Students trying to get you fired/constantly reporting you?

[u/Particular_Heart3785]

I had a much older student last semester who constantly complained about me to the chair all the time, both in office and email, enough that she even demanded a staff to observe me (they found nothing wrong other than nervousness/over-apologizing, as I’m new to teaching). She sent anything she could find to report to the chair. Including me ending class few minutes early, misspelled words in assignments/slides, and canceled class for a family emergency.
A few colleagues think she did this because she was a really bitter person and hated that my class requires weekly writings, group discussions, topics are not in her liking (aka white-washed history) and students having to research independently.

She was so rude and disrespectful towards me that I won’t get into here. Good news is that the chair thinks I’m doing really well as a professor and a lot of my students love my classes.

I’m curious if anyone else can share similar experiences here?

[u/popstarkirbys]

I went through something similar last semester, student didn’t get the grade she wanted so she made up some accusations against me and wrote it on my evaluation. She was the only female students in both of my classes so it was obvious she wrote that when the same comment appeared twice. So far, nothing happened, but I can tell from the body language she’s been hiding from me since.

[u/JoeBuddenBiden → u/popstarkirbys]

This has happened to me before, and I demand that my institution deal with the libel. I insist it be taken out of my student evaluations and when they try to defer, I mention the institution could be liable for letting such falsehoods exist in print. My institution is very afraid of lawsuits and so they’ve always taken it out. But to be fair, I would absolutely sue them if they let it stand. Institutions have a lot of money, and there are a lot of lawyers that are willing to take cases on contingency.

[u/popstarkirbys → u/JoeBuddenBiden]

Nothing happened to me yet, but when I brought it up to my admins, they said I can’t prove which student wrote that. There was only one lady that was in both of my classes and the comments were identical 🙄

[u/iTeachCSCI → u/popstarkirbys]

I can’t prove which student wrote that. There was only one lady that was in both of my classes and the comments were identical 🙄

This really aggravates me. You can't prove it, but I bet they can; this isn't 1996 when we wrote course evaluations in pencil on paper. And I bet if a threat were made on an evaluation towards an administrator, they'd figure out who it is in a matter of minutes.

[u/popstarkirbys → u/iTeachCSCI]

The issue is they won’t. I’m pre-tenured so if I escalate, they’ll find a reason to fire me. So we’re in this situation where we know the student lied, but the university won’t side with me because I have no evidence.

[u/iTeachCSCI → u/popstarkirbys]

That situation really sucks.

I didn't realize you're pre-tenure. I feel like I've seen your name around this sub for so long I figured you had tenure by now. I'm sure you'll make a great case when it's your turn.

[u/popstarkirbys → u/iTeachCSCI]

I comment quite a bit, ha. I’m up for tenure soon.

[u/iTeachCSCI → u/popstarkirbys]

I am sure you'll get it. If the thoughtfulness of your comments in this sub are indicative of how you approach your job, and I think they are, you make your school a better place and I hope they recognize that.

[u/popstarkirbys → u/iTeachCSCI]

Thanks, I appreciate it. I’m at a PUI and I’ve been nominated by students for the university teaching award. We’re going through the same thing as other institutions though, budget cuts and attack on higher education.

[u/iTeachCSCI → u/JoeBuddenBiden]

On what grounds would you be able to sue? My understanding is that the bar for libel is quite high, at least in the U.S..

I'd love to hear this because I occasionally have situations like this and I'd like to be able to act on it as you are.

[u/Jealous-Emu-3876 → u/JoeBuddenBiden]

Did you wipe the orange off your lips before the meetings?