Anonymous
10/16/2020 18:48
Subject: College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
Nope. Quoting from another thread: "In the U.S., student educational records are protected under the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). That means that we can not discuss a student’s grades - or even whether or not the student is actually enrolled in the class - without the express written consent of the student, a court order, or a situation where there is a threat to the health and safety of someone in the class."
If a student is having personal or academic difficulties, they are referred to the appropriate support offices.
If a student is having personal or academic difficulties, they are referred to the appropriate support offices.
Anonymous
10/16/2020 18:44
Subject: College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
Anonymous wrote:Please. If a professor talked to a parent about a student that would be the type of confidentiality breach that would result in serious disciplinary action or possible termination. The standard response (if they bother) is some variation of the following:
“I cannot discuss any student’s grades with outside parties. In fact I’m not even at liberty to confirm or deny that your child is enrolled my class. I suggest you talk to your child directly.”
And no, it makes zero difference if you’re paying your kids tuition.
Give us $100,000 to $320,000 for your brat's BA and don't you dare inquire about ANYTHING. In fact, don't even make eye contact when you see us. Ivory Tower hacks really live in their own world.
Anonymous
10/16/2020 18:40
Subject: College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Former faculty member; yes, I had several students' parents contact me over the ten years I taught. It escalated over time, and was usually because the student was failing.
Taught at a smaller college, and one time at the parents weekend, a dad sought me out and started giving me a hard time about his dd's grades in my class. I took him aside and let him know that if his dd actually came to class and turned in assignments, she would be doing much better.
I gave up tenure, left, and now work for the federal government. I make double my old salary (120k versus 60k for a Phd), and don't have to deal with helicopter parents.
OP here: I went to a small SLAC. I wonder if the more intimate environment and high price gives this subset of parents an entitlement mentality not seen in bigger schools. It’s great that you have a more fulfilling career now.
Still miss most of the students, but I am happy to be making more money. Teaching can be very fulfilling when you see that light coming on in the students eyes, but most of being a professor is no longer about teaching. I now mentor and supervise new hires at work, which is also fulfilling in its own way.
Anonymous
10/16/2020 18:36
Subject: College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
Once every several years. Personally, I think the parents who contact faculty on behalf of their children are batsh** crazy. I've learned to ignore their emails.
Anonymous
10/16/2020 17:43
Subject: College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
Anonymous wrote:Former faculty member; yes, I had several students' parents contact me over the ten years I taught. It escalated over time, and was usually because the student was failing.
Taught at a smaller college, and one time at the parents weekend, a dad sought me out and started giving me a hard time about his dd's grades in my class. I took him aside and let him know that if his dd actually came to class and turned in assignments, she would be doing much better.
I gave up tenure, left, and now work for the federal government. I make double my old salary (120k versus 60k for a Phd), and don't have to deal with helicopter parents.
OP here: I went to a small SLAC. I wonder if the more intimate environment and high price gives this subset of parents an entitlement mentality not seen in bigger schools. It’s great that you have a more fulfilling career now.
Anonymous
10/16/2020 17:43
Subject: College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
Now ask if staff do.
Anonymous
10/16/2020 17:40
Subject: College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
I’ve heard that the undergrad dean hears from the regularly about policy matters but as a faculty member I’ve never been contacted by a parent (teaching 25 years).
Anonymous
10/16/2020 17:35
Subject: College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
Please. If a professor talked to a parent about a student that would be the type of confidentiality breach that would result in serious disciplinary action or possible termination. The standard response (if they bother) is some variation of the following:
“I cannot discuss any student’s grades with outside parties. In fact I’m not even at liberty to confirm or deny that your child is enrolled my class. I suggest you talk to your child directly.”
And no, it makes zero difference if you’re paying your kids tuition.
“I cannot discuss any student’s grades with outside parties. In fact I’m not even at liberty to confirm or deny that your child is enrolled my class. I suggest you talk to your child directly.”
And no, it makes zero difference if you’re paying your kids tuition.
Anonymous
10/16/2020 17:35
Subject: College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
Former faculty member; yes, I had several students' parents contact me over the ten years I taught. It escalated over time, and was usually because the student was failing.
Taught at a smaller college, and one time at the parents weekend, a dad sought me out and started giving me a hard time about his dd's grades in my class. I took him aside and let him know that if his dd actually came to class and turned in assignments, she would be doing much better.
I gave up tenure, left, and now work for the federal government. I make double my old salary (120k versus 60k for a Phd), and don't have to deal with helicopter parents.
Taught at a smaller college, and one time at the parents weekend, a dad sought me out and started giving me a hard time about his dd's grades in my class. I took him aside and let him know that if his dd actually came to class and turned in assignments, she would be doing much better.
I gave up tenure, left, and now work for the federal government. I make double my old salary (120k versus 60k for a Phd), and don't have to deal with helicopter parents.
Anonymous
10/16/2020 17:33
Subject: Re:College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
I taught college for several years. Never heard from a parent.
Anonymous
10/16/2020 17:24
Subject: College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
Occasionally.
Anonymous
10/16/2020 17:19
Subject: College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
Anonymous wrote:Curious to hear from current faculty if they ever hear from parents and if so, how they handle it.
When I was an undergrad in the Stone Age, I was first generation (not a term used back then) and my parents contacted a professor that had hired me to do research over the summer because they were “concerned”. I did not know about the conversation until he told me about it after the research began and said that he could not recommend me for future research because of their meddling.
I did get another research position with another professor after that one ended. Parents never met the professor. Published two papers in his lab.
Parents seem so much more involved now than they were years ago. I have NO intention of ever meddling in my DS’s business like my own parents did, but I wonder how professors these days handle such encroachment if they do see it.
Most professors are untouchable. There's a firewall between them and the outside world. If you break their rules, you are screwed. After all, they have tenure. Can't fire them.
Anonymous
10/16/2020 17:18
Subject: College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
No.
Anonymous
10/16/2020 17:17
Subject: College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
I have never heard from a parent, except for (of course) receptions on Parents weekend, graduation etc.
No one EVER contacted me about a course or student I was teaching.
(I have heard to parents contacting the college's administration to complain about a course)
No one EVER contacted me about a course or student I was teaching.
(I have heard to parents contacting the college's administration to complain about a course)
Anonymous
10/16/2020 17:12
Subject: College professors and faculty- do you ever have to deal with undergrad parents?
Curious to hear from current faculty if they ever hear from parents and if so, how they handle it.
When I was an undergrad in the Stone Age, I was first generation (not a term used back then) and my parents contacted a professor that had hired me to do research over the summer because they were “concerned”. I did not know about the conversation until he told me about it after the research began and said that he could not recommend me for future research because of their meddling.
I did get another research position with another professor after that one ended. Parents never met the professor. Published two papers in his lab.
Parents seem so much more involved now than they were years ago. I have NO intention of ever meddling in my DS’s business like my own parents did, but I wonder how professors these days handle such encroachment if they do see it.
When I was an undergrad in the Stone Age, I was first generation (not a term used back then) and my parents contacted a professor that had hired me to do research over the summer because they were “concerned”. I did not know about the conversation until he told me about it after the research began and said that he could not recommend me for future research because of their meddling.
I did get another research position with another professor after that one ended. Parents never met the professor. Published two papers in his lab.
Parents seem so much more involved now than they were years ago. I have NO intention of ever meddling in my DS’s business like my own parents did, but I wonder how professors these days handle such encroachment if they do see it.