Shitty College Professors Options

[Voodoo-Lady]

Before I send a letter I've written regarding the shittiest instructor I've ever met in my life to the department dean, exactly how futile is it? The professor is tenured, which makes him untouchable, right? 15 other students have formally complained already, this semester alone, more than that have just dropped the course and walked away. His rating on Rate-Your-Professor testifies to his shitty reputation dating back as far as 2002, the same complaints over and over. Wish I'd known to consult this in advance. It's not only about protecting my 4.0 - I'd accept the opportunity to earn a B in this course just to be done with it but this sorry son of a bitch is FAILING EVERYONE. I'm not kidding. The average score on the first test was 62, the average on the second test was 49 ! He refuses to accept that his whole class failing (I'm not nearly the only honor student) is a direct reflection of his piss poor teaching skills. He responds that the deficit is in the students' "learning", which I would be inclined to agree since we're not 'learning' a goddamn thing, as evidenced - but what he means, he's quick to add, is that we're failing in our "responsibility" to learn. Again, this isn't a classroom full of flunkies or babes in the woods. Everyone I've spoken with has encountered tough professors, I know I have. This is beyond being tough. This is not challenging, its impossible. I dropped the class today, clearly there is no chance for me to succeed with this asshole.

I wouldn't wish this on anyone but if you've had a bad experience, do tell. Maybe I'll laugh about this someday, right now I could pinch his fucken head off !

[Voodoo-Lady]

I'm in a program so I had to see an administrator to withdraw from the course. She’s the one who advised I contact the dean, handed me his contact info and told me to get right on it, because each ‘attempt’ at a course is considered, even though only the best grade is factored for the GPA. My inclination had been to just deal, other students had complained, I wasn't going to but when I started to stew over it by composing that letter, my inclination shifted to piss and moan. I knew better than what I was told, which is why I started questioning the whole point of what I was doing – albeit in all the wrong regards once I got all riled up. Contacting the dean is not a matter of academic record even if attaching a reason to an attempt mattered which it doesn’t, it’s all about my numbers, which again are not affected. Bitching was an unnecessary distraction, shouldn’t have done. I mentioned to the administrator today that I have no intention of taking this further and she conceded her advice was based on “If it were me, I’d feel better backing myself up like that” Yeah, I felt better getting all bent about it. I know her intentions were good. Ah well. I’d be embarrassed if I were the only one who had to live to learn my real world lessons.

I have enjoyed the necessary distraction of this board though. It’s been awhile. Thanks y’all