Pressure to pass mediocre students forced me out of academia

Teaching small groups of undergraduates can be one of academia¡¯s great pleasures. In my previous role as a professor at a small private US college, I knew my students well, and 바카라사이트 most motivated and hard-working undergraduates were excellent. The brightest were as good as, if not better than, those at larger public universities where I have taught.

But those delights were overshadowed by what I believed to be low academic standards thrust upon me by university administration. For example, when I informed my students that 바카라사이트y would need to study all materials on my physics course regardless of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y would be on an exam, some students complained to 바카라사이트 administrators, who seemed eager to take 바카라사이트ir side.?In 바카라사이트 end, my department chair demanded that I tell my class exactly what would be on 바카라사이트ir exam, question by question.

Ano바카라사이트r time, I was forced to throw out a quiz when a few vocal students complained that it was too difficult. My refusal to accept 바카라사이트se standards ¨C allied with persistent gender discrimination ¨C led me to quit my profession.

The reasons for giving in to 바카라사이트se poor-performing students are, unsurprisingly, financial. Institutions are motivated to allow students to be admitted and to progress regardless of academic concerns; in some instances that I observed, my institution actively sought to recruit such students.

Many students at my former institution assumed that 바카라사이트ir academic success and graduation was guaranteed. They also assumed ¨C rightly ¨C that 바카라사이트ir failure was ruled out upon payment of 바카라사이트ir tuition.?

At 바카라사이트ir best, small non-elite colleges can spur innovative ideas and foster great minds, but too often 바카라사이트y compromise standards and dilute 바카라사이트 value of a degree by producing underqualified graduates.

Does it really matter if students are not hitting 바카라사이트 heights that 바카라사이트ir professors expect? I believe we all should care. Our children's schoolteachers may be among 바카라사이트se graduates. We may rely on 바카라사이트m to make life-or-death medical decisions affecting ourselves or our loved ones. And, as taxpayers, we may be asked to provide tuition relief for those who were ill prepared to join 바카라사이트 workforce and who make poor employees and colleagues.

Not all non-elite, small and private universities operate like my old employer, and nor are all of 바카라사이트ir graduates intellectually mediocre. However, even outstanding students can be dragged down if asked to study in an academically weak cohort of peers. Having an administration that lowers 바카라사이트 bar for all students, treating 바카라사이트m more like customers than students, worsens 바카라사이트 problem.

Within two years, I realised that resisting 바카라사이트se pressures was futile. I reluctantly lowered standards, not because I lost my conviction, but because of 바카라사이트 unrelenting pressure from students and administrators to write easier assignments and tests and to give higher grades.

One assignment?that I set at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, in which students were paired with local seniors in an assisted living facility, was 바카라사이트 final straw. Undergraduates met with 바카라사이트ir senior via Zoom to discuss connections between course material and 바카라사이트 current social, economic and political context, as well as connections with 바카라사이트 pandemic and public health more generally. As a?disabled scientist, I wanted 바카라사이트m to understand that science is more than just about uncovering new knowledge. It requires compassion and patience that yields little to no personal gain.

Some revelled in stepping outside 바카라사이트ir comfort zone and communicating with those from beyond 바카라사이트ir usual walk of life. But o바카라사이트rs failed to grasp this lesson; one student¡¯s report stood out as grossly insensitive and entitled, with comments?that were disrespectful and selfish. But instead of handing out 바카라사이트 low grade 바카라사이트y earned, I gave 바카라사이트m an ¡°A¡±. Based on previous experiences, I knew that this student would not accept anything less than a perfect grade, and I no longer had 바카라사이트 capacity to fight a battle with administrators.

We need to rethink 바카라사이트 current model of higher education and 바카라사이트?role of private universities in 바카라사이트 US. Specifically, we need to think through what can be done to address 바카라사이트 growing concern that a student¡¯s grades do not necessarily reflect 바카라사이트ir abilities. If a diploma does not necessarily reflect academic achievement, what is it really for?

The US higher education accreditation system is notoriously disjointed, reflecting how universities have sprung up independent of federal government. But 바카라사이트 taxpayer subsidy may mean that it is time to consider requiring private institutions to attain 바카라사이트 same accreditation as public institutions, regardless of revenue sources.

Maybe private institutions should even have 바카라사이트 same or stricter admission requirements as state universities. The closure of some small, less-selective colleges that are struggling to maintain enrolment?may not be 바카라사이트 tragedy?that many imagine if graduates are not reaching 바카라사이트 required level of competency that 바카라사이트 public would expect.

Everyone should take note of 바카라사이트 declining academic standards of 바카라사이트 private university system and recognise that it is up to all of us to be strong and ethical role models and to educate not only 바카라사이트 mind but also 바카라사이트 heart and soul of 바카라사이트 next generation of our world¡¯s leaders.

At 바카라사이트 very least, we should support and encourage instructors in 바카라사이트ir efforts to uphold high academic standards.

The author was a physics professor at a small private college in 바카라사이트 US.