Launching a complaint against a professor v.hapl

motivez · 04-27-2008, 07:07 PM

What's the etiquette for bringing up a complaint against a professor?

I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to go to the Department Head, but how to broach the subject when you know the head of the department and the professor are friendly with each other?

Some background:

This guy hasn't taught one of the classes he's teaching now ( Calc III ) now in at least 1.5 years, maybe longer, and another one in at least 1 year.. and he consistently comes to class unprepared to lecture on the material we're supposed to be learning

When he gets up there, that lack of preparation shows, as he consistently gets confused and lost in his explanations, leading us to waste class time as he bumbles around trying to remember how to do something.. He's not stupid, but when you don't use something for awhile, especially math related, you forget how to do it, and it shows..

On multiple occasions we've spent the entire class waiting on him to remember how to do something so we have a clue, and it's complete bullshit. Often he'll finish the problem completely wrong, and once someone says that doesn't match what the book says, he'll have to go back and start over..

Usually one of two things will happen, he'll either tell us how to do something incorrectly, or the issue will be unresolved by the time class is over, leading us to fend entirely for ourselves as he's unable to answer questions about the problem..

The next day we've often come in and before we have a chance to ask a question about the material he was unable to finish, we'll have a quiz on it, leading most of the class to do poorly..

There's no curve, department policy, so what has happened is a bunch of people who've gotten either an A or B all the way through Calc II with a solid understanding of the material are struggling to get a C.. not because the material is hard, but because by the end of class, we're so confused with his incorrect explanations that we have to relearn the material the correct way on our own..

The entire class feels this way, but no one really wants to say anything.. I feel like something needs to be said outside of official evaluations for the sake of future students, and with the hopes of getting these courses entirely removed from my transcripts until I can take them with someone else.. but I really have no idea how to start the conversation about it

Should I try to schedule an appointment or just go see the department head?

I am also worried about being able to remain anonymous, I do a lot of tutoring and it would just be very ackward for me to have to deal with him if he knew it was me who said something, especially if it lead to some sort of official sanctions..

Anyway, I know we have a teacher or two on here, so hopefully insights into the bureaucracy of teaching departments will lead to some good advice

motivez · 04-29-2008, 04:02 PM

bump

7960 · 04-29-2008, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

bump

I'm guessing.

Nobody has replied because there's no good answer. The guy sucks but complaining isn't going to fix it now. They're not going to raise any grades, they won't believe you and fire the guy...they won't even send someone to watch the class and see how he teaches.

It sucks, but your best bet is to be a total dick in class. Push him as far as you can without it affecting your grade. Tell him he's not explaining it well enough for a test. Then when half the class fails, point it out. You'll probably take some heat in the form of even lower grades, because he's mad at you for pointing out that he sucks, but at least you'll feel better for having told him.

Also you can tell his boss but he's going to ignore you. If you can organize half the class to go complain then maybe he'll say something to the guy. If it happens for a few semesters then possibly something will happen. But now, for you, in this class................you're fucked.

motivez · 04-29-2008, 04:41 PM

It's just ridiculous though, you'd think when you have a bunch of people who've made an A all the way through Calc II (which everyone says is the hardest), and grades take a huge nosedive, it'd raise some eyebrows

It's going to make me less competitive trying to transfer to another school next spring as well, which sucks. It's ridiculous how much influence this 1 class could potentially have on the rest of my life

WickedLou9 · 04-29-2008, 04:48 PM

I had some terrible professors in my time.
When I was at Rutgers we had this lady for some advanced math course, they just took her straight from Bell Labs. She was probably a brilliant, accomplished person, but she was rubbish as a teacher.
The 1st day she literally just walked in, said nothing, and started writing on the board. Everyone kinda looked around and then furisouly began copying what she wrote on the board. I failed that class and I am pretty sure I know why. It's a bad sign when 75% of the class doesn't show up and then on exam day the class is overflowing with people sitting on the floor and around the edge of the room because there are not enough desks. All we could do was to rate the professor poorly at the end of the course.

Linzyhop · 04-29-2008, 04:49 PM

you can always drop the course and take an incomplete.

motivez · 04-29-2008, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

you can always drop the course and take an incomplete.

I can't do that at this point, and I think having that on my transcript isn't going to look any better than a low (but passing) grade

7960 · 04-29-2008, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

It's just ridiculous though, you'd think when you have a bunch of people who've made an A all the way through Calc II (which everyone says is the hardest), and grades take a huge nosedive, it'd raise some eyebrows

1. calc ii was easier than calc i.
2. nobody knows what kind of grades kids in his class are getting. he doesn't have to report them to anyone.

It's going to make me less competitive trying to transfer to another school next spring as well, which sucks. It's ridiculous how much influence this 1 class could potentially have on the rest of my life

if this guy is a good guy but a shitty teacher you could use that as your way of leveraging a better grade. I'm not too proud to say I guilted a prof or two into raising my grade. I found out in my last semester that i wasn't going to graduate because I was missing an english elective. I took it at night at a college that was about 90 minutes away, so twice/week I drove the 3hr round trip. At the end I told the prof why I was taking the class and asked if I could skip the final. He asked me what I needed in order for the grade to transfer and count toward graduation and i told him and I got a half grade higher, even thought I skipped the mandatory final.

If he's a good guy you could work that angle. If not, there's nothing you can do.

motivez · 04-29-2008, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

I had some terrible professors in my time.
When I was at Rutgers we had this lady for some advanced math course, they just took her straight from Bell Labs. She was probably a brilliant, accomplished person, but she was rubbish as a teacher.
The 1st day she literally just walked in, said nothing, and started writing on the board. Everyone kinda looked around and then furisouly began copying what she wrote on the board. I failed that class and I am pretty sure I know why. It's a bad sign when 75% of the class doesn't show up and then on exam day the class is overflowing with people sitting on the floor and around the edge of the room because there are not enough desks. All we could do was to rate the professor poorly at the end of the course.

What math was it?

I can't imagine not going to class for something like math

motivez · 04-29-2008, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by 7960

1. calc ii was easier than calc i.

I guess a lot depends on how they break it up, around here calc II is the one people have trouble with, calc III is supposed to be a breeze compared to it. Calc I you either get or you don't, but you can get it and still do bad in II.

Originally Posted by 7960

2. nobody knows what kind of grades kids in his class are getting. he doesn't have to report them to anyone.

Really? I'm very surprised by that..

Originally Posted by 7960

if this guy is a good guy but a shitty teacher you could use that as your way of leveraging a better grade. I'm not too proud to say I guilted a prof or two into raising my grade. I found out in my last semester that i wasn't going to graduate because I was missing an english elective. I took it at night at a college that was about 90 minutes away, so twice/week I drove the 3hr round trip. At the end I told the prof why I was taking the class and asked if I could skip the final. He asked me what I needed in order for the grade to transfer and count toward graduation and i told him and I got a half grade higher, even thought I skipped the mandatory final.

If he's a good guy you could work that angle. If not, there's nothing you can do.

I like him outside of class, but I don't think he's going to care all that much about moving my grade.. maybe if he taught humanities or something

If there was a curve, it'd be a non issue

7960 · 04-29-2008, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

What math was it?

I can't imagine not going to class for something like math

I had a diff equations prof who wrote with the chalk in one hand and an eraser in the other. He'd walk and write and erase all at the same time, then walk back to the left and start again. He didn't talk the entire semester...just wrote. In fact I don't think he even looked at us. He'd come in, write, and leave and the TA would answer questions as best he could.

motivez · 04-29-2008, 05:01 PM

That's just crazy really. DiffEQ is the other class, but he hasn't covered so many of the topics we were supposed to, and the ones he has, he has done poorly.

7960 · 04-29-2008, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

I guess a lot depends on how they break it up, around here calc II is the one people have trouble with, calc III is supposed to be a breeze compared to it. Calc I you either get or you don't, but you can get it and still do bad in II.

calc i is "chain rule chain rule chain rule!" and calc ii is "oh, remember all that time you wasted? Here's the shortcut."

Really? I'm very surprised by that..

not until the end of the semester, but even then they'll probably just collect his grades and never look at them unless there's a problem. I highly doubt they'd do any analysis to see if too many people failed or passed.

I like him outside of class, but I don't think he's going to care all that much about moving my grade.. maybe if he taught humanities or something

If there was a curve, it'd be a non issue

you're screwed.

motivez · 04-29-2008, 05:07 PM

Yeah. I guess I'll just have to explain the aberration on my transcript.

Although I'm guessing schools don't really want to hear it was the professors fault.

7960 · 04-29-2008, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

Yeah. I guess I'll just have to explain the aberration on my transcript.

Although I'm guessing schools don't really want to hear it was the professors fault.

You won't have a chance to explain it...they'll either ignore it, accept it, or reject you because of it. I doubt you'll ever be asked about it.

IminWonderland · 04-29-2008, 06:22 PM

I think you should make an appointment with this Prof, and address your concerns with him privately.

Then nail him on your review of the class (we do them at my school at the end of the semester).

If you speak with him and he isn't open to either inflating your grade, or better performance, then I would take to the Department Chair. Make an appointment.

But, be prepared for the Chair to defend the Prof. It's a club.

7960 · 04-29-2008, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

But, be prepared for the Chair to defend the Prof. It's a club.

they get hundreds of complaints each semester.........*most* of them are kids who don't do the work bitching about getting a shitty grade. Those kids fuck it up for the ones with a legit complaint. IMO it's not so much a club as it is unjust complaining from piece of shit kids who are getting the grade they earned.

motivez · 04-29-2008, 09:17 PM

Well, it's a relatively small school and I actually had the Dept Head for Calc I (My final average in their class was a 99.7), I'm on campus usually before they are, so I mean, they know me and know I work hard and that I'm not one of the people complaining just to complain

I'm really more worried about how to start the conversation about it.

7960 · 04-29-2008, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

I'm really more worried about how to start the conversation about it.

Whatever you do, make it about YOU. Do not drag "everyone in class thinks" into it. You can peripherally mention you think other kids who did well before are doing as poorly as you, but as soon as you start down the "everyone in class" road he's going to tune you out.

Come in with three specific examples. NEATLY write down EXACTLY what the guy writes on the board so you can slide it across the table so the dept head can see EXACTLY what you're dealing with. Vague "he doesn't explain stuff well" isn't going to fly. I'd go so far as to snap a pic of the board when you know

-he's struggling
-he's got his back to you
-what he wrote is wrong.

Bring that pic, blowed up so the dept head can clearly see how this guy is fucking up. Make your case, present your picture/notes, say something to finalize your argument like "I'm studying from the notes he's giving and getting 60s because of it and it's not right." Then say "thank you for your time" and get up and leave.

You will NOT solve anything in the first meeting with the dept head. Chances are he's going to toss it all when you leave and never mention it. But there's a slim chance he'll have some professional integrity and get pissed that this guy is doing the math wrong and bring it to him........*SLIM*, but there's a chance.