tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post3865933978979913411..comments2024-03-15T01:11:32.832-07:00Comments on Bardiac: Summer Email, Student EditionBardiachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11846065504793800266noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-85484014950086060612007-07-31T19:24:00.000-07:002007-07-31T19:24:00.000-07:00We don't let incompletes go beyond one semester wi...We don't let incompletes go beyond one semester without a really, really compelling reason (usually major health crisis). Students are advised to take a withdrawal, if appropriate, and to retake the course during the next offering or choose something else with the help of their academic advisor.<BR/><BR/>When you mentioned this student was a teacher, I wasn't surprised. We have the greatest problem with completions by students who leave the program to take up teaching. That's such a demanding profession where the bulk of the work time precisely matches up with university term craziness that it's nearly impossible for any newly minted teacher to stay on top of matters.<BR/><BR/>I advise students to simply withdraw from the program if they're going to start teaching because I think we've had one student in the past sixteen years actually start teaching full-time and go on to finish their M.A.Ancaretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12043235152175550207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-9187175904168535852007-07-31T14:18:00.000-07:002007-07-31T14:18:00.000-07:00This is why my school has instituted a 1-year time...This is why my school has instituted a 1-year time-limit, with a conditional grade pre-assigned if a new grade is not assigned by the end of that year.<BR/><BR/>I, too, have taken a few Incompletes in my graduate career. My last one was for a class that I think I was doing mostly well in...until the final paper was due. My first topic was turned down (for no reason), so I chose a topic I was less-than-enthusiastic about. I was just starting the writing of the paper when one of the professors I worked for as a TA suddenly told me I had to have the 60 papers graded by the due date of this term paper. Since I only had 3 days to grade those papers [instead of 2 weeks], I asked for an extension on the paper due date and Incomplete in my own course.<BR/><BR/>In the end, I got writer's block on the paper, and as time passed I no longer saw its relevance to the course. I turned in a piece of crap by the 1-year time limit, and was graced with a B for the course. I took it and ran.<BR/><BR/>I think your thought of prodding her to see what has been done so far might be for the best. If she's done nothing, recommend she choose something simple, current, and that she can do quickly. Give her a time limit this time [if your U and department allows you to put that pressure on her], and just grade whatever she gives.<BR/><BR/>Now that I teach, I am becoming so aware of the issue of fairness [since I always get accused of NOT being fair when I apply the same policies to everyone equally without favoritism]. How is it fair that this student get YEARS to do a paper when everyone else did it in a semester?<BR/><BR/>As I have always told my friend Rebecca, sometimes you just have to shoot for a B!The_Mythhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10621186404597424842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17974015.post-70417704027319708942007-07-31T12:18:00.000-07:002007-07-31T12:18:00.000-07:00that's good advicethat's good adviceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com