Do you think a college professor has the right to do this?

[luvmy3]

Ah well, when she started class her hours were different. This has been for the last 4 weeks. I have no idea what the syllabus says, and she made no mention of it.

My thoughts are that she is an adult woman, with adult responsibilities, doing all she can to further / improve herself. It isn't like she is an 18 year old kids who is a wiseguy. In her shoes, I do believe I agree with what she said, entirely. Plus, she paid the money, so she's supposed to get taught.

BTW, this is a community college class we are talking about, not Ivy League or anything. To me, it just sounds like a professor that is too full of himself.

So what if an 18 year old student who slept until 7 PM every Thursday started doing the same thing? She is a student in the class, regadless of why she is there, she should be respecting the rules of the class, and one of them must certainly be to be on time, or at least not be late every single class. I'm sure even those CC have rules you know
To me, the fact that she is an adult makes it even worse, she should have made arrangements with the Prof. before or looked to see if that particular class was available online. Maybe she could have asked to leave work 10 minutes earlier. I think its pretty nervy of her to walk in 10 minutes late every week and expect it to be accepted. Would she do that at work, church, doc appts?
I'm with the prof. on this one.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Why did the hours for the class change? Is it different from what the syllabus states? I know anywhere I've gone to school, the professor can't willy-nilly change class hours even if every student agrees. Occasionally, I've had one class rescheduled, but never for the rest of the term. I'm wondering if the school (and dean) know that the professor changed the times that the class meets. If the class is meeting earlier for the professor's convenience, I don't think he really has a reason to be annoyed; he changed everything around, not her. I'm guessing she was making it to class on time before?

Oh, and if I was going to be consistently late I'd of talked with the professor before classes started for the term but it doesn't sound like that's the situation.

The class hours didn't change. The woman's work schedule changed.

 

[bellarella]

Why did the hours for the class change? Is it different from what the syllabus states? I know anywhere I've gone to school, the professor can't willy-nilly change class hours even if every student agrees. Occasionally, I've had one class rescheduled, but never for the rest of the term. I'm wondering if the school (and dean) know that the professor changed the times that the class meets. If the class is meeting earlier for the professor's convenience, I don't think he really has a reason to be annoyed; he changed everything around, not her. I'm guessing she was making it to class on time before?

Oh, and if I was going to be consistently late I'd of talked with the professor before classes started for the term but it doesn't sound like that's the situation.

I believe the niece's work schedule changed, causing her to be late for class. It sounds like she didn't discuss this problem with the professor when it arose, but rather just decided she was entitled to show up late every class.

 

[momrek06]

My DS#1 went to college for his senior year of h.s. Being his senior year there was going to be events going on at his h.s. that he really wanted to attend. He spoke to his Prof's at the 'state' college he was attending and the Prof's said, "if you are here, you are here, if you aren't well thats your problem" BUT no one stated to him he would be asked to leave if he missed any classes or came in late or left early. Now he did not do this on a regular basis but at least he knew that if he needed to miss a class or come in late or leave early; it would not be a big problem.

My DS#2 is in law school in the northeast … totally different. Miss 3 classes OR continued disturbances of coming and going … you are OUT.

I am afraid if this Prof has an issue with your niece, and she gets to stay in his class, it may effect her grade in the respect that say papers she does, may just not be to his liking and will result in a not so variable grade.

 

[dngnb8]

If the professor deems the tardiness to be a disruption to class, he has the right to drop her.

I think she is out of luck here since just about every education institution tracks tardiness

 

[Ephany]

The class hours didn't change. The woman's work schedule changed.

I believe the niece's work schedule changed, causing her to be late for class. It sounds like she didn't discuss this problem with the professor when it arose, but rather just decided she was entitled to show up late every class.

I caught that after I posted. Didn't edit fast enough though.

 

[CurlyGirl]

I believe the niece's work schedule changed, causing her to be late for class. It sounds like she didn't discuss this problem with the professor when it arose, but rather just decided she was entitled to show up late every class.

Nor did she let her boss know that the shift change would cause her to be late for her class. If she mentioned it to the boss, maybe he would've changed someone else's hours. She sounds like she dropped the ball entirely.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Is her employer aware of her school schedule? Did she speak to the prof. when her work schedule was changed? Age and stage of life should not matter here. There are plenty of young parents attending college. There are also plenty of young people who work in order to put themselves through school. It shouldn't matter if you're 18 or 40. All students should be held to the same standards.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

Is her employer aware of her school schedule? Did she speak to the prof. when her work schedule was changed? Age and stage of life should not matter here. There are plenty of young parents attending college. There are also plenty of young people who work in order to put themselves through school. It shouldn't matter if you're 18 or 40. All students should be held to the same standards.

On that point, I agree, but when I went to college - and I didn't start until age 21 - it was all the 18 year old freshmen that I saw intentionally acting like idiots, and not the adults.

So yeah, she probably could or should have spoken to the professor, but I don't think she expected her hours to remain the same when they changed. I think she thought it was just for a couple of weeks, and it didn't turn out that way.

I still think the professor was wrong too, though. He ALSO could have just pulled her aside - in private - instead of trying to make her look bad in front of the class.

 

[RunningGirl]

My answer to the question as to whether or not the professor had the right is yes. No matter how quiet she tries to be it's disruptive. I wouldn't appreciate it if I were another student paying for the class.

He could have handled it better by speaking to her privately. But as an "adult", SHE should have taken the initiative and spoken to him about her circumstances.

 

[LuvLDM]

I still think the professor was wrong too, though. He ALSO could have just pulled her aside - in private - instead of trying to make her look bad in front of the class.

While I agree he could have discussed this in private w/ your niece, he did not "make her look bad".....she did that herself by routinely showing up late for class.

 

[CurlyGirl]

While I agree he could have discussed this in private w/ your niece, he did not "make her look bad".....she did that herself by routinely showing up late for class.

And he sent a message to the rest of the class as well. Heck, if one can get away with it, they all might try to get away with it ...

 

[Carly_Roach]

On that point, I agree, but when I went to college - and I didn't start until age 21 - it was all the 18 year old freshmen that I saw intentionally acting like idiots, and not the adults.

So yeah, she probably could or should have spoken to the professor, but I don't think she expected her hours to remain the same when they changed. I think she thought it was just for a couple of weeks, and it didn't turn out that way.

I still think the professor was wrong too, though. He ALSO could have just pulled her aside - in private - instead of trying to make her look bad in front of the class.

It all depends on how many students he's teaching. If he's teaching 50 or more students he certainly doesn't have time to see what the problem is with one student who's suddenly developed a tardiness problem. I still believe he addressed it appropriately - at the exact time it happened.

Personally, by the fourth time someone came in late on me, I'd be telling them they were no longer welcome, too. His reaction to her reaction was also appropriate if not admirable: he responded professionally to her ridiculous outburst and kept teaching, thus not wasting the time of the other X many students who were somehow able to make it to class on time.

 

[hambirg]

Absolutely the professor has the right to do it. I had a class in college where the doors were basically locked at the time class started. You came on time or you didn't come at all.

Paying money doesn't buy the right to disrupt class. There are all sorts of policies that I might not agree with, but I do think the professor has the right to create the teaching environment they wish to engage in (ie, some professors will allow laptops, some won't; some schools have internet access in class, some don't). As a student you have a right to take that class or not. You "buy" the class as offered.

I've encountered the exact same thing. If the door was closed, you missed class that day.

I think the prof had the right to do what he did. It probably could have all been avoided if she had talked to him about the schedule change when it happened. Tough lesson for her to learn I guess.

ETA-as far as the prof pulling her aside instead of calling her on it as it was happening. . .well, this is college. You simply aren't going to get any hand holding from profs. You have to take the responsibility and initiative in your education at this point. She didn't do that when her schedule changed. . .it was really up to her to let him know that she was having scheduling problems. . .but she didn't do that, so now she lives with the consequences of her own behavior.

 

[momrek06]

While I agree he could have discussed this in private w/ your niece, he did not "make her look bad".....she did that herself by routinely showing up late for class.

Ya, Prof probably feels she is at the age where she could have at least let him know in advanced that her hours changed and she would be 'sliding in' 10 minutes late every week. Its probably disturbing to the Prof because every class as she opens the door and walks in, everyone turns their attention to her entering and takes their eyes off the Prof who may be in the middle of discussing the topic of the night.

Ya, I think it comes down to that …

 

[Uncle Remus]

On that point, I agree, but when I went to college - and I didn't start until age 21 - it was all the 18 year old freshmen that I saw intentionally acting like idiots, and not the adults.

So yeah, she probably could or should have spoken to the professor, but I don't think she expected her hours to remain the same when they changed. I think she thought it was just for a couple of weeks, and it didn't turn out that way.

I still think the professor was wrong too, though. He ALSO could have just pulled her aside - in private - instead of trying to make her look bad in front of the class.

Other students learn from her "lesson."

 

[bellarella]

On that point, I agree, but when I went to college - and I didn't start until age 21 - it was all the 18 year old freshmen that I saw intentionally acting like idiots, and not the adults.

So yeah, she probably could or should have spoken to the professor, but I don't think she expected her hours to remain the same when they changed. I think she thought it was just for a couple of weeks, and it didn't turn out that way.

I still think the professor was wrong too, though. He ALSO could have just pulled her aside - in private - instead of trying to make her look bad in front of the class.

Once she showed up late twice, she should have gone to the professor. Period. Telling a student who has come into a class late every class for weeks to leave isn't making her look bad. Her saying he needed to call security did that. The professor had no way of knowing that she would continue to come in late. Calling her on the behavior at the same time she was engaging in it is not out of line. Her response was. She owes the professor an enormous apology, IMHO.

 

[Hoodie]

Once she showed up late twice, she should have gone to the professor. Period. Telling a student who has come into a class late every class for weeks to leave isn't making her look bad. Her saying he needed to call security did that. The professor had no way of knowing that she would continue to come in late. Calling her on the behavior at the same time she was engaging in it is not out of line. Her response was. She owes the professor an enormous apology, IMHO.

I'd have to agree. OP - your niece is 100% wrong, no matter how you cut it.

She should not only apologize for her childish response to his request, but for disrupting class 4 weeks in a row.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

I wonder if this had been you, any of you, whether you would have had the same response. I doubt it, if in the same situation. I will concede that it would have been wise to approach him, but she didn't. But I surely doubt that ALL of the people here who say she was 100% wrong would feel that way had it been you. In fact, as I read the posts of many of you, I can tell you all weren't / are perfect wonderful beings, and I just can't see some of you not doing something similar.

 

[luvmy3]

Once she showed up late twice, she should have gone to the professor. Period. Telling a student who has come into a class late every class for weeks to leave isn't making her look bad. Her saying he needed to call security did that. The professor had no way of knowing that she would continue to come in late. Calling her on the behavior at the same time she was engaging in it is not out of line. Her response was. She owes the professor an enormous apology, IMHO.

Definitely. I'm not sure why she should be afforded any respect in this case, she certainly hasn't shown an ounce of it.