at one may very well happen at another.

At some colleges, an instructor can absolutely reinstate students and can drop students due to non-participation. Also, students can be dropped from the registration system but can still be in the class's Blackboard site and be able to access assignments, discussions, etc. Just because it is not the norm at one school doesn't mean it doesn't happen at others.

Since the OP appears satisfied with the outcome, I'm guessing that there is a reason for that and she is now aware of it. We can fuss until the cows come home about how we don't think it's right but I don't think we have the whole story and the OP does.

 

[bballmom56]

These things vary from college to college so what is verboten at one may very well happen at another.

At some colleges, an instructor can absolutely reinstate students and can drop students due to non-participation. Also, students can be dropped from the registration system but can still be in the class's Blackboard site and be able to access assignments, discussions, etc. Just because it is not the norm at one school doesn't mean it doesn't happen at others.

Since the OP appears satisfied with the outcome, I'm guessing that there is a reason for that and she is now aware of it. We can fuss until the cows come home about how we don't think it's right but I don't think we have the whole story and the OP does.

You are right, the procedure can vary. But among the colleges I have worked at, DH has worked at, DD has worked in registrar's office, and at DS's college, which probably totals about 10 different colleges all together, that has been the procedure. I'm surprised that a prof can drop a student for non-participation. In our schools, the student would have just received an F if the student had not initiated a withdrawal.