Advocating for a grade appeal for myself and other students. Do we stand a chance?

Published

Hey all,

Just finished my 2nd semester and failed along with many others. There were many discrepancies in my program that are listed in my letter to the chairperson of the Nursing department. Since our professors set us up for failure through BS education and lies I decided to throw them both under the bus. Do we stand a chance for our grade to be appealed? Most of us are 1-4 points within a passing grade. Those that did pass were just over that line. Professor X is notorious for listed reasons around our program (even those who have not had her as a professor) and outside of the school from nurses we have run into on clinical sites. And Professor Y lied to us to hurt our grades. 12 students agreed to allow me to CC them to state the facts are true, 3 students BCC’d, and a few others to remain anonymous. Thoughts?

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Professor E (chairperson),

I recently finished the 2nd semester (Maternity and Psychiatric Nursing Care - Nur 212) and have some deep concerns about the fairness of the program. I, and the students CC’d in this email* (as well as additional unnamed students who fear retaliation if they participate) feel it is important to raise certain concerns for the sake of our careers, our experience in (school name here), and the experience of future students. Included in this group are students who passed the course, as well as students who did not pass. All of us have the same concerns regardless of the outcome of our grades.

Overall, we believe that the class was not set up to allow students to succeed in a meaningful way due to the way the coursework was presented, taught, and tested. In addition, we don’t feel that we have been prepared to pass the course exams, as the course strategy was often “off-book,” non-linear, and often incomprehensible. This was not the experience of other students who were taught by other professors, as we learned after speaking with evening class students who do not report experiencing the same level of challenge with their professor. Additionally, to our knowledge, they had a much higher pass-rate than our class. We would thus request your review of the following points:

- We were underprepared and immediately behind the curve at the beginning of the semester because we were told we would be given an intense reading assignment over the Summer of 2021 that would prepare us for the Maternal and Newborn Nursing course. This reading was never distributed to the class.
- Professor X’ exams were on an advanced level of Nursing that was unrealistic, considering both our current level of critical knowledge and the mandatory (and expensive) prep material we purchased, which inadequately prepared us to pass these exams regardless of the time and effort spent in study.
- Professor X taught on the assumption that we were already educated in certain areas of Fundamentals of Nursing--information that we had never learned in the previous semester.
- Professor X stated she disagreed with the material in the required textbook. As dense as our coursework already is, this only made the experience more confusing, forced us to pursue further research for information she considered accurate, and unnecessarily complicated our curriculum.
- Professor X was either late to respond to student emails, or they were ignored. Personally, I asked for help on study strategy for success on the final exam 9 days in advance, and received a reply 48 hours before finals—far too late to be of any help.
- Professor Y, prior to her exams, inaccurately told us that we should focus on medication classes--not medication names. In fact, we were questioned on the exam for medication names. This cost us further points and significantly impacted our grade in the course. Upon confrontation with this discrepancy, Professor Y agreed that she had given us a false study tip, but was unwilling to remediate the situation, either by allowing us to retake the exam or to remediate that particular grade.
• - Prior to the final exam, Professor Y downplayed the difficulty of her exam, stating that her portion was ‘mild’ and that she recycles her questions from previous exams. Upon sitting for the test, we found it to be challenging and that the basic review of former material and questions that we had done in preparation left us unprepared. A far more in- depth focus on the material would have been required in order to successfully pass the test.

In sum, we believe your review of the course and our grades is in order. We invite you to have a conversation with us to discuss this experience, and to figure out the best way to move forward in a fair and equitable way. We strongly believe that many students who did not pass this course have fairly earned the right to move on to their next semester without repeating this set of classes – especially given the high costs (finances, time, personal sacrifice) associated with taking the class again.

Considering this experience, you can understand how dispirited many of us are—some even to the point of rethinking their future in this school, if not this career. Given that we were only allowed two on-site clinical experiences due to the pandemic, we also believe that consideration should be made for the lack of on-site educational benefits of an applied science.

We are eager to hear your thoughts on these matters. Please let us know your
availability to speak with us as a group. Since the next semester begins on January 28th, and we must have our plans in order well before then, we would appreciate an honest reply as soon as possible. 

Thank you for your time and consideration. We would not have come forward if we didn’t truly believe we had a case.

Best regards,

My Name | Phone Number

*Please note: CC’d students have given me permission to include them in this letter with agreeance that the follow facts stated are true.

Specializes in CEN, Firefighter/Paramedic.
10 hours ago, Honyebee said:

Then, we all start over each time. After 12 grades, higher education is a privilege, not a right.  Correct me if I’m wrong.

Higher education used to be an option.  It still really is, but it's not presented that way.

I am a parent of 3 kids who have graduated high school in the last 6 years.  To them, college is absolutely mandatory.  I have one daughter who's plugging away at gen-ED classes (I.e. wasting money) in college despite having no career direction at all.  Primary education in America DRILLS into our kids that the MUST go to college or they will fail at life. 

I made it abundantly clear as a parent that they were free to live their life, as long as they become a productive adult, I don't care if they go to college or not, but the programming at school was more powerful. 

Specializes in Dialysis.
1 hour ago, FiremedicMike said:

Higher education used to be an option.  It still really is, but it's not presented that way.

I am a parent of 3 kids who have graduated high school in the last 6 years.  To them, college is absolutely mandatory.  I have one daughter who's plugging away at gen-ED classes (I.e. wasting money) in college despite having no career direction at all.  Primary education in America DRILLS into our kids that the MUST go to college or they will fail at life. 

I made it abundantly clear as a parent that they were free to live their life, as long as they become a productive adult, I don't care if they go to college or not, but the programming at school was more powerful. 

It's sad. My sons went to skilled trades, got OJT and college classes (paid for by trade) and make way more than what I do

Specializes in CEN, Firefighter/Paramedic.

@StudentGamerAthlete did you get a response yet?

 

Specializes in oncology.
16 hours ago, summertx said:

Therefore students PAY for their education and have a right to what they learn.

How was your teaching experience during the time Covid closed school?  You probably experienced the burden teachers were experiencing.. How did you guarantee the students had the right to learn?

Specializes in oncology.
3 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:

It's sad

What's sad? he is benefitting from an educational path that will ensure his future. 

Specializes in oncology.
On 12/25/2021 at 8:21 AM, StudentGamerAthlete said:

If that’s the case then I might actually have a shot! 

Please tell us the outcome. I, for one tried to give you concrete specifics to bring to your argument. Many others actually gave you points to bolster your argument......and then we are left with absolute silence from you. May be you were not successful at getting credit for the course.....but show some truth and feeling to help others that worked as hard as you and still failed.  WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME?

Specializes in CEN, Firefighter/Paramedic.
2 hours ago, londonflo said:

What's sad? he is benefitting from an educational path that will ensure his future. 

Because college is not the only path to prosperity and happiness in this world, and the insistence that it is coupled with the obscene cost of tuition is actually a pretty significant problem in modern society..

 

Specializes in Dialysis.
18 hours ago, londonflo said:

What's sad? he is benefitting from an educational path that will ensure his future. 

It's sad that our youth thinks that the only path to financial success is a college degree. Not even remotely true. You have to research the degree vs job market.  I know a couple of university degreed coffee baristas that are mad because they haven't found a political science job or women studies job. I've recommended skills trade, given phone number and web info, only to be greeted with a look as if I suggested that they drink dog vomit instead of coffee...heaven forbid they get their hands a little dirty to make a living

Specializes in Customer service.
4 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:

It's sad that our youth think that goes only path to financial success is a college degree. Not even remotely true. You have to research the degree vs job market.  I know a couple of university degreed coffee baristas that are mad because they haven't found a political science job or women studies job. I've recommended skills trade, given phone number and web info, only to be greeted with a look as if I suggested that they drink dog vomit instead of coffee...heaven forbid they get their hands a little dirty to make a living

They need to practice gratitude. 

14 hours ago, FiremedicMike said:

Higher education used to be an option.  It still really is, but it's not presented that way.

I am a parent of 3 kids who have graduated high school in the last 6 years.  To them, college is absolutely mandatory.  I have one daughter who's plugging away at gen-ED classes (I.e. wasting money) in college despite having no career direction at all.  Primary education in America DRILLS into our kids that the MUST go to college or they will fail at life. 

I made it abundantly clear as a parent that they were free to live their life, as long as they become a productive adult, I don't care if they go to college or not, but the programming at school was more powerful. 

I believe people have survival instincts if they need it.  I didn't have that safety net in my mind. For me, my siblings depended on me. Our father buried us with our mother. It was worse when he remarried.  He loves our half-sister and step-children who didn’t finish high school or college. I didn’t understand why he despised my siblings and me. Now that he is older, he has been asking for me when he has his other four children who are his fans. He is not happy to hear I will visit his funeral. He is lucky my brothers and sister forgave him and are giving him attention. I forgave him. It doesn’t mean I will wrap around his arms.

Anyway, my youngest brother was happy to be a high school graduate and became a carpenter. My sister went to a trade school. My other brother is a PT teacher teaching physics and teaching theory and training people in the automotive industry. In his recent project, he has been training basic skills among men who didn’t finish high school for free because they couldn't afford to attend school. There’s no adult education back home. My brother and his colleagues have been trying to establish this. In his physics class, some college students circled him in the alley threatening to murder him because of their failed class, and some wealthy parents tried to bribe him. That's sad that their children are placed in this situation. We certainly have challenges how to float our boats.

                                                                                                                        

Specializes in oncology.
On 1/22/2022 at 9:27 AM, FiremedicMike said:

I have one daughter who's plugging away at gen-ED classes (I.e. wasting money) in college

Education is NEVER wasted. She is not wasting money but I do accept your feelings because you did not have this opportunity. But every generation strives for more then the previous generation. 

she may surprise you with a great outcome in jobs because of her education. A person who understands world history can be active in politics, city and state jobs...maybe law school? ; She will learn how to write to persuade the reader.   What about her role as an articulate PR person who is the face of a company;  What about being a MSW in the school system,  or an educational leader. At the least she can enlighten her children (your grandchildren) on a world view of politics, religion and customs, world science, languages and history. After all,  it is not all about the US anymore. Haven't we learned this since January 2020? 

Specializes in oncology.
On 1/22/2022 at 9:27 AM, FiremedicMike said:
On 1/21/2022 at 11:11 PM, Honyebee said:

Then, we all start over each time. After 12 grades, higher education is a privilege, not a right.  Correct me if I’m wrong.

Higher education used to be an option.  It still really is, but it's not presented that way.

I am a parent of 3 kids who have graduated high school in the last 6 years.  To them, college is absolutely mandatory.  I have one daughter who's plugging away at gen-ED classes (I.e. wasting money) in college despite having no career direction at all.  Primary education in America DRILLS into our kids that the MUST go to college or they will fail at life. 

I made it abundantly clear as a parent that they were free to live their life, as long as they become a productive adult, I don't care if they go to college or not, but the programming at school was more powerful. 

The "programming at school" was looking to develop a more informed citizen, knowledgeable about improving their communities, educating students of the value of their vote (VALUE not who to vote for), the need for social services for individual/families who do not have their educational opportunities or look like them and at the end of the high school program...how to make a better world. (I understand as a FireMedic you see the worse of the worse....may be your daughter has learned from your experiences and wants to make her community a better place.)

Specializes in oncology.
Just now, londonflo said:

I made it abundantly clear as a parent that they were free to live their life, as long as they become a productive adult, I don't care if they go to college or not, but the programming at school was more powerful. 

So you were saying, I am summarizing here that the programming at school was more powerful than your statement " I don't care if they college or not". I guess you wanted  your children to take the "not". How is that working for you and your 2 other children besides the one who is going to college?

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