possible problem with a professor... need advice

[Elok]

Originally posted by Asher
The problems here are numerous:

1) Philosophy professors are all douches

Not true. The head of my college's philosophy dept. is an incredibly mellow Mahayana Buddhist who, incidentally, looks a lot like late actor James Coburn. He walks around wearing a leather headband, talking in a very soft voice, and telling wacky stories. He's very flaky, certainly, but I can't see how you could call him a douche. Mr. Rogers was a douche compared to him.

Also, the prof I had for Ethics (looks like Bob Sagett, oddly enough...there might be a rule that you have to look like a lesser-known actor to teach) had a very annoying laugh but was quite nice.

2) Philosophy professors get off on their feelings of superiority, thus the rigorous marking

Debateable, and this is a generalization. It's a very aristocratic subject, and the complexity of the material varies greatly. Frankly, anyone who can understand WTF Hegel was talking about has a right to be snooty. Aristotle, on the other hand, just took waaaay too many words to express simple concepts, thereby making them sound incredibly rigorous.

3) Philosophy is an artsy-fartsy subjective course. There's no right or wrong.

Go talk to the department head/dean. In my experience they're happy to hear from students -- it's their job.

There's no right or wrong in terms of conclusions--provided you can back them up from the source material employed, or in the case of assertions of your own philosophy can explain it well and defend it from criticisms. A lot of people suck at both of those things. I suspect Sava's not one of those people, provided the topic isn't "Philosophy of the Republican Party" or something.

As for actual advice, aside from going to the dean I can't give any either. Without knowing the prof in question, any advice I give could very well be counterproductive. But you do have my sympathy, for what it's worth (nothing, I guess).

[Imran Siddiqui]

Sava, if the prof doesn't listen, I'd go to the Dean with all your graded work... and explaining the story of the final.

[reds4ever]

I take it being made a 'Professor' in the USA is easier than in the UK?

[Jon Miller]

No, it is really really hard. Which is why this guy is at a junior college, where you don't even need a PhD I think.

Jon Miller

[reds4ever]

So how does it work in the USA, wiseguy?

[chequita guevara]

Follow DanS's advice.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Elok
But you do have my sympathy, for what it's worth (nothing, I guess).

Not so. Moral support is always worth something.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by reds4ever
So how does it work in the USA, wiseguy?

To be a professor, you almost always need a PhD. Then, generally there is 3-8 years of post doctoral work. This is for research universities. For liberal arts colleges and teaching universities, generally only 2 years of post doctoral work or a couple years being a visiting professor is needed.

Then for research universities there is generally 5+ years of intense research and publishing (but you must not shirk your teaching duties). If you do well enough, they give you tenure.

For liberal arts colleges and teaching universities, there is also a period of time before tenure, but in those cases research and paper publishing isn't the focus (although it is often nice). I think this period is also 5+ years.

For junior colleges I don't think there is tenure. Also, not much is required to be a professor... not even a PhD.

Jon Miller
(Of course, many places have a few people without a PhD:
these are generally lab instructors or teach in the performing arts, or other such things. Or just so badass that they needed to be hired no matter what)

[reds4ever]

Professor Mickey Mouse then.....;O)

[Jack_www]

I am not sure if anyone covered this, but almost all Junior Colleges and Universities have a grade appeal processes where you can appeal your grade. With what you have told everyone here I would say you have an open and shut case. I would just make sure you have a copy of all your assignments and other work just in case he decides to alter them before any procedings.

One quick side note:
Almost all Universities and Colleges have short days on Friday or not even open. I know this is stupid, but that is the way schools are. Never again assume that Fridays are the same as other days.

[Eli]

Damn, I keep confusing between Sava and Serb. I just wasted a whole minute wondering WTF a Lewis University is doing in Russia.

[KrazyHorse]

Almost all Universities and Colleges have short days on Friday or not even open.

Errr....no.

[TCO]

Sava, man. I thought this story was going to end with you whining about a B. When I heard that the guy is marking you down to a C, that is unreasonable. I think you should make your case for a B to this guy and if he assigns a C, you should escalate.

Missing the TH/F exam period is unfortunate. I know you didn't intentionally blow it off, but it is still your fault (again...unfortunately).

When you escalate, I would not mention the "tough grading" on the other papers. It is what it was. The guy is actually holding some standards up. It does you no good to whine about that or how that compares to your other slack classes. When discussing the late final, I would just explain the unfortunate problem with not knowing the F hours. Take responsability that it was your mistake, but emphasize that it was not purposeful.

[KrazyHorse]

I recommend bringing a thermonuclear device to the meeting. Something small, like 1 MT or so. By itself, not too frightening. But it suggests that maybe you have something really powerful tucked away somewhere, and you might not be the right guy to mess with.

Simple, and not overstated. Couldn't fail.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
I recommend bringing a thermonuclear device to the meeting.

Raven