I was enrolled in the class, EDD/574. I received a notice that I was autodropped from this class, for not posting enough. This happened, not only to me, but to several others in the class, as well. It appears that the computer autodropped us, for not posting two times in a week, even though the syllabus plainly stated that students were to post once per week.
This is a quote from the syllabus..
Attendance and Participation
You are expected to be in attendance all three of the scheduled weeks by posting a minimum of one post. Attendance is taken electronically.
So, now, several of us have been auto-dropped, for doing exactly what the syllabus told us to do. This class is apparently looked at as an "independent study class". From what I understand, it only meets one or two times in the "on campus" version. Therefore, when you read in the syllabus "post{ing} a minimum of one post", you take it for what it says. It makes perfect sense. Basically, the entire purpose for this class is to write the outline for your research project. The reason for posting is to ask any questions that you have. So, it makes perfect sense that one would only be required to post once per week, just to let someone know that you are still around, even if you have no questions. A syllabus is an official representation of the University of Phoenix. I understand, now, that this was perhaps an error in the syllabus. However, error or not, it is still what the students in the class saw. Error or not, it still is a representation of the University of Phoenix. And when the University of Phoenix does not stand by it, it only serves to make the University of Phoenix look bad.
I have received word that, despite the best efforts of both my academic counselor and the instructor from the class, University of Phoenix intends to do nothing about the situation. Look at the example that University of Phoenix is setting for its education students. What would happen if we, as teachers, were to make a mistake in our classroom, but then have the students pay the price for it? How long would we be able to hold a teaching position, if we did that? Not long. However, this is exactly the example that University of Phoenix is setting for its education students. As an example, look at one of University of Phoenix's students. What if that person had their own classroom and distributed a handout, containing instructions for an assignment. The instructions state that the students are to write a 500 word paper and turn in as part of their completed project. Of course, some of the students probably will write more anyway, so they are safe. However, some of the students write exactly 500 words. When the graded papers are given back, those students find they have made an "F". The reason is because the instructor _meant_ to say 5000 words, but accidentally left off the last zero. The students protest, but the instructor will not budge, because all previous classes have written 5000 words and because some of their classmates wrote that many words, as well. I am sure that the same people who made the decision to do nothing about our situation would gasp in horror and say that teacher should not be teaching anywhere. However, it is the same scenario. It is the example that University of Phoenix is modeling for us to follow.
When I first found out that nothing was going to be done, I was stunned that this was the way University of Phoenix conducted business. However, I finally managed to calm myself and begin to look at this as "a little break". I thought "So, I'll have to take the class over... Oh well, I have the work already done... All I'll have to do is just post "hi" two times each week and then send in the same outline. I can look at it like a little break." I managed to finally accept that it would now be another month before I would actually receive my degree, because of something that was not my fault. I managed to finally accept that I would be separated from several of the people I have become acquainted with during my classes, so far... People I have learned to work with... Despite the fact that University of Phoenix emphasizes over and over the importance of team work, and the importance of developing a working relationship with those people on your team. I finally managed to begin to "get over" that contradiction in policy and what is actually said.
However, today, I received yet another blow. I enrolled with the University of Phoenix because of the awesome claims they made about how nice it is to be enrolled with University of Phoenix and run a single parent household. I am a single parent. Because of the endless work that I do to meet my assignments for University of Phoenix, I have had to cut back in some other areas. Therefore, I use my loan check to help out with expenses, in places where I have had to cut back on income. Today, I found out that because I followed the syllabus... Because I did exactly what I was told to do... Because I was auto-dropped for that... Now my loan check will not be issued for another month. I simply will not have enough credit hours until then. "Why?" you ask. The reason is because I received 0 credit hours from that class. As a single parent, I had already budgeted, based on the previous dates that I had been told the check would be released. So, now the distress being caused is not only emotional, but financial, as well.
Both my counselor and my instructor for that class have done everything they can do to remedy the situation. They have no power to go any further, they have been told there is nothing that can be done. So, I have tried to call and talk to someone, who has more authority. I find out that students are not allowed to talk to people, who have authority. We are only allowed to talk to our counselors. So, we can't get anything done about this.
Michelle
Waynesville, North Carolina
U.S.A.
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