Question about teacher ethics in college class.

[TNDemo]

I am in a state community college nursing program. Last semester was chaotic and unorganized and we were worked to death but it was survivable. This semester has been amazingly awful. The teachers don't want to teach (we are having to learn pharmacology on-line and we are all failing and they don't want to lecture in nursing, just occasionally, and other times put us in small groups to discuss, etc.) and it is like a police state where if we dare to go out of the chain of command (they are first in the chain so basically any complaint stops there) with an issue we will be fried. We are a bunch of people in our 30s and 40s who are serious about getting an education but we are being greated like juvenile delinquents. I began to suspect there were ethical issues with this bunch but everyone is afraid to say anything. We had already heard from a student friendly instructor (one of the few) that there was a "hit list" of students to get rid of so we are all just trying to keep our head down and not get shot.

We had a lecture exam last week. The teacher and her "bouncer" (a new old battle-ax instructor whose job is apparently to intimidate us so we won't bother the main teacher) were super-nice handing out the exam and smirking like cheshire cats. I kept thinking "they've got a plan" but I had no idea what. The results were posted to our individual computer accounts a week ago and the two lowest achieving students (who had failed previously and were there by the skin of their teeth the second time) made A's (which are almost unheard of in nursing school). About 1/3 to 1/2 of the rest of the class failed. Today we got to review the tests. Four different people (who got good grades but not the two I mentioned previously) told me that a number of their wrong answers had been erased and the correct one penciled in on the bubble sheet. They obviously did not want to complain about their grades being up but wondered about it. I am not sure any of the ones who failed had theirs monkeyed with. Our conclusion is that they wanted to up the average for the test and picked a few to help that along.

What do we do with this information? It would involve the ones it happened to coming forward and if they do they will be black-balled and made miserable until they leave the program. The teachers can always say they didn't do it, that the student must have forgotten what answer they picked.

I have a bachelor's from back when and have attended several colleges but I have never been in a situation where I suspected unethical grading. If other colleges are like this then no wonder they can't get nurses educated.

[Radical Activist]

1. Sounds nuts

The way most colleges work is pretty unhealthy. Department Chairs and Deans need support from the professors to keep their position and they usually cover eachother's backs. Higher-up administrators don't usually interfere, even when something is wrong.
If your college has some kind of Ombudsman or Academic Affairs board with authority over the entire college then I would go there. But, be sure you have solid proof before you do. Otherwise they'll all say they defer to the dean/department/professor and you'll be SOL.

[TNDemo]

12. Solid proof is the problem.

I can see that the teachers would say they did not change anything. It's been a week or so since the test and the students must have forgotten what they put. I have no idea how to document anything.

[Fleshdancer]

2. along with your fellow classmates, document everything

Type up a letter detailing the numerous problems, unanswered requests, signs of possible cheating...everything. Copy a letter for every person in the chain of command going all the way to the head of the Nursing dept as well as the Dean of the college. The more people know about it, the bigger chance you have of fixing the problem. Keep documenting the responses you get from the letter as well just in case you need to go to your local news channel. :)

Also, I bet your state has a nursing association that could offer some advice as well.

Good luck and remember that you are paying for a service. You have every right to demand accountability and ethical practices.

[TNDemo]

13. One good thing is that we just had the top student

drop in frustration. She went in a very organized manner to her exit interview and laid it out. So at least one person has told the director but we are held by the "chain of command" thing about going to her. This was never a big issue until this semester when it was hammered home beyond belief.

[Heddi]

3. Wow. I'm in nursing school too

I graduate with my RN in June.

Sounds like your program is completely different from mine. Our instructors are so helpful and when we go over tests, we go over them as a group. You have your scantron which gives you your official grade, but your own copy of the test that you circle the answers you chose so that when we go over the test, you can see what you got wrong and what you got right.

Do they do that for you as well? If so, you should be able to look at your answers that you circled on the sheet versus what answers were marked on the scan-tron.

I know you have fear of reprisal from your teachers. Is there a department head that you can go to? It seems that not only are they unethical in their treatment of you all in a one-on-one interaction way, but unethical in possible grading and unethical in not allowing you to go above them--our school has a clear policy with regards to that, and it states unequivacobaly (totally spelled wrong!) that it's suggested that you follow the chain of command, but if you do not feel comfortable doing that, you have the right to go above them to resolve issues.

Look in your student handbook or your college's policy on resolutions. You should not have to fear your teachers, or fear reprisal or low grades (which is also unethical) if you complain about them.

Another option you have is to contact your state board of nursing or whichever state agency oversees the nursing education for your state. I'd assume that your teachers are nurses (ours have to be), and I know in my state, unethical behaviour in the classroom is just as bad as unethical behaviour on the hospital floor. Let them know your concerns and see if they have any solutions for you. Be honest with them--and be anonymous as well. Tell them that your teachers are not preparing you for your NCLEX, they are not upholding their end of the bargain as outlined in your handbook/syllabus, and that you have good reason to feel that test grades are being altered to raise the class grade, and that you know of students who have had their wrong answers changed to right answers.

Sorry you're having to go through this. I think bad nursing schools are just as much to blame for the nursing shortage as anything else. I've heard horror stories (tho not to the level of yours) from friends in my state who attend other nursing schools: teachers being unhelpful and unavailable, not willing to work with students, not willing to explain things in a different way to help convey a point, etc. My teachers are great and do whatever is necessary to get us to work at the level they know we can. Their main concern is to turn out well-educated, well-qualified new graduate nurses.

Last quarter's NCLEX pass rate was 99%. The quarter before (and for the last 2 years) was 100% pass for first-time NCLEX test takers.

Why would these people be nursing instructors if they hate nursing students so much???

[TNDemo]

4. Last semester we circled the answers on the answer sheet

and also bubbled in the scantron. This semester they told us we could write on the booklets if need be but don't put our names on them or circle answers because we won't get them back. We did get to review them today for 10 minutes in silence, could ask no questions but could go individually to them at another time. This semester's teachers are a different bunch from last semester. I never thought I would look back fondly at that semester. This semester they also said absolutely no tape recording (don't want any proof). The problem with all of this is that it is so hard to prove. I don't know why we are the enemy except that last semester the class challenged them on their teaching of a couple of things and one time a girl blew up and called one of them a bitch and we suspect this is why we are being treated so harshly. I and my classmates are just about ready to say screw it altogether to nursing. I am not sure it is worth this crap. Thankfully I have a good clincal instructor (they go through those like water too) and am learning there. I actually think part of this is related to the NCLEX rate. They do like to eliminate those who won't pass on the first try and we actually have a pass rate in the 90s somewhere but there are so few people who can make it through the whole program. It's a good thing we are a stable bunch or we would be looking for a rifle and a tower. I think the basic issue with these teachers is that they are lazy and don't want to be held accountable.

[Heddi]

5. Wow. They don't even let you tape???

I think I'm one of just a few people in my class that DOESN'T have a tape recorder. It's the big thing in our program.

I'm in 5th quarter of a 6 quarter program. Our program has the ability to "weed out" those that probably won't pass the NCLEX by requiring we take an ATI exam which tests NCLEX readiness. We do this 2x's in the program:

Once, at the end of 4th quarter (when we're eligible for LPN licensure). You have to have an overall 80 average in the nursing program to advance to 5th quarter. In addition to having an overall 80, you have to take this ATI exam which is pretty much just like the NCLEX. You have to get above 60% on the ATI as well as an overall 80% average in previous classes to get into 5th quarter.

If you make below a 60% on the ATI exam, you have to take an NCLEX-prep class where you read a whole bunch of pamphlets, then take the ATI again. If you don't score above 60% the second time, you have to repeat 4th quarter.

They do it again in 6th quarter--you have to have at least a 75% in 6th quarter and pass your clinical part. Then you have to get 60% or more on the ATI, and go through the whole re-learning and re-taking the test again if you get below 60%.

When I took mine, I got 67% which meant that I had a 98% chance of passing the NCLEX=PN exam if I took it, which I didn't do.

Move out to washington and go to nursing school with me. They'll treat you right :-)

BTW--not that it matters, but is this a 2-year ADN program, or a 4-year BSN program?

I would argue the no-taping part. I see that as being absolutely INSTRUMENTAL to learning. How can you take so many notes and expect to get EVERYTHING? I'm a great note-taker and pretty much take dictation instead of notes, but I still miss alot. You can totally see the difference in grades between those that tape and those that don't tape.

I know that in our school, the nursing program has the same classroom rules and regulations as the general college does. I'd approach someone and suggest that since taping is allowed in, say, Chemistry, then it should be allowed in Nursing, and that it's unfair that Nursing students are put at a disadvantage as far as note-taking goes, but Chemistry students are not.

Is there a written policy about any of this? If not, demand that there be one. I'd be interested to know if the head of the nursing department knows about all of this stuff. If there's no policy of "No tape recorders in class", then I don't see how they could enforce an unwritten policy, or how they could punish someone for breaking a policy that isn't so much policy, but personal preference.

[no name no slogan]

6. If you can, vote with your feet

Enroll in another program at another college, if possible. Even the smallest towns in this country have several colleges within commuting distance. Deprive them of your tuition-- and encourage your fellow students to do the same. Somebody will notice if enrollment drops off precipitously.

If all else fails, go right to the top. Write the chancellor directly. Or better yet, get your fellow students together and go to his office en masse. If there's a dozen of you waiting at her/his office with a complaint about the program, they will definitely take notice.

Best of luck to you.

[TNDemo]

11. The problem is that there is a waiting list a mile long.

Took me two years to get through it. It's the cheapest way to an RN and there will always be somebody waiting to take your place. The problem seems to be retention once in the program. I used to think it was because it was an academically challenging program and it is but that is not what is driving a lot away - it's this kind of crap.

[ismnotwasm]

7. Is this a new program?

Community colleges everywhere are desperately trying to pick up the slack to fill the nursing shortage.(A couple of the problems being lack of instructors and lack of clinical sites)ADN programs, LPN to RN programs, then an university accelerated ADN to BSN program --stuff like that. Some of these programs are very new, and difficult to run. Things like what you're desribing do NOT help nursing, nurses or patients, and we need you.

What you're putting up with is not ethical, and I would report it to the dean, as well as the nursing director. The teachers can say what they want--they have to keep records, for several years if I recall correctly. If you need to, write an anonymous letter. But don't tolerate this bullshit. There should be a student union. Get them involved if you have to. Usually there is a evaluation form at the end of each class. (Like Heddi, I graduated in Washington state, maybe it's different) Let them have it on these evaluations.

Nursing school has a history of "eating their young" and it sounds like a bad case of that to me. Nursing has evolved over the years into an science, an art, a highly respected profession and encompasses all aspects of health, including prevention. The possibilities are endless, and I just hate hearing this bullshit. Go get 'em.

[TNDemo]

10. No - it's at least 20 years old. Maybe more.

We always got evaluation forms for our professors here until I got into the nursing program. The only ones we got to evaluate were the clinical instructors, who usually only last a semester or so before quitting in frustration. Last semester I mentioned to my advisor that we did not get a chance to do an evaluation and was told to quietly call the office and ask for it to be sent. I was in finals at the time and just didn't get to it. And last semester's issues seem to pale in comparison to now. Our program has really shrunk in the number it is graduating. Maybe it is just less work for the teachers, who get paid the same regardless.

Just for curiosity, I looked up the licensure of some of these folks and on one of them it stated they had applied to be a nursing home director and the application was denied. Why would the state deny licensure for that? I know the educational requirements were there.

[ismnotwasm]

15. Eww

Geez, It sounds like a tough spot. Still, If that is going on, and the program is that old, that kind of stuff CAN make the school lose it's accedidation. We have one community college here in Seattle, that has nearly lost it's addredidation several times.

It sounds like a program wide problem, the only thing I can think of is going to the dean, or even contacting the board of nursing in your state with your concerns. I thought those evaluations were a requirement for the teachers, I don't know the state to state stuff. Odd stuff going on, to be sure.

As far as director for a nursing home, possible the candidate did not have the long-term expericence needed, who knows? You need a different degree or certificate for Director, but it sounds like they had one.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

8. Rate My Professors . com

http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/index.jsp

Sign your school up here, apply to be the aite administrator.
Download RMP posters at Q & A.
Print out unfavorable Professor ratings and post them where the Profs. and administrators are sure to see them.
$tudent$ ARE the University!
No school ever closed for want of teachers and administrators.

Good luck.

[TNDemo]

9. I just went to this site

and my school is there with a long list of professors but not the nursing professors. If I write to add their names on there this moderator (a student) will know who I am. How can I stay anonymous?

[Heddi]

14. I'll sign up for you

PM me the school info & teacher info and I'll do it. THey don't know me from jack shit :D

[izzybeans]

17. This is probably a waste of time. This site gets spammed by angry students

all the time who are mad about grades. Or pet students sign up and provide glowing reviews of crappy profs. Most admins. find it amusing at best.

Make sure course evaluations are heavily detailed in terms of your grievances. This is the only administrative tool that a PTL would have for promotion, reappointment, or tenure.

Community colleges are in the business of getting tuition, if they fear you will transfer because of the quality of their teachers they will do something about it. But there has to be a formal complaint process listed in the student handbook. Create a coalition of students with the same complaint and file it collectively.

[izzybeans]

16. Break the chain of command. Take all the evidence to the Dean

and kindly suggest that if nothing is done about this situation that he will likely be hearing from a local reporter.

This is academic fraud and the persons teaching this class should be fired. If there are enough people who feel this is true, then the Dean will be forced to investigate. You might suggest a neutral observer who should grade the exams.

Even without the "monkeying" with the exams it sounds like the college is having some serious troubles.

[TheBaldyMan]

18. welcome to the real world

believe it or not you have always been able to graduate if you come from the right background, some graduate with an honours degree with only a passing familiarity with their subject.

If your face fits and your instructors approve of you personally it's much easier to graduate.

I've had a similar problem in the past where the rules were changed so the dept. could fail me because I was passing my exams. If it had been a place of work it would be called constructive dismissal. I had heard previously that there was a hit list with certain students' names on it and they were going to be out the next year. As things turned out it was not only true but my name was one of those on the list.

Guess my face just didn't fit.