College group project, one just didn't bother - AIBU to tell the lecturer?

[PaniWahine]

I'm at college part time and work full time. The course is IT related and is heavy going. Some of the participants are government funded (long term unemployed retraining). There's been a heavy drop out rate of 60% across the course.
We were put into groups for a project; in our case, five of us. One and Two have dropped out, which I can understand. The issue is one of the remaining three. The project stated four months ago. We had a meeting, split the project into five sections, and myself and one other who would be 'more able' let the other three chose their sections (expecting to end up with the hardest bits, which we did). As the first two dropped out, myself and number Three picked up their sections. We kept asking number Four how she was doing, did she need any help, could we see the progress etc "Everything's fine" etc she didn't turn up to the meetings, cancelling at the last minute, just gave me the impression she was flakey.
So two weeks ago Four just disappeared - ignored emails, texts, phone calls yet we could see her posting on social media. Finally myself and Three scrambled for the last week and did Four's part, not sure if Four had dropped out. We (myself and Three) spent the entire weekend getting it together, I actually stayed at Three's place all weekend, starting Friday night, and we pulled 18 hour days.
Late yesterday afternoon Four sent a text message saying she had broken up with her girlfriend and that it was the anniversary of her grandfathers death. Facebook revealed the relationship was five weeks (less than a quarter of the length of the project!) and the passing was a decade ago.
Today I was exhausted and had to call in sick, costing me a day's pay. The project was worth 100% of that module.
The issue is, when it came to putting the final document, Three wanted to add Four's name on the submission. I felt we shouldn't, but caved in with exhaustion.
After thinking about it today, I want to email the lecturer and say Four didn't make any contribution to the project. Four's a part time retail assistant, no kids, Three works part time and has three kids under ten and I work full time and run a small business as well.
I know it's petty and bitchy but I'm really, really angry. I feel taken advantage of. If Four needed help, didn't feel capable etc she had plenty of opportunity to stand up and say something The personal issues just feels like an excuse.

[Gotheftosleep]

I'd report.

[Mouikey]

Did four offer any work to the project? If not her name should not be on it and you should let the lecturer know... I absolutely hate people who try to get by on others hard work, get credit and offer nothing.

[londonrach]

Id report.

[dingdongdigeridoo]

Yes, please report. Sometimes lecturers can tell when someone isn't pulling their weight, for example in presentations. It doesn't sound like they'd know otherwise. What an absolute pisstaker.

[Gunpowder]

I completely see your point of view but I don't think I would say anything. It seems too late now you've added her name to the report and I don't know what you would gain out of it. However I would never agree to work with her again and it's a shame you (your partner) credited her for work she didn't do. That said, unless this is the last assignment on the course the lack of work will catch up with her at some point, and I'm sure the lecturer is under no illusions about her work ethic.

[honeysucklejasmine]

Yep, I would report.

[ijustwannadance]

Report it. She had 4 months. Do not let her use your hard work for her own gain.

[JennyOnAPlate]

Absolutely report.

[YoScience]

I work in a university and this is really quite common in group work (not to the same extent as you've experienced!)

I would let your lecturer know the issues you have had.

[RubbleBubble00]

Why the heck did you add her name - she didn't do anything. Id email the lecturer and explain the work you have both put in and the hours and that 4 made no contribution.

If she passes she could have huge gaps in her knowledge that should have been filled by

[Musicaltheatremum]

Report. My son finds this in group projects at uni. It's so bad when people don't pull their weight.

[CatNip2]

Totally report, thiß happened on DD university course, except the others wouldn't cover and all reported.

[JackieAndHyde4eva]

Report!

Also at 60% drop out rate!

[marblestatue]

Yes, report. Don't let your niceness put you at a disadvantage because of someone else. You've worked hard and deserve better.

[dimples76]

Do report it.

I'm a lecturer and I would want my students to tell me if this had happened - well preferably I would be told at an earlier point so non-performing group member could be warned

[insertimaginativeusername]

Report it. I had this with a girl at uni, she refused to attend group sessions and refused to share her part of the work until the day before deadline. When she finally did all her references were Wikipedia (we were 3rd years). I spoke to the lecturer and persuaded him to grade us separately. She text me a gob full of abuse as she barely scraped a pass but no way was any work of mine quoting Wikipedia in my final year.

[RaeSkywalker]

This is why I hated group work at uni! I would report it I think, but I also would've reported before the deadline when 4 went AWOL (to ask for advice). Presumably 4 didn't produce anything to indicate she'd done any work at all?

[hotdiggedy]

Very annoying and yes, I would let the lecturer know.

[Floggingmolly]

Of course report; but you're probably on shakey ground now that you've voluntarily given her credit on the project (why in God's name did you do that?!)

[PaniWahine]

Three and I reached a couple of times over the last two weeks to Four, and I admit we initially worried she might have dropped dead, that's why we looked at her Facebook (we are Facebook friends but not really). So we did think something serious had happened, but we were really underwhelmed by her message yesterday.... I was bullish but Three was a bit more sympathetic. I think I was worried about being a bitch (I'm usually a bit of a doormat), plus exhaustion, so gave in. Four did say four weeks ago that she would certainly, definitely, really send through her draft sections by July 3rd but never did.
We already have groups for the two remaining projects (and Four isn't in either group), so I won't get landed in the same spot.
I've been stung before though (while doing my degree), and in one particular situation, actually lost marks as one person didn't submit their section, and as the project was the core marks, the group failed the module and had to do a resit exam in the summer session. I think that's why I was bullish, but then my need to be nice let me crumple.

[PaniWahine]

The high drop out rate is because they lowered the entry requirements to build up numbers. They then let in lot of 'English as second language' students... I personally think lots of courses use group work as less marking for lecturers and where there's lots of weak students, the desperate to succeed students just give in and carry the locust students.

[MargaretCavendish]

Hmm. As a lecturer, I completely see why you're so upset about this, but I wouldn't get your hopes up about the unfairness being rectified mow. Obviously they can't just fail her on your say so - while it would deliver the right outcome in this case it would be a system ripe for abuse! - and I think it might be hard to 'prove' she did nothing. It would be different if you hadn't put the name on the submission as then the onus would be on her to claim credit for 'her' work.

I'm being a huge hypocrite here because if you were my students I would be burning with righteous rage at her behaviour and definitely would want the marks to reflect the truth - but pragmatically I think this could turn into a big drama for you, and it doesn't sound like that'll do you much good.

[ICantFindAFreeNickName2]

My DS had this on his uni course. But when they handed in each group project they each had 100 points to share out between their team members, giving those they thought had contributed most, more points. On one project him and another team member actually gave some of the points to two students who were not even on the same course let alone in the same team. They were friends who pulled an all nighter, helping them with proof reading & coffee, when two of the group did not bother to do the sections they were supposed to and did not admit it till 36 hours before the deadline.

[IceBeing]

Another lecturer here. To be honest the marking is designed poorly if it doesn't contain an element of listing who was responsible for which bits of the work. When we do group work we always have that along side it and then the marking is split between group marks and individual marks.

If you inform the lecturer then they can interview you all and find out who did what on the project.