Should I go to the Dean?

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I am a first year, first quarter nursing student. My school is currently trying to implement a new curriculum. Given all the changes things are a lot less solid that they should be. In lecture we needed to do a project which was to be presented to the class. It is worth one quarter of our grade. Our group was the first to present ours and we made it a point to stay within the alloted time frame of 50 minutes. To do this we needed to be selective about the information we shared. We decided to bring up only the most important point and to limit our selves to five power point slides each.

We worked like dogs setting this presentation done since we had to do it within the first three weeks of class. When we went as a group to be graded we got a 72% which is a fail in this class. We were shocked to say the least. We were told we needed more detail. Well, we decided to just live with the grade because what can you do, right?

When the next group presented they went way over 50 minutes, in fact they went for an hour and a half. Their presentation was very detailed because their staff adviser told them our story as sort of a weird cautionary tale. Everyone knew our grade and how to avoid getting one like ours. More of the groups have presented now and in general they are running about 40 minutes long. Everyone is getting great grades.

Here is my dilemma, I feel the other group have a very unfair advantage. They get to take almost twice the time to present their material even though the 50 minute time frame is supposedly still in effect. Secondly, I feel it is wrong for instructors to be discussing our grade with the other students. Not only is this embarrassing but it also gives the other students another advantage over us.

In addition to this the nursing dept. has rather weird grading practices. For example, if you take a math test and miss problems you have to go to the head of the department to discuss it. In a 10 minute interview she will show you your test and tell you what you did wrong. All that is fine, the problem arises in the fact that after they talk with you the shred your test. I am not God's gift to mathematics and that short period of time listening to her talk does not give me a change to really look at my work and be sure there are no grading error. They have the same policy with lecture tests. Why is there this rush to shred tests? I know in A and P as well as in Micro our instructors kept our test for two quarters in case we wanted to come back and petition for a grade change. They shred all lecture tests also. This in effect keeps you from petitioning for a grade change because you have no evidence.

What do you guys think? Should I go to the Dean. Since it involves the head of the department I can't go to her. I can understand having issues with a new curriculum but I don't want my grade used as a guinea pig. Right now my overall grade is about 70% because I can seem to overcome my grade on the project. It is a shock to go from being an A student to one who is about to fail. I'll be out on my butt soon if I don't do something. I really don't want to make trouble. I just want my degree so I can get a job.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

They are shredding tests because there has probably been a problem with cheating in the past.

Ask if you can do something for extra credit to bring your grade up.

Don't volunteer to be first for anything else in this program again.

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There is no extra credit.

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I think you should go talk to the dean. In the program I was in they did not grade anyone's presentation until everyone had presented, and you got docked points for going over. Being succinct is important, I have learned that through writing papers and doing presentations in nursing school. When you are giving report or presenting at an interdisciplinary meeting it is important to make your point by just sticking to the pertinent facts, that was drilled into us in nursing school. They can not change the expectations after one group has presented without allowing that group to have a chance to meet the new expectations.

Good luck!

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Specializes in outpatient surg, nutrition.

Curious about what school district you are in? Read your student handbook carefully, as this is your guide in how you proceed with complaints. If you would like to discuss this further, it would have to be confidential.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

This is probably the first time I've read a complaint on here that was well written and I actually think has merit. ;) It does sound like you were treated unfairly. The thing is that in my experience going to the Dean has never been successful and instead often paints a target on your butt. I would most definitely have your entire group schedule a meeting with the instructor that graded your project. Your post was very thoughful and I would hope that if you present this information they will find something to make ammends. In the projects I had with a time frame going over was as bad as falling short. I hope your group gets some consideration.

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It seems pretty clear to me that your good faith adherence to the 50min rule was used against you, particularly in light of the fact that the other groups were allowed to violate it without consequence and with considerable advantage. It seems to me it's blatantly unethical to allow the other groups to gain points by permitting them to ignore a rule you followed in good faith.

If I were you I would focus on this issue and this issue alone in your meeting with the dean. If you're asked what you feel would be a fair resolution, I would ask for a second chance to present with a time frame equal to the longest presentation already made without having received a time penalty. I would probably also request another teacher judge it if you feel the first teacher may be biased against you for seeking redress. I would present this complaint as a group.

P.S. I would also have the longer presentation ready to go on a moment's notice.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
It seems pretty clear to me that your good faith adherence to the 50min rule was used against you, particularly in light of the fact that the other groups were allowed to violate it without consequence and with considerable advantage. It seems to me it's blatantly unethical to allow the other groups to gain points by permitting them to ignore a rule you followed in good faith.

If I were you I would focus on this issue and this issue alone in your meeting with the dean. If you're asked what you feel would be a fair resolution, I would ask for a second chance to present with a time frame equal to the longest presentation already made without having received a time penalty. I would probably also request another teacher judge it if you feel the first teacher may be biased against you for seeking redress. I would present this complaint as a group.

P.S. I would also have the longer presentation ready to go on a moment's notice.

Excellent advice especially because it illustrates that you have already done the amount of research and work they expected for a more complete presentation.

:up:

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
There is no extra credit.

How do you know if you didn't ask? You have a unique situation. Present it to them and ask.

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i can't imagine my test being shredded, eliminating any chance for further discussion. if cheating is the issue then the prof needs to lock his or her office, not shred my opportunity to dispute a grade. my teacher and i just had a discussion about a test i took 3 weeks ago and i am pretty sure i'm gonna get credit for the question i am disputing. had she shredded my test after the first review, i wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

i haven't had a class in the 3 yrs i've been going that offered any kind of extra credit. but i see no need to do extra credit when the grade does not reflect the effort.

i prefer to volunteer to be first, cause typically the teacher appreciates a vol, as opposed to having to tell someone to go first.

i would get my group together and discuss with my professor the issues that i have. if it is not possible to have the first grade raised to an acceptable level, comparable to the other group's grades, then i would pursue it with a higher authority.

i would also make it known that my grade is not public knowledge, and my privacy will be respected.

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I did ask and there is no extra credit in this program for anyone under any circumstances

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If there is no extra credit for anyone in the program, for any reason, then you are going to have a tough time dealing with this. I suggest that your group approach the instructor first to try to resolve this before going to the head of the department. But if the instructor does not see your argument about the other groups not being penalized for exceeding the time limit, then you might have to go up the chain. I would definitely do so, because you can't afford to fail out and should not go down without sticking up for yourselves. Good luck.

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