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[ex_mo]

One of my favorite students just lied to my face. 

At my LAC, class size is small, but I have one class with only 4 students, all seniors, all majors.  We are "working together" (actually, they're working together, I'm directing them) on an applied project with a local agency.  They were assigned a specific task and were to upload their work to the LMS by yesterday.  Miss Major is in another class of mine, and after class today comes up to me and tells me that she was having trouble with the LMS and thus, wasn't able to upload her file.  She said she tried but was never given confirmation that the file uploaded.  Truth is, we've had some local trouble with our LMS in the last few days, so I said, OK, that's fine, just try again and also send it to me via email and I'll take it from there. 

See where this is going?

I just checked the LMS and she hasn't logged in to the class for a week. 

I find myself being angrier than I should be and wondering how (if at all) to address this.  I'm not so much angry that she didn't' finish the work.  I've stressed to these students that part of working collaboratively is honestly addressing deadlines.  So, if she was backed up and didn't get it done in time, all it takes is a quick email to everyone by the deadline saying, sorry, not quite done yet, should be done by XYZ time.  (Obviously, I won't tolerate repeat offenders to this policy).  I'm pissed that she would lie to me like that.

I know, because this student took it upon herself to tell me, that she is going through some pretty serious medical problems right now.  Think early detected cancer that requires a round of chemo.  So she's tired a lot and, it could be argued, had a perfectly good excuse for missing the deadline.  But to just lie to me, right to my face, when she knows that I can find out the truth with one mouse click, really irks me.

How should I address this with her?  WWTFD?

[dr_alcott]

I would be irked too, and I would absolutely call her out on it. Maybe something like this:

"Student, I believed you when you told me that you were having problems with the LMS. So I was really surprised when I noticed that you haven't even logged on for a week! Of course, this dishonesty is very unprofessional, and lying to a professor about your work is a violation of our Code of Conduct. And this makes it very unlikely that I'll be willing to extend any deadlines to you for the rest of the semester."

I would direct her to any relevant course policies (e.g. how to ask for an extension) to remind her how she should have handled this.

As for how to grade the assignment since she's going through a hard time, I might still accept it, but with a late penalty. But obviously you'd be justified in not accepting it at all.

[ex_mo]

The thing is, it goes beyond her grade.  The agency gave us a big document, and it was divided up between the students to go through and edit in a specific way.  Then, I'll take all of the edits and combine them and we can move forward.  So without her submission, we are stalled.  Its not the end of the world, because I'm really trying to stress to them that this is what happens when you do research "in the real world."  People get sick, other projects take precedence, cars break down, etc.  So sometimes we have to work with each other and things have to be a bit flexible.  Which is why I am doubly annoyed that she would lie!  I've set it up such that there is no reason at all to lie.  They agreed to the deadline, together, and agreed that if they got into it and weren't progressing as fast as they would have liked, they would be in touch and we would work with it.  All she had to do was tell me she was having trouble with it but that she expected to have it finished  by tomorrow (or whatever).  And within reason, that would have been fine. 

ARGH.  I need a drink. 

[brixton]

I might confront her face to face rather than a letter.  It's a small class, and unless you're planning on removing her from class, using it as a teachable moment might be wiser and could keep the chemistry in the class healthy and productive rather than possibly poisoning it with her misdeed.  I'd call her in and say I want to better understand what you meant by having trouble uploading your file.  If she repeats the lie, say, "You know it's odd.  I'm looking at the system and it looks like you haven't logged in at all."  If she starts digging towards another lie, say what you said below:  Something along the lines:  This all is really concerning to me... "I find myself being angrier than I should be and wondering how to address this.  I'm not so much angry that [you] didn't' finish the work.  I've stressed to these students that part of working collaboratively is honestly addressing deadlines.  So, if she was backed up and didn't get it done in time, all it takes is a quick email to everyone by the deadline saying, sorry, not quite done yet, should be done by XYZ time. The concern comes that I'm worrying about being able to trust you and that matters if I ever have to write you a recommendation."

Hopefully she'll look embarrassed and tell you why she lied, and you'll say I really don't want that to happen again.  Academic integrity is crucial... etc.

The advantage to this is you don't stay angry, which is never healthy or good.  She respects you because you gave her a chance to talk.  If she is a good student who had a moral lapse, it doesn't have to poison a relationship.  There might be a reason that she lied - she didn't want to let you down.; she was embarrassed that she waited till the last minute.; she forgot, and then when she saw you, she was embarrassed at her lapse.  Taking the educational angle, she might learn something, which is good too.  Finally it is what we're aiming for in this crazy business.

[zuzu_]

I might confront her face to face rather than a letter.  It's a small class, and unless you're planning on removing her from class, using it as a teachable moment might be wiser and could keep the chemistry in the class healthy and productive rather than possibly poisoning it with her misdeed.  I'd call her in and say I want to better understand what you meant by having trouble uploading your file.  If she repeats the lie, say, "You know it's odd.  I'm looking at the system and it looks like you haven't logged in at all."  If she starts digging towards another lie, say what you said below:  Something along the lines:  This all is really concerning to me... "I find myself being angrier than I should be and wondering how to address this.  I'm not so much angry that [you] didn't' finish the work.  I've stressed to these students that part of working collaboratively is honestly addressing deadlines.  So, if she was backed up and didn't get it done in time, all it takes is a quick email to everyone by the deadline saying, sorry, not quite done yet, should be done by XYZ time. The concern comes that I'm worrying about being able to trust you and that matters if I ever have to write you a recommendation."

Hopefully she'll look embarrassed and tell you why she lied, and you'll say I really don't want that to happen again.  Academic integrity is crucial... etc.

The advantage to this is you don't stay angry, which is never healthy or good.  She respects you because you gave her a chance to talk.  If she is a good student who had a moral lapse, it doesn't have to poison a relationship.  There might be a reason that she lied - she didn't want to let you down.; she was embarrassed that she waited till the last minute.; she forgot, and then when she saw you, she was embarrassed at her lapse.  Taking the educational angle, she might learn something, which is good too.  Finally it is what we're aiming for in this crazy business.

+1

[rebelgirl]

I hate to raise this, but OP, are you sure the medical issues aren't fabricated, too? Have you seen reliable documentation? I've caught students out lying about tragic tales of parental terminal illness, personal drastic illness, etc.  Lying by reflex - especially in this context, where you have a clear and generous policy about missing a deadline - is a character issue. 

[ex_mo]

Have I seen bona fide medical reports?  No.  But I can see that her hair is falling out.  And when her parents were on campus about a month ago for an event, I met them and they mentioned it.  And the DOS is in the loop, because she is an RA, so if it is a fabrication, it is really involved one. 

[rebelgirl]

That would certainly work as documentation in my world.  I'm sad for her, then.  You have good advice from others upthread re: how to talk to her - and you certainly should talk to her, maybe after taking tonight to process.  Brixton gave some great talking points.  Good luck with this.

[ex_mo]

It is sad.  I think a big part of it is that she is A Joiner.  She's involved all over campus in a lot of different things.  What's kind of funny is that she doesn't seem to me to be a hyper perfectionist (she's a solid B student, but isn't a grade grubber).  I think she got herself involved in too much and the health issues are, logically, dragging her down. It is probably hard for her to accept that it is taking a big toll on her.  I was just talking with her the other day about graduate school and the programs she would apply to and, yes, that I would be happy to write her a letter.  Gods love her, she wants to go into academic administration.  And I think she would be really good at it.  I just hope she makes it through this wrinkle. 

[dr_alcott]

One change I'd make in Brixton's talking points is that I would NOT say that "I find myself being angrier than I should be." That shifts the emphasis to your emotional response, and to its appropriateness. Try to be a neutral judge of her actions. (I'm not saying don't BE angry; I'm saying don't make your emotions the issue when you discuss this with the student.)

On preview, Ex_Mo, perhaps then you could also talk to her about the perils of taking on too much and the need to put her own health first.  Clearly this student (well, like all of them) deserves compassion.

[cc_alan]

One change I'd make in Brixton's talking points is that I would NOT say that "I find myself being angrier than I should be." That shifts the emphasis to your emotional response, and to its appropriateness. Try to be a neutral judge of her actions. (I'm not saying don't BE angry; I'm saying don't make your emotions the issue when you discuss this with the student.)

On preview, Ex_Mo, perhaps then you could also talk to her about the perils of taking on too much and the need to put her own health first.  Clearly this student (well, like all of them) deserves compassion.

+1

You might want to frame any discussion you have with her with respect to the client. This is not just about her actions and how they affect her performance. She's working with a group and if something really did come up that affected her ability to finish her part of the project, then she needs to be honest about it with her "coworkers". She has a bridge to mend with you if she wants that letter, too.

Alan

[questions]

I agree with much of the advice about the private conversation rather than email.

I would also agree with the suggestion to make the conversation more about her than you, and letting her explain what's going on. I would frame part of your talk as a question about who she wants to be vs. what her actions suggest. Sometimes it helps to walk people through their own agency.

[_touchedbyanoodle_]

I agree with much of the advice about the private conversation rather than email.

I would also agree with the suggestion to make the conversation more about her than you, and letting her explain what's going on. I would frame part of your talk as a question about who she wants to be vs. what her actions suggest. Sometimes it helps to walk people through their own agency.

Yes, this, absolutely. And, ditto to the previous advice to nix any discussion of your anger. That has no place in the conversation.

I think it's very important to find a neutral way to engage the student in a conversation about this transgression. The stress of illness can make people act out in strange ways. Maybe she just doesn't like admitting that cancer is affecting her life. It's irrational, but a lot of people respond to illness in that way.

Make sure you have tissues in your office for that conversation. She may be past due for a meltdown.

[voxprincipalis]

I just checked the LMS and she hasn't logged in to the class for a week. 

I find myself being angrier than I should be and wondering how (if at all) to address this.  I'm not so much angry that she didn't' finish the work.  I've stressed to these students that part of working collaboratively is honestly addressing deadlines.  So, if she was backed up and didn't get it done in time, all it takes is a quick email to everyone by the deadline saying, sorry, not quite done yet, should be done by XYZ time.  (Obviously, I won't tolerate repeat offenders to this policy).  I'm pissed that she would lie to me like that.

Are you absolutely sure that the LMS info is reliable?

Could some of the problems with the LMS have involved failure to register user activity? I have seen enough problems with LMS/CMS/whatever software that I no longer regard that data as gospel unless there are other supplementary indicators as well.

ARGH.  I need a drink. 

You are investing way too much in this. The student's actions, whether she was being truthful or deceitful, are not about you. And given that she has cancer, is undergoing chemo, and is experiencing all of the very stressful and unpleasant side effects of that, I wouldn't be surprised if right now she is making decisions out of fatigue, stress, and whatnot that she otherwise might not make.

Cut her some slack. Have a conversation that doesn't start off with "why did you lie to me?" but rather with "how are you doing? Is everything OK? I wanted to touch base with you about how you are doing balancing the course workload with your treatment plan and overall health." And if it comes out that she did lie about the LMS problem, respond with, "Oh, I wish you would have just told me. We could have arranged for you to turn the work in later. I would always rather hear the truth from you." And then you could go on and talk about the importance of honest communication in working with peers and clients.

I think flogging her at this point is both uncharitable and unnecessary.

VP

[scienceprof]

I am with VP in thinking you shouldn't automatically assume the student lied, since your LMS has been having problems. Maybe inability to log in, or to be recognized by the system, is the reason she couldn't upload.

So yes, have a conversation with her, but don't start at the position of assuming she lied.
And if she did, maybe focus on whether she lied because she felt overwhelmed, and what she can do about that, like un-joining some extracurriculars.  You might also talk about how missing deadlines negatively affects everyone in the group, an appeal more likely to produce change than a charge of unprofessionalism might be.