Tales From America's Covid Campuses

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

My son is a freshman in college and all of his classes are virtual, however he is in a dorm. He just called me freaking out because he missed one of the posted assignments for a class- it was on a tab that he didn't see. The university has said over and over that the professors are working with students if they have issues. So my son emailed the professor. Professor was sorry/not sorry. its a zero.

The kids were given no guidance on how to use the systems. Different professors are using different systems (some are canvas, some are McGraw-Hill).

I told him to chalk it up to a learning experience and he will have plenty of points he can get to make up for one zero. (and told him to feel free to email his advisor the response from the professor).

Its an odd time for sure.

Have him email the department chair, if he feels the need. The advisor is either another professor (peer) or a professional advisor who can't really do anything. Emailing the chair bucks it up the hierarchy to someone with the responsibility to gently remind the professor of the expectations.

Signed,
A Department Chair

[ForeverRoses]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

Have him email the department chair, if he feels the need. The advisor is either another professor (peer) or a professional advisor who can't really do anything. Emailing the chair bucks it up the hierarchy to someone with the responsibility to gently remind the professor of the expectations.

Signed,
A Department Chair

Thank you! I suggested that as well, but I refuse to helicopter and do it for him, so we will see what he does or doesn't do! It's a learning experience for everyone.

[Sciencewoman]

You definitely don't want to do it for him -- that would not be well-received, lol. If it's negligible points, I would chalk it up to a learning experience. My son did the exact same thing this week -- he missed an online quiz that was posted on Sunday and his professor stated in the syllabus that you have to check Blackboard every day because quizzes are posted for 24 hours and she won't re-post them. I suggested emailing his professor, just to let her know he was still figuring everything out and didn't intentionally blow off the quiz. Between hybrid, synchronous and asynchronous online, and some face-to-face, the schedules can be challenging to figure out.

[*winter*]

This is all very helpful to me since I’m going back to school online in January. And I tend to miss things like that all the time!