what is wrong with this advisor? Power trip?

[lannisz]

How would you guys deal with this?

I am due to graduate with my MS/FNP in June. My program advisor seems determined to find some reason to fail me. All my grades this year in classes and clinicals have been A's. My advisor decided that one of my differential diagnosis forms from one of my "A" graded assignments was incorrectly done and he gave me the choice to take an Incomplete for the course or do the assignment over. He told me this 3 days before the term ended. I chose to do the assignment over of course, even though his decision seemed entirely off the wall. I can't get a grade less than a "B" or I fail the program - that's what we are told. Now he has picked one of my major papers and told me I received an "F" on the assignment because I did not correctly cite one of my references. My quotation was indented, block style, but because quotation marks were missing at the end of the quote, he says "technically" I committed palgarism and he could have me kicked out of the program. He said because he believes me that it was a simply typo, he will allow me to do the entire assignment over for another grade. He also is requiring me to write an essay on "the definition of plagarism."

I don't know if it's too late for me to get another advisor this late in the program, but this man holds my future in his hands and seems determined to find some way to fail me. How would you all handle this? Please help!

[ILoveIceCream]

Definitely a power trip! I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Here's what I would do if I were in your shoes:

Talk with one of your professors--someone you trust and with whom you feel comfortable. This person might be able to direct you to the right office or administrator, or she/he might be willing to act as a mediator between you and your adviser.

As a second step, you could speak to the Department Chair or one of the Associate Deans. You might also consider bringing your concerns to one of the other academic advisers, particularly if there is a "head adviser."

As a last step, you could talk with the Dean of your school of nursing. If your school has an Ombuds Office, this is another resource you could tap.

If you feel you are being harassed by this adviser, you should definitely talk with someone about it.

Best of Luck!

[prairienp]

How would you guys deal with this?

I am due to graduate with my MS/FNP in June. My program advisor seems determined to find some reason to fail me. All my grades this year in classes and clinicals have been A's. My advisor decided that one of my differential diagnosis forms from one of my "A" graded assignments was incorrectly done and he gave me the choice to take an Incomplete for the course or do the assignment over. He told me this 3 days before the term ended. I chose to do the assignment over of course, even though his decision seemed entirely off the wall. I can't get a grade less than a "B" or I fail the program - that's what we are told. Now he has picked one of my major papers and told me I received an "F" on the assignment because I did not correctly cite one of my references. My quotation was indented, block style, but because quotation marks were missing at the end of the quote, he says "technically" I committed palgarism and he could have me kicked out of the program. He said because he believes me that it was a simply typo, he will allow me to do the entire assignment over for another grade. He also is requiring me to write an essay on "the definition of plagarism."

I don't know if it's too late for me to get another advisor this late in the program, but this man holds my future in his hands and seems determined to find some way to fail me. How would you all handle this? Please help!

We need more information. I find it strange that one faculty member would have control of your major paper and clinical, unless your program is very small. You need to have the faculty comments in writing, email is fine. There must be more to the story, all As, not allowed less than a B and fail, one typo and he believed you yet re write the entire paper. Have you reviewed your student handbook? What steps are outlined for this situation?

[lannisz]

Definitely a power trip! I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Here's what I would do if I were in your shoes:

Talk with one of your professors--someone you trust and with whom you feel comfortable. This person might be able to direct you to the right office or administrator, or she/he might be willing to act as a mediator between you and your adviser.

As a second step, you could speak to the Department Chair or one of the Associate Deans. You might also consider bringing your concerns to one of the other academic advisers, particularly if there is a "head adviser."

As a last step, you could talk with the Dean of your school of nursing. If your school has an Ombuds Office, this is another resource you could tap.

If you feel you are being harassed by this adviser, you should definitely talk with someone about it.

Best of Luck!

I am going to be meeting with another professor who I trust and who also is in a position to provide some insight and advice. I am not the only student the advisor is behaving this way toward.

[santhony44, MSN, RN, NP]

It sounds pretty bizarre, to me.

I'm not sure how you get plagiarism from a missing quotation mark at the end, assuming everything else is correct. (And I have a previous degree in English and tend to be a bit nitpicky about such things myself!)

I also don't understand how an assignment already given an "A" grade can suddenly be deemed incomplete, if I'm reading this correctly.

The whole situation sounds quite strange.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

Wow, that is harsh, obvioulsy you made a typo, no one puts their own words into blocked format...the teacher should know that...you should ask him when the last time he walked on water was.....

[lannisz]

Wow, that is harsh, obvioulsy you made a typo, no one puts their own words into blocked format...the teacher should know that...you should ask him when the last time he walked on water was.....

Yes, i asked about that...he said "I should know according to the APA 4th edition" - correct if I'm wrong...but aren't we supposed to be using the 5TH edition since 2001?

[Spacklehead, MSN, NP]

I am confused as to why your advisor is even re-grading your papers at all, unless your advisor was also your professor for the class in which you wrote those papers. I would think if anything, the advisor would need to take it up with your professor if he thinks the paper was improperly graded.

I don't believe our advisor even looks at our papers unless she taught the course herself. Her function is to make sure that we are following the proper course sequencing so that we graduate on time, and is there for feedback if we have issues that arise while we are in the program. The other thing our advisor does is make sure that we have all of our documentation updated (vax forms, Mantoux tests, CPR, etc.) yearly for our clinical sites.

I think the whole situation you are in sounds pretty bizarre to me. I hope that you can get everything worked out!

[core0]

I am confused as to why your advisor is even re-grading your papers at all, unless your advisor was also your professor for the class in which you wrote those papers. I would think if anything, the advisor would need to take it up with your professor if he thinks the paper was improperly graded.

I don't believe our advisor even looks at our papers unless she taught the course herself. Her function is to make sure that we are following the proper course sequencing so that we graduate on time, and is there for feedback if we have issues that arise while we are in the program. The other thing our advisor does is make sure that we have all of our documentation updated (vax forms, Mantoux tests, CPR, etc.) yearly for our clinical sites.

I think the whole situation you are in sounds pretty bizarre to me. I hope that you can get everything worked out!

You bring up a good point. All colleges have a policy and procedure manual that specify how things happen. This is especially important in grading. For one faculty member to change a grade in another faculty members course would be unheard of unless there were claims of academic dishonesty.

To the OP. Most Universities have an Omsbudsman to help deal with faculty student (and faculty - faculty) conflict. It would be useful to find this person (or similar office) and talk to them about your problem. Also you should acquaint yourself with your programs student manual.

David Carpenter, PA-C

[Dixiecup]

I have a little different take on a similar situation. My last semester was difficult to say the least, had major life crises, one after the other. the syllabus plainly stated that "you must svhieve a 'C' in this course to pass" . It was right there in the syllabus in black and white.

As I said , I was having severe personal issues during this semester but tried my best and thought if I could just maintain the 'C' I would be ok. three weeks after the course ended, I got a call from my advisor that I had to repeat the course because all clinical classes had to have a 'B-' for a passing grade.

I mentioned the notation in the syllabus about the 'C' avaerage to pass and her reply to me was "it was a typo" and I had to repeat the class. I wasn't given this information until it was too late to grieve the issue. ( I guess I could have pressed the issue but at the time I just didn't have the energy to do so, and I feared retaliation for grieving the situation.) So I just went ahead and opted to repeat the class.

It's really irritating me as it has thrown my whole degree plan off course, but I felt like I had no options. It's like trying to fight city hall.

[christvs, DNP, RN, NP]

Wow, he really does sound way too harsh. Has he done this to other students besides you? How is everything going for you now? Have you been able to talk to other professors or the dean about this?