tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post2900191598056212892..comments2024-03-25T02:33:41.590-05:00Comments on FemaleScienceProfessor: Bed Bugs v. GrandmaFemale Science Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-57337722337041180682010-11-01T08:13:02.835-05:002010-11-01T08:13:02.835-05:00A long time ago when I was grading homeworks I got...A long time ago when I was grading homeworks I got one handed in late, and attached to it a note from a doctor about contusions and such, and an X-ray!<br />Talk about overdoing it...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-44519376094166749292010-10-25T17:55:54.030-05:002010-10-25T17:55:54.030-05:00I am going to have to take points off for that IKE...I am going to have to take points off for that IKEA comment. The chair is not from IKEA. Just because this comment is irrelevant to the exam question doesn't mean I can't take off for an incorrect statement. These lost points might be offset, however, by the extra credit awarded for your saying my cats are gorgeous.Female Science Professorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15288567883197987690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-67499114719794241942010-10-25T17:47:18.039-05:002010-10-25T17:47:18.039-05:00Your cats are gorgeous. They look like they are al...Your cats are gorgeous. They look like they are also enjoying an ikea poang- my cat is obsessed with ours. He jumps all over it, perches on the top, bites the leather straps, and also lies on floor pieces as if attending a faculty meeting.Candid Engineerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01722793931639972423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-28716692613317215632010-10-24T20:13:48.840-05:002010-10-24T20:13:48.840-05:00I have the same excuse policy- believe them all an...<i>I have the same excuse policy- believe them all and have the same positive attitude regardless of whether I think they're lying out their teeth. Honestly, it has made my life much easier to stop worrying about whether I'm being biased when I judge their excuse.</i><br /><br />It's nice that the students don't have to worry about whether bias will work against them either. Sometimes you just can't stand having a professor put your personal problems under their judgmental scrutiny, and sometimes even if you <i>could</i> stand it there might be negative consequences down the line. Sexism, ableism... there have been very valid reasons I've not wanted to give the "real" (or complete) reason for my absence to a professor.Bagelsannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-87008900694748455002010-10-24T09:53:22.077-05:002010-10-24T09:53:22.077-05:00Anon 10/23, 10:20am:
Anyone can get bedbugs - th...Anon 10/23, 10:20am: <br /><br />Anyone can get bedbugs - they are not associated with being "disadvantaged". Jeez - get out of the ivory tower much?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-73993044835019044852010-10-23T10:20:10.027-05:002010-10-23T10:20:10.027-05:00This is my first semester teaching, and I borrowed...This is my first semester teaching, and I borrowed a more senior colleague's policy of not giving makeup exams no matter the excuse -- I just substitute the final exam grade for the lowest test grade during the semester. I'm not sure if this has lessened the number of excuses I've been given anyway, which includes the deaths of grandparents, breast lump biopsy (of the student), military drill exercise with the student's reserve unit (I wrote a letter and got his drill exercise postponed instead of the other way around), court appearance, car theft, student's birthday and mother visiting (tests aren't fun!), and those are just the ones I remember off the top of my head. Surprisingly, no bed bugs, even though I'm at an urban campus with a high percentage of students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-67621632539465940352010-10-22T19:20:50.783-05:002010-10-22T19:20:50.783-05:00I haven't gotten bed bugs as an excuse but act...I haven't gotten bed bugs as an excuse but actually had them in my NYC apartment (or rather, my future husband's apt). It was a week I'll never forget- we washed everything made of fabric and boxed up all his belongings. All while I suffered swollen red welts on most of my body. So that excuse I'll take any day!<br /><br />I have the same excuse policy- believe them all and have the same positive attitude regardless of whether I think they're lying out their teeth. Honestly, it has made my life much easier to stop worrying about whether I'm being biased when I judge their excuse. Not to mention it meets my new university's official policy that gives a long list of excuses for tests and requires me to give them all makeup exams, no questions asked.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-66377557630671650902010-10-22T17:51:36.884-05:002010-10-22T17:51:36.884-05:00I had the following when I taught:
1) Student who ...I had the following when I taught:<br />1) Student who missed class in order to go to the hospital when her friend was giving birth<br />2) Student who missed class and an exam because her boyfriend's mother died. They are married now, but at the time, it seemed a little odd.<br />2) Student who had a panic attack during my exam. He jumped up out of his seat, ran out of the classroom, and fell on the floor in the hallway. We called the paramedics immediately, but when he was able to speak, he told me he'd been seeing a counselor for anxiety. But it's not like you can announce that to a classroom of students who now think that my exam was SO difficult that it caused the panic attack. Under direction from my chair, I had to write another exam and give it to those who wanted to take it (all but one in the class took the exam over).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-43918187905046608182010-10-22T16:42:06.018-05:002010-10-22T16:42:06.018-05:00My cousin is at UCLA. Her grandmother died about 3...My cousin is at UCLA. Her grandmother died about 3 weeks ago, and a week or 2 ago, she was evicted from her dorm due to bedbugs. I am NOT making this up!Lesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01015353387009923240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-35620550222642320952010-10-22T16:28:50.451-05:002010-10-22T16:28:50.451-05:00I believe all the excuses, but I don't give ma...I believe all the excuses, but I don't give make-up exams. We just add the weight of the midterm to the final exam. It seems to do a pretty good job of keeping the grandparents alive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-52127374374753021332010-10-22T15:54:08.927-05:002010-10-22T15:54:08.927-05:00That is clearly a meeting. No faculty here, but my...That is clearly a meeting. No faculty here, but my cat (who could be related to your two cats) does that exact same position as the cat on the right. I suspect she's about to lead a board meeting as she gives me an impatient look indicating I'm late in getting the minutes started for her meeting.FrauTechhttp://frautech.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-76245622583835225452010-10-22T15:52:49.650-05:002010-10-22T15:52:49.650-05:00I'm an undergrad, so I don't have any stud...I'm an undergrad, so I don't have any students to talk about, but I did have a professor refuse to give me an extension after I was in the hospital on suspicion of appendicitis (it wasn't that, but it took a couple days and some painkillers to clear up). The health center sent out a note and everything.<br /><br />Just giving the extensions seems like the safer route to me, because after all, if the students get behind they'll suffer anyways, even though they got to turn everything in.PhysicsUndergradnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-86311071407319401702010-10-22T14:10:49.256-05:002010-10-22T14:10:49.256-05:00I had a professor who claimed that about 10% of st...I had a professor who claimed that about 10% of students' grandmother died each time he gave an exam. This meant that, since he gave a midterm and a final for each course, if you took five courses from him your grandmother was virtually guaranteed to die.Caseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17372833052684999655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-64302185325146721552010-10-22T13:23:45.394-05:002010-10-22T13:23:45.394-05:00Pagan Topo: FAIL. One cat's eyes are open, eve...Pagan Topo: FAIL. One cat's eyes are open, even if the cat looks a little blank. Unless you can present research showing that cats sleep with their eyes open, only 50% of the cats are asleep. 50% might also be your grade, unless you can get partial credit for writing your answer in a complete sentence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-27290531552436982642010-10-22T12:44:04.751-05:002010-10-22T12:44:04.751-05:00My policy, which works well, is to state in the &q...My policy, which works well, is to state in the "Course policies" that Exams must be taken on the dates indicated during the regular class period; no makeup exams except in special circumstances, i.e., medical or family emergency documented in writing. The makeup test may be an oral exam, and then be much more lenient in reality. This reduces the number of folks who need this to one or so per semester (now that i no longer look young!!) and the folks who are doing this to get away with something flunk the exam anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-74554514913816520022010-10-22T12:30:41.825-05:002010-10-22T12:30:41.825-05:00The only excuses I have encountered this year are ...The only excuses I have encountered this year are job interviews and Varsity athletic events.<br /><br />These just look like two sleeping cats to me.Pagan Topologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01611788563582362688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-54020691991923966522010-10-22T11:34:57.324-05:002010-10-22T11:34:57.324-05:00Regarding the plastic surgery, it depends. Mine w...Regarding the plastic surgery, it depends. Mine was classified as elective, but it was for medical rather than vanity sake. Then again, I knew up front I would need two weeks to recuperate so I scheduled it for semester break.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-62770727479080305252010-10-22T11:31:27.256-05:002010-10-22T11:31:27.256-05:00Would anyone give a make-up to a student who sched...Would anyone give a make-up to a student who scheduled elective plastic surgery during Thanksgiving week, even though there is an exam that Monday?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-23870939590929280042010-10-22T11:30:04.812-05:002010-10-22T11:30:04.812-05:00answer: a, reminds me of what my afternoon will be...answer: a, reminds me of what my afternoon will be<br /><br />Haven't heard the bed bug one yet, but there have been a few other good ones in our department.<br /><br />A coworker last year with an intro-to-major lecture course told me of a student that claimed H1N1 just about every week (there was an attendance requirement). It was also the same semester that the university dispensed with their usually doctor's note requirement because they feared the lobby of the medical center would become transmission central. But yet the student seemed to have no trouble attending classes held after 10 a.m. . . . <br /><br />We had a student a few years ago that pulled the grandparent line about once a semester - last count she lost 6 grandparents and also developed some amazing maladies. I don't ask for letters on the grandparents, but several students volunteered to bring me copies of the obituary.<br /><br />As we have a large pre-vet program in my department, its not uncommon for some of my students to have vet emergencies involving their dogs, cats, horses, etc. Its not university policy, but I have been known to accept vet clinic receipts, and a few vets even have a form letter available.<br /><br />The one that irks me is the student who tells me they need to miss class because their sister/cousin/sister-in-law/high school best friend is being induced on a particular day. I don't have kids, and my siblings that do have opted for minimal family in the hospital at time of delivery, so I don't get this trend. Some of these are not the first-born either. I haven't had one of these fall on exam day yet. <br /><br />On the other hand, there have been several students with family members in serious medical crises that I let go, order to go, or even consider giving gas money so they do get the chance to go be with them that one last time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-86717212699362584142010-10-22T11:20:11.556-05:002010-10-22T11:20:11.556-05:00Here in Vancouver, Simon Fraser University has had...Here in Vancouver, Simon Fraser University has had fairly major bedbug problems in their dorms causing a great deal of stress to those living there...<br /><br />http://www.vancouversun.com/life/residence%2Bbedbugs/3663578/story.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-60929265655708562742010-10-22T11:06:25.535-05:002010-10-22T11:06:25.535-05:00P.S. If you're going to blog about student ex...P.S. If you're going to blog about student excuses, you totally need to check out the site "College Misery", the descendant of "Rate Your Students."Alexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-69192537067296621262010-10-22T11:04:09.621-05:002010-10-22T11:04:09.621-05:00No bed bugs or Grandmas yet! But two car crashes ...No bed bugs or Grandmas yet! But two car crashes and one flat tire on the highway. So the trend is vehicular problems--which statistically seems plausible to me.<br /><br />Last year I had a whole variety of excuses in one class. It seems news of my leniency spread like wildfire and students took advantage of it/me. So this year I was very clear that all excuses needed some form of documentation, plus also stressed planning ahead for assigned papers, etc. Big difference this year.Mom, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06382723864273701137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-34006589550334717162010-10-22T11:04:08.267-05:002010-10-22T11:04:08.267-05:00First, I'm the person who usually comments as ...First, I'm the person who usually comments as "Alex." I have no idea who that other one is. Well, I'm clearly the better Alex, so maybe I'll append "the great" to my commenting name? :)<br /><br />Second, I had bedbugs a few years ago and never missed a day of work, even though the infestation came during a particularly intense phase.<br /><br />Third, my students are boring. So far all I've heard about this quarter are car accidents, church choir trips, and knee surgery. And they're actually contacting me well in advance of the church choir trip and the knee surgery. Usually I hear about it afterwards, something about "My church choir scheduled a last minute event on the day of my 5th grandmother's surgery for knee cancer."Alexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-83286317904952898422010-10-22T11:02:33.858-05:002010-10-22T11:02:33.858-05:00I didn't get released from lab for the 90th bi...I didn't get released from lab for the 90th birthday of my grandmother. She died the next day, and I still wish I'd have been a more skillful liar, I would have seen her a last time alive. Of course I got a release for the funeral.Isabellanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29059245.post-89473990122658199152010-10-22T10:20:20.921-05:002010-10-22T10:20:20.921-05:00No bed bugs yet this year. Absences have been due...No bed bugs yet this year. Absences have been due to:<br />illness of grandfather<br />illness of grandmother<br />death of grandfather<br />family funeral<br />parents' renewal of vows<br />court appearance<br />cousin's wedding<br />suspension from school<br />Two students have experienced more than one of the above.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com