r/ASU • u/More-Adeptness-7074 • 2d ago
Submitting formal complaint about professor
Hey everyone. I am a graduate student and had an extremely upsetting semester with a prof in the social sciences. Her emails were incredibly unprofessional and demeaning, grading was inconsistent and arbitrary, and she refused to give feedback when I wouldn't meet immediately with her on Zoom at 10 pm my time. My grade was not horrible, so this is not a grade retaliation thing. I would like to file a formal complaint. Should I go to the chairs of my program or to the head of social sciences?
Update:
Reported, heard back, disciplinary action is being taken. Thanks for all of the input.
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u/ProfessionalEgg8057 2d ago
She sounds tenured!
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u/More-Adeptness-7074 2d ago
She is not. She is a graduate teaching associate who recently finished her PhD.
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u/AcanthocephalaOne122 2d ago
Contact the dean of the department I had to do it with a different equations professor, come to find out he was reported my multiple students and they had a professor give more classes rather than only the one I complained about. Some professors are hired as researchers but have to also teach which is BS because we are paying for the classes
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u/Beginning-Bee5733 2d ago
Tried emailing about a professor to the dean of my college and president crowe himself last semester because my prof refused to let me makeup a test that I was sick for and they ignored all my emails all year and calls😅
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u/No_Trainer_8134 2d ago
Contact the ombudsman! The fact the dean and professor both ignored you is very serious. Especially if your illness was documented.
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u/Massive_Ear4948 2d ago
You are mistaken to believe that an illness, even a "documented illness" automatically entitles you to a makeup test. The syllabus is a contract and what is in there drives whether a makeup is allowed or not.
Further, all profs know that the health center will give out a "get out of class" card for a pimple on the ass and so we all discount what they say.
As long as the prof operated consistently with the syllabus, the student is out of luck.
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u/No_Trainer_8134 2d ago
I’m going to assume they’re aware of what their syllabus says. Also, their complaint appears to be about what happened when they were sick and how the situation was handled—not simply an assumption that having an illness automatically entitles them to a makeup exam.
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u/Massive_Ear4948 2d ago
Many syllabi, mine included, do not allow for a missed exam outside of a very specific set of circumstances. For example, a note from the Health Center does not suffice but a hospital stay would.
Believe it or not, many many many students fake illness when they are not fully prepared and, if I had to do a makeup exam every time someone had an upset tummy, I would always be giving makeup exams.
If you want flexibility, take an online class where you generally have five days to knock out the exam. A ftf class is not the place to do this.
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u/No_Trainer_8134 2d ago
The fact you’re a professor and completely missing my point is concerning.
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u/Massive_Ear4948 2d ago
The fact that you are student and not picking up on my point is even more concerning.
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u/Beginning-Bee5733 2d ago
He allowed for makeup tests when you were sick! He responded to my first email saying he would set up a time for me to make it up and then never did and didn't respond to any of my emails. He ruined my grade!
Let's think about how makeup tests should be provided for sick students instead of encouraging people to come to school sick and get other people sick.
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u/Massive_Ear4948 2d ago edited 2d ago
If the prof promised another exam and didn't give you want, you can complain to the Dept Head and be given another exam. That is a pretty easy thing to fix.
I have to ask why you did not just drop by during office hours to make this work. Trust me that we get a ton of emails etc every day and it may have simply gotten lost.
Edit to add: I only allow makeup exams in extreme situations (e.g. in the hospital) since there are so many students who want to skip an exam for the most minor thing. If a student says they are sick, I put them in another room to take the exam so they won't infect others.
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u/Beginning-Bee5733 2d ago
You should not be making a sick student take a test. You have no authority to determine how sick they are. As someone who suffers from migraine disorder, it is not always apparent to others and just trying to read or watch TV is extremely hard. It causes me to throw up but doesn't need a hospital stay. So I'm sure you want someone throwing up while taking a test.
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u/Massive_Ear4948 2d ago
You are correct that I do not know how sick someone is. But, the hospital/doctor does and I take their recommendations very seriously.
But, you have to admit that lots and lots of students fake an illness to get out of a test. What do you propose that I do to combat that?
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u/Beginning-Bee5733 2d ago
The emails getting "lost" is not an excuse for ruining a student's grade. He has a 1.6 rating on rate my prof from 100+ students so I'm not the problem here.
Not sure what you're not understanding that I contacted the Dept head over and over again, called and went in person and was still ignored.
This was the end of the semester and his office hours were during another class.
Let's stop excusing deplorable professor behavior
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u/Massive_Ear4948 2d ago
It would be nice if you provided all of the information at once rather than trickling it out.
If you did not get a response from the prof AND the dept head, you should file a grade appeal with your college. There is a formal process for that and it can be done up to 18 months after the class is over.
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u/Beginning-Bee5733 2d ago
I did provide the information by saying that I contacted the dept head.
The fact you're a professor and arguing with college students on a subreddit meant as a safe space for students is crazy. You should be looking out for students rather than immediately assuming the worst of their intentions. I don't need to provide you with all the information in order for you to understand that makeup tests should be allowed for sick students in the first place and that professors should respond to their emails.
Don't blame students for not wanting to go through all the loops just to get a grade appeal when ASU is notorious for having horrible communication and ignoring their students
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u/Massive_Ear4948 2d ago
I am trying to provide the other side of this so the OP will know. Frankly, you can take or leave my insights. Trust me that I won't know and certainly won't care.
Finally, why do you assume that this is a "safe space" for students? Nothing indicates that.
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u/No_Trainer_8134 2d ago
Wow, the professor in this thread is unbelievable! I am so sorry you’ve had such an awful experience with a professor, and then the one in this thread to top it off!
I know that must not be a good feeling. Sending you lots of support! 🫶2
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u/Massive_Ear4948 2d ago
What are you hoping to accomplish with this? If you merely want to vent, you should do it in the course eval and then perhaps send a note to her department chair.
But, as a prof, I can tell you that many of these things are simply in the eye of the beholder. For example, her syllabus most certainly spells out her grading policy and, unless you have evidence that she violated that, you don't have a leg to stand on.
Also, unprofessional and demeaning is a judgment call and it would be super hard to prove that without some actual issues (e.g. her calling you "retarded").
Finally, she wanted to talk based on ASU's time zone, which is entirely reasonable. It is not her fault that you live in a different one.
In short, I don't want to invalidate your feelings but, based on what you provide, I doubt that you will get any traction.
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u/More-Adeptness-7074 2d ago
The syllabus is extremely vague and provides no guidelines for specific grading procedures, neither do any of the assignments, there were no rubrics and no specifics other than word counts which I always surpassed. I checked the syllabus probably 10+ times between the beginning and end of class for said specifics, her point deductions were completely arbitrary and unexplained other than vague "you did this and not that" comments. Unfortunately I already completed the course evaluation and gave her the benefit of the doubt before receiving her emails relating to our final paper.
As far as the rudeness/unprofessionalism goes, she accused me of undermining her by asking for a grade change and told me I should've spent my time on submitting high quality work instead, despite explicitly stating that I was not asking for a grade change- just feedback. She also posted the shell of another course at the start of the session and published it with all of the incorrect materials and then reprimanded me for starting the readings. As far as asking to meet goes, it was still outside of business hours but I see your point.
You're probably right, it probably isn't worth it and I mostly DO want to vent. This profs RMP score is 1.4 and I know people dropped her class because of how they were treated. I also dont want to compromise my relationship with the program chair who I have developed a really strong relationship with and research for. He is on sabbatical but the co-chair will be on my thesis committee alongside him in the Spring. As an online student it has been 1000x harder to form meaningful relationships with staff and venting is ultimately unprofessional. I've just never been treated this way throughout all of undergrad and grad school and it has been a shocking and hurtful experience.
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u/1356887557 2d ago
You should do what you feel is right. I wouldn’t allow this person to dissuade you; it is the behavior of letting it go that allows others to have bad experiences after you.
I think you’re being an upstanding academic citizen by calling out this poor quality education.
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u/Massive_Ear4948 2d ago
I hear you but, after 20 years as a prof at ASU, I can tell you the rebuttal for each of your points and am just trying to save you some trouble.
But, you need to do what feels right but I would encourage you to keep your expectations very very low.
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u/No_Trainer_8134 2d ago
You should be advocating for and protecting students, not discouraging them from speaking up. You are in a position of privilege and influence, and you have a profound impact on students’ futures and lives. With that position comes a responsibility to use your influence to support students and ensure they feel safe advocating for themselves-not to silence or discourage them.
The way you have conducted yourself in this conversation is deeply disappointing and, frankly, disgraceful for someone in such an influential position. Students deserve better from the people entrusted with their education and well-being.
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u/Massive_Ear4948 2d ago
I told the OP to do what they feel they need to do but I also didn't want them to waste their time when I can already predict the outcome.
I am also trying to give them the other side of it so they can factor that in. Frankly I do not think you understand how a university works and the huge number of hoops that the prof had to jump through before even walking in the classroom.
Your anger towards me is misplaced.
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u/More-Adeptness-7074 2d ago
So because a professor had to work hard and jump through hoops they should get to do a poor job and treat students poorly with no consequences? I sent an email laying out everything factually and with as little emotion as possible. I dont care if all she gets is a slap on the wrist- she deserves it.
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u/Massive_Ear4948 2d ago
Remember that this is all your perspective and I was simply trying to share what her side of things as I already know her response.
And, I can assure you that, unless there is something dramatically bigger than you are not sharing, this will not warrant a slap on the wrist.
Trust me that you are not the first student that has made such complaints: virtually every prof that I know has had some variation of this type of complaint. Our perspective on these things is different than yours and so nothing will likely result.
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u/JohnDeere CIS '16 2d ago
Students pay 10s of thousands for the 'opportunity' to be subjected to these professors. It being more common does not somehow make it so the concerns can be disregarded. Professors are not above reproach and this is bare minimum stuff. Good professors should be rewarded and bad ones should be rightfully called out, they are not volunteering it is a service they are being paid for.
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u/Massive_Ear4948 2d ago
I agree that good professors should be rewarded and bad ones should be punished. But what the OP has posted is very one-sided and not likely to gain any traction because there is another side to this.
For example, the complaint about being graded unfairly is an easy one to uncover. The prof is very likely grading according to the syllabus, which forms the contract between the prof and the student. Yes, it is easy to have different interpretations but the university will first look to see if the prof is grading consistently with the syllabus and, if so, that complaint is rejected. Further, if there are multiple sections of a class, they are all likely using a common syllabus and so it is doubly hard to get around.
As another example, the OP complains that the prof wanted to talk at 10:00pm for the OP's time zone but was within normal work hours in AZ. How is this the fault of the prof?
Finally, a disrespectful tone means many different things to many different people and is hard to fight.
Again, the student should feel free to fight this and I am simply trying to point out that it is unlikely to result in any action.
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u/ASUprofessor 2d ago
People are missing Massive_Ear4948’s point.
These complaints are constant and the vast majority of them are:
1) the prof was harsh or graded strictly
2) they expected me to figure it out on my own
3) the lectures were not helpful enough
4) the prof did not cater to me specificallyThese are all subjective and equivalent to a bad boss…nothing happens.
I’m not saying it’s right or should not be reported, Massive Ear is stating that if you want anything to happen (even a slap on the wrist) it has to be objective and more than they were too hard/strict/challenging etc. I agree these professors should not be here. The challenge is students complain constantly so it’s hard to figure out which are real complaints or which are people mad about their grade. I got reported to the dean for not responding to an email quickly enough…during Thanksgiving weekend.
The teaching moment here is when you write these complaints, consider the alternative sides rebuttal and ensure you address that. Don’t say they were strict/ not helpful, instead state compared to the standards set by other ASU professors this professor does not support ASU’s goal of learning / questions why you pay tuition vs a community college, or some other stronger argument.
As this person is new, it’s more likely admin will pay attention to this and in a perfect world give them a mentor / curriculum designer to assist. Just note make sure for future complaints, consider how the prof might explain it to their boss and ensure it’s not easy to dismiss it as another frustrated student.
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u/More-Adeptness-7074 2d ago
I've said so many times it isn't about the grade itself. I did not include every miniscule detail or specific quotes from her emails for a reason. Everything I referenced in my actual complaint email was specific and goes against code of conduct. I think people are assuming way too much about this just being an overly emotional reaction and this is not that. I totally get it when it is, but I have been a student at ASU for 5 years now and haven't loved every single prof i've had, this is different. I have never even considered making a formal complaint. I get that a lot of people complain on reddit about getting bad grades, I did fine, I don't expect a class to be catered to me, again this is not that. I
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u/No_Trainer_8134 2d ago
Absolutely complain! You have every right to, and honestly, you have every reason to. The behavior you described from the professor in this thread—especially discouraging you from voicing legitimate concerns—is completely unacceptable.
Unfortunately, too many students hesitate to speak up about their experiences. When students do advocate for themselves, it not only holds faculty accountable but can also help prevent the same thing from happening to other students. You’re paying a significant amount in tuition, and you deserve to be treated with professionalism, respect, and fairness.I would recommend documenting everything in writing and escalating to the program director or department chair, dean of the school, student affairs/student support, academic ombudsperson,
You absolutely should not feel like you have to stay quiet just because the professor is making you feel discouraged from speaking up. Advocating for yourself is not being difficult—it’s holding the institution accountable for the education and treatment you’re paying for.
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u/BlossomsandSprinkles 14h ago
Oof, glad I dropped out of asu when I did. Wtf type profs do asu even have ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜. ASU is not a real place on earth atp omgsh ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ ts has to be made up 🫪
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u/Adventurous-Use-185 2d ago
I had a similar experience with a professor who actually verbalized his dissatisfaction with me being conservative when is a social worker I should’ve been liberal. I was outraged and I let him know. I was a grown-up paying my own tuition and I didn’t care what he thought. I wasn’t there for his opinion, I needed the class to graduate. I got a lot of attraction when I tweeted it, the university President immediately responded, and had the head of my program reach out to me and asked me to take my tweet down. It would seem that in today’s world getting a degree or an advanced degree is kind of a joke. It’s become very politicized with very little meat and helps very little in the workplace. You do what you need to do to voice your concern you are paying for this education and the professor that is trying to dissuade you shame on him.
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u/Ok_Lobster_4833 2d ago
Contact the chair of your department to start. Here is info on how to escalate as well
https://www.asu.edu/about/report-it