malcha
Creepy Lit Critter, Undead Language Lover,
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 7,336
posting live from her FCFU
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« Reply #15 on: May 23, 2009, 02:24:08 PM » |
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If you have a good relationship with this person, have you tried just a polite e-mail to him? "I know you are on leave and busy, but I just wanted to let you know that it would be helpful for me to have my grades finalized in time to graduate this summer." Even if he's not in daily e-mail contact, surely he would get it in due course.
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bread_pirate_naan
Preposterous
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,255
softwears
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« Reply #16 on: May 23, 2009, 02:25:24 PM » |
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I would ask the admin if the pace will change the date on the diploma to one other than the rest of your cohort.
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In unrelated news, I'd like a slice of cake. --corny / It will go great. --jackalope
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scotia
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« Reply #17 on: May 23, 2009, 03:45:27 PM » |
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I would ask the admin if the pace will change the date on the diploma to one other than the rest of your cohort.
Given the rest of the cohort has already graduated, the date will be different anyway. It still sounds to me as though the administrators are not doing their job and that it needs to be kicked up the food chain. In my university, registry starts assuming that students have withdrawn if no grades are entered, so it does matter (I have just realized that this is something you should check frogfactory). If the grader is on sabbatical we usually have an agreement that they will grade things before the usual deadlines, and in any case for substantial pieces of work a second marker should be working in tandem: in extremis (the sudden death of a colleague) I have known the grade of a second marker and a check by the external to have been sufficient. |
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bread_pirate_naan
Preposterous
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,255
softwears
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« Reply #18 on: May 23, 2009, 05:30:52 PM » |
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I would ask the admin if the pace will change the date on the diploma to one other than the rest of your cohort.
Given the rest of the cohort has already graduated, the date will be different anyway. Ah yes, the extension. The date on my degree corresponds to the term the academic work was completed, not the completion of requisite paperwork. This may be a UK/USA difference I have misunderstood. |
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In unrelated news, I'd like a slice of cake. --corny / It will go great. --jackalope
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frogfactory
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« Reply #19 on: May 23, 2009, 11:01:15 PM » |
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It still sounds to me as though the administrators are not doing their job and that it needs to be kicked up the food chain. In my university, registry starts assuming that students have withdrawn if no grades are entered, so it does matter (I have just realized that this is something you should check frogfactory).
As I understand, the admin people at least know that I have met the deadline, so I don't think that should be a problem. Also, I have emailed the guy a few times before April/May, but he has a habit of ignoring emails. If the grader is on sabbatical we usually have an agreement that they will grade things before the usual deadlines, and in any case for substantial pieces of work a second marker should be working in tandem: in extremis (the sudden death of a colleague) I have known the grade of a second marker and a check by the external to have been sufficient.
That would be the sensible way of doing things. I think part of the issue is that this was the first year this MSc was offered, and the guy running it hadn't been in charge of a Master's programme before. It might be that he's not yet learned to delegate when it comes to his 'baby'. I appreciate all the input. I'm going to leave it at least another couple of weeks. |
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At the end of the day, sometimes you just have to masturbate in the bathroom.
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sciencephd
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« Reply #20 on: May 23, 2009, 11:06:24 PM » |
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What sort of graduate program is so competely in the hands of a single person ? I don't understand that at all.
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I just hate it that I constantly have to like everyone and everything. -- moonstone
O, what a hateful feminist concoction!
Jews, communists, "lesbians", feminists and marihuana addicts --Pyshnov
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frogfactory
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« Reply #21 on: May 23, 2009, 11:23:10 PM » |
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Me neither - I think it's pretty unusual. There is nominally one other person who is 'personal tutor' to half the cohort, but that's mainly a non-academic role. She also graded exactly one paper out of everything.
One other guy taught a brief stats module and graded a series of three exercises on that (although he also took his sweet time - the class was in the Michaelmas semester and the work wasn't returned until after Easter, and even that took pushing from the cohort. (Note - this wasn't a case of work being returned after a few months because that's how it was meant to be done. We were initially assured by him that it would be back to us a week or two after it was due in)).
Other than that, everything including grading, exams, field trips and organisation of guest lecturers has been down to this one guy. The whole thing was an organisational nightmare. I'm glad I've (probably) got a paper and a PhD placement out of it, but I nonetheless wouldn't recommend the programme to anyone else.
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At the end of the day, sometimes you just have to masturbate in the bathroom.
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expatinuk
Has spent over 1000 pounds but now holds a Brit passport!
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 6,564
From SC living in UK
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« Reply #22 on: May 24, 2009, 05:39:51 AM » |
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What sort of graduate program is so competely in the hands of a single person ? I don't understand that at all.
Not uncommon in the UK. A course leader is responsible for submitting all paperwork. Courses in the UK are not like an entire graduate program in the US. A course is usually made up of a cohort of 10-20 students. In the UK a full time MA is 1 calendar year... so a course leader deals with 10-20 students a year (no s/he doesn't teach all the classes). |
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Expatinuk seems to be a Soviet Satellite in stationary orbit over the UK
It is what it is.
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secretweapon
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« Reply #23 on: May 24, 2009, 06:52:21 AM » |
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Do you think this warrants a formal complaint to the university?
No. I am going to disagree and suggest that you at least contact the replacement (or acting) director of the program or even the department head, explaining that you are anxious to graduate in July and can they please chase up the grades. It is possible that someone else has been asked to do the grading and if they haven't, at this late stage they should be. Students should not be prevented from graduating because faculty take months to turn around grades. The OP is already in a Phd program and her CV will always show it. The slow professor is an attentive collaborator and writes letters on her behalf. I don't see why a formal complaint is warranted against such a person, especially when the delay has zero bearing on the Phd. I don't seen any substantial upside that outweighs risking multiple downsides, mainly alienating a desirable mentor. These are more or less my sources of doubt. I think you're right that these are more important considerations than my frustration with his turnaround time. I'm going to sit on it, I think. "Dear Professor Flakey, I hope this finds you well and enjoying your sabbatical. Things are going great here in New PhD programme. I just had a quick question for you: do you know whether I will be able to graduate in July? I'll need to know in the next week or two in order to book my transatlantic flights. I did speak to Administrator X; she said my grades aren't in yet, but she wasn't able to give me a definite answer on graduation. Thanks for your help! Frogfactory" |
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If you want a cookie, bake a cookie.
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frogfactory
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« Reply #24 on: May 24, 2009, 02:07:09 PM » |
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"Dear Professor Flakey,
I hope this finds you well and enjoying your sabbatical. Things are going great here in New PhD programme.
I just had a quick question for you: do you know whether I will be able to graduate in July? I'll need to know in the next week or two in order to book my transatlantic flights. I did speak to Administrator X; she said my grades aren't in yet, but she wasn't able to give me a definite answer on graduation.
Thanks for your help!
Frogfactory"
If I was intending to attend the ceremony, I'd certainly be worried about the cost of flights and pushing harder. But graduation ceremonies are BOOOOOORRRRRING, and I don't feel a particular sense of pride in the degree. The paper (touch wood), I'm more proud of. |
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At the end of the day, sometimes you just have to masturbate in the bathroom.
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sciencephd
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« Reply #25 on: May 24, 2009, 02:27:33 PM » |
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"Dear Professor Flakey,
I hope this finds you well and enjoying your sabbatical. Things are going great here in New PhD programme.
I just had a quick question for you: do you know whether I will be able to graduate in July? I'll need to know in the next week or two in order to book my transatlantic flights. I did speak to Administrator X; she said my grades aren't in yet, but she wasn't able to give me a definite answer on graduation.
Thanks for your help!
Frogfactory"
If I was intending to attend the ceremony, I'd certainly be worried about the cost of flights and pushing harder. But graduation ceremonies are BOOOOOORRRRRING, and I don't feel a particular sense of pride in the degree. The paper (touch wood), I'm more proud of. It doesn't matter if you go to the ceremony, the request is intended to leverage his feelings of guilt/responsibility in order to attain you goal. |
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I just hate it that I constantly have to like everyone and everything. -- moonstone
O, what a hateful feminist concoction!
Jews, communists, "lesbians", feminists and marihuana addicts --Pyshnov
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frogfactory
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« Reply #26 on: May 24, 2009, 02:44:19 PM » |
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I don't think lying to a collaborator in order to force his hand is very professional, especially as he'd certainly notice my absence at graduation.
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At the end of the day, sometimes you just have to masturbate in the bathroom.
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bacardiandlime
Ninja
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 3,144
That makes me more gangster than you
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« Reply #27 on: May 24, 2009, 02:50:43 PM » |
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I don't think lying to a collaborator in order to force his hand is very professional, especially as he'd certainly notice my absence at graduation.
Like he's going to be there. He's on sabbatical. Send the email as SecretWeapon suggested (but I'm guessing you get an Auto-reply saying "I'm in Costa Rica for the next decade"). Find out where he is, get a number and Call Him. That's often the only way to pin down email avoiders. Waiting five months to have your work marked and be approved to graduate is ridiculous. |
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YOU ARE NASTY
Go jump in lake!
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sciencephd
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« Reply #28 on: May 24, 2009, 02:55:34 PM » |
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I don't think lying to a collaborator in order to force his hand is very professional, especially as he'd certainly notice my absence at graduation.
You have quite a bit to learn about how things work, and what constitutes professional and unprofessional behavior. Based on your replies to this and other constructive suggestions, your post belongs on the validation thread. |
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I just hate it that I constantly have to like everyone and everything. -- moonstone
O, what a hateful feminist concoction!
Jews, communists, "lesbians", feminists and marihuana addicts --Pyshnov
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frogfactory
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« Reply #29 on: May 24, 2009, 04:18:32 PM » |
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I don't think lying to a collaborator in order to force his hand is very professional, especially as he'd certainly notice my absence at graduation.
Like he's going to be there. He's on sabbatical. Send the email as SecretWeapon suggested (but I'm guessing you get an Auto-reply saying "I'm in Costa Rica for the next decade"). Find out where he is, get a number and Call Him. That's often the only way to pin down email avoiders. Waiting five months to have your work marked and be approved to graduate is ridiculous. He's on sabbatical until the end of this month. I don't think lying to a collaborator in order to force his hand is very professional, especially as he'd certainly notice my absence at graduation.
You have quite a bit to learn about how things work, and what constitutes professional and unprofessional behavior. Based on your replies to this and other constructive suggestions, your post belongs on the validation thread. Probably, or the venting thread. |
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At the end of the day, sometimes you just have to masturbate in the bathroom.
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