next »

[helpful]

I just heard from a colleague that, in a conversation with a (masters level) grad student, the grad student bad mouthed me. For some reason, this grad student identified me as a person who had criticized his work, when I know for a fact that it was another professor who had done so.

What should I do?

[yellowtractor]

Does this happen to be one of your grad students?  If so, a conference might be in order.  If not, I would probably ignore it.  Grad students who go around bad-mouthing faculty members are digging their own graves, slowly but surely.

[helpful]

Does this happen to be one of your grad students?  If so, a conference might be in order.  If not, I would probably ignore it.  Grad students who go around bad-mouthing faculty members are digging their own graves, slowly but surely.

Not mine, but I am on his committee. And even has never said anything to me about this.

[spork]

The student's actions, based on incorrect information, demonstrate a lack of maturity and a marked inability to determine the veracity of his assumptions.

If these traits show up in his work, you have the ability to evaluate him accordingly.

[yemaya]

Honestly, I'd ignore it.  Even when such things come from a reliable source, it's a little dicey to get into addressing an issue that you don't have first-hand knowledge of.  Also, given that this student doesn't even have his facts straight and doesn't sound is bad-mouthing a member of his committee about "criticism of his work," any attempt to correct the matter is probably not worth your energy.  He's clearly got maturity issues (as spork notes) and not very bright or politic.  I'd just sit back and let him hang himself.

[philoctetes]

I'm with yemaya, ignore away.

And on a more important note, aren't we paid to criticize student's work?

[helpful]

I'm with yemaya, ignore away.

And on a more important note, aren't we paid to criticize student's work?

Yes, but in an effort to be anonymous I soft pedalled what I was told the student said. "Criticize" was not the word he used. It was more like "trashed".

[acrimone]

I'd also point out that you're getting DOUBLE hearsay... what someone says someone told someone else.

There's a lot of room for perfectly innocent but extreme miscommunication there.

[adhoc]

I'd also point out that you're getting DOUBLE hearsay... what someone says someone told someone else.

There's a lot of room for perfectly innocent but extreme miscommunication there.

I agree with your last statement, but what do you mean by "double" hearsay?  The person reporting this to the OP was directly involved in the conversation in question.

[_touchedbyanoodle_]

I vote to ignore.

Did you not b*tch about any of your professors when you were a grad student? Of course you did. Now, breathe and let go. This doesn't sound like a big deal to me, but maybe I'm missing something.

[americanist]

I vote to ignore.

Did you not b*tch about any of your professors when you were a grad student? Of course you did. Now, breathe and let go. This doesn't sound like a big deal to me, but maybe I'm missing something.

But never to another professor. That's just bad form. Ignore it--if he is clueless enough to badmouth faculty to faculty, he'll shoot himself in the foot in some other way soon enough.

[helpful]

I vote to ignore.

Did you not b*tch about any of your professors when you were a grad student? Of course you did. Now, breathe and let go. This doesn't sound like a big deal to me, but maybe I'm missing something.

But never to another professor. That's just bad form. Ignore it--if he is clueless enough to badmouth faculty to faculty, he'll shoot himself in the foot in some other way soon enough.

My worry is that the colleague who told me what he had been told will tell other colleagues or even higher ups. My concern is that the student stated I was unprofessional in how I critiqued his work. (ie. using the word 'trashed" is not a professional way to supervise a student).

[yemaya]

I can understand why you'd be upset or worried.  That said, if the other colleague goes around telling other faculty members about this alleged "trashing," that doesn't say a whole lot for his professionalism.  I also have not met too many chairs who take things like that terribly seriously.  Unless the student makes a formal complaint, I would honestly still say let it go.  The fact is that you were not the one who "trashed" or "criticized" his work.  And, most consciencious grad students who are bothered by criticism will go to the committee member and attempt to have an adult conversation about the matter rather than p*ssing and moaning about it to another professor.

Given that you're concerned enough that you're posting here, it seems unlikely to me that you are someone whom your colleagues would believe is some unprofessional schmuck who "trashes" students.   If you leave it alone, it is likely that this will be dismissed as the rantings of a bratty crybaby student who needs to grow a pair and learn to take criticism. 

[larryc]

I would call him in and clear the air.  Ask for him to repeat, exactly and word-for-word, what he said. Let him squirm and sweat. Let him think that this might get him kicked out of the program. Your goal is to shock him to his senses and realize the depth of his unprofessionalism.

Once he is pale, shift to the good cop and tell him all is forgiven.

[bkhound]

I side with those who suggest letting it go. Grad students tend to get stressed out and to be sensitive to criticism. This one was probably just blowing off steam (albeit inappropriately). If it happens again, however, I would call him on the carpet. If he continues to be a complainer - that will become general knowledge and he won't have much credibility anyway.

On the other hand - word also gets around about difficult professors and grad students will avoid working with them. I'm sure this doesn't apply to you, helpful, but, if one wants to work with the best and brightest grad students, it pays to be nice to them. Also, it is wise for professors to keep in mind that grad students will one day be professors in the field (who, for example, may be on a search committee at a school where you have applied). If you step on the weak - we might bite you later!