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University staff common room

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Original poster

Apparently my students are unhappy

78 replies

UnhappyAcademic · 09/01/2023 16:42

So as programme lead my boss called me into a meeting. Apparently some students complained about the course to someone not directly on the course. The complaints were quite serious

so SLT got the students together (without our knowledge) and asked what the issues were. general stuff regarding feeling that staff didn’t care about them and they felt not valued.

so I was asked what I intend to do about it. So I’ve asked for more specifics about why the students feel we don’t care, etc and nothing was forthcoming. It sounds like SLT didn’t ask. So I’m now in the position of not really knowing what the issue is.

module evaluations are ok. Nss wasn’t great but again no real details. The main stuff I have heard students complain about are out of my control, OneUni stuff, placement capacity.

I feel as a team we support the students so much. We answer emails, provide academic and pastoral support. Sessions are organised, blackboard sites are up and running, assessments clearly stated and don’t change. Anyone can have a 1-1 about anything at any time. I had two stressed emails from students today and teams called them both back by lunchtime. We do a weekly online drop in which students can come to with any issues.

any ideas for anything innovative, different I can do to make students feel more loved?

OP posts:

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 19/03/2023 17:05

SpacersChoice · 19/03/2023 09:00

@Postapocalypticcowgirl it really does baffle me. At first I thought it was an age thing; they’re teens, I’m in my 30s, single with DCs, and I just had more skin in the game than they did. But it really isn’t.

I was friendly with a lot of them and I’d say around 15% were like me. Attended everything, actively engaged with the outside reading, did our own stuff, booked office hours to discuss things we couldn’t figure out ourselves, did some of the free smaller courses (big push on Data Science within the Bioscience department) and we all did really well.

Most fell in the “I didn’t put it any effort but still deserve a First” category. Most didn’t understand that University level study is not a case of simply learning stuff by rote and repeating, being spoon fed everything, etc.

I assume that, at one point in time, Y2 is when a lot of people would have dropped after realising they don’t have the academic ability/drive/determination/other skill sets required for it. But now? It’s all softly, gently with them and blame the staff.!

Even when I was at uni (with fees, but prior to £9000 fees) I think there was a lot of attrition in Y1/2.

You were allowed to progress with one failed module, I think, at my uni. If not, you had to retake the year and you didn't get full funding for this. So at that point, most dropped.

If you didn't get through Y2 with the required number of modules, sometimes you could scrape an ordinary degree (Without honours) but not a full degree.

I got a 2.1 and I would say I was pretty engaged and worked hard, but probably didn't go above and beyond. A significant proportion got 2.2s or even 3rds. And we definitely lost people along the way.

It certainly wasn't about pleasing people and getting us over the finish line.

I actually think the loss of coursework also means students never learn to work to a deadline, as well.

SpacersChoice · 19/03/2023 18:59

I loved coursework. I have ADHD/SpLDs so exams are really not my thing at all; luckily only 3-4/6 modules per year had a formal sit down 2-3 hour long exam. The rest were various types of coursework and lab skills being observed/graded.

They were awful in the labs too. Didn’t follow protocols (BSL2) and pitched a fit when asked to leave (personally I’d have autoclaved their phones/whatever else by the third time…)

I would be mortified if any of my DCs behave in the ways I’ve seen.

thefactsarefriendly · 19/03/2023 19:14

So glad I left teaching.

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