College Professor Taught the Wrong Course For a Full Semester (1 Viewer)

[Christo]

Students at a Houston college are complaining that they were forced to learn more than they wanted when their professor accidentally taught them a more advanced curriculum.

The professor, who was new to teaching at Lonestar College, was supposed to teach a basic Introduction to Chemistry course. But her students ended up with a lot more chemistry than they paid for.

One of Nguyen's students, Lauren Firmin told local news station KHOU that she went public with her complaint because her final grade—a B—ruined her "perfect 4.0 average." When she appealed her grade, Lonestar ruled against her.

"I was getting 40's on every test," said Firmin. "I studied as hard as I could, did everything in my power to try." Then, shortly before the class' final exam, Firmin claims teacher Thao Shirley Nguyen admitted something.

"She told her mistake in class to all of the students," Firmin told the KHOU 11 News I-Team. And the mistake: "She was teaching general chemistry, another course, all semester."

"4.0 students, we are really stressed out altogether, but this just added to it to see what I have been working for, for two years destroyed," she told KHOU.

Another student confirmed that Nguyen admitted to the class they had learned a more advanced course than they signed up for. In exchange, she added extra credit to all the students' grades.

A spokesperson for Lonestar told KHOU, "They were taught the right class." But the head of college's science department apparently admitted Nguyen's mistake in an email, saying it was unintentional.

 

[gianmarco]

These students were in a Nguyen situation.

 

[jon_mx]

I am curious what really is the difference to Intro to Chemisty and General Chemisty? Is Intro to Chemistry for people who need a science credit but don't really want to learn a science?

 

[joffer]

Intro to Chemistry doesn't sound like something that should be taught in college

 

[jon_mx]

Oh, it is a community college.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Your 4.0 doesn't mean a whole lot if you can't even get an A in a General Chemistry class.

Still, that's a colossal mistake. Not sure how you really fix that. Hopefully they fired the prof too.

 

[T Bell]

YOU FAIR!

 

[Christo]

I had a law school professor give the same lecture in back to back classes. Difference was, we all knew it and thought it was funny as hell.

 

[jon_mx]

Your 4.0 doesn't mean a whole lot if you can't even get an A in a General Chemistry class.

Still, that's a colossal mistake. Not sure how you really fix that. Hopefully they fired the prof too.

Trying to take the easiest courses possible to get their Associates Degree.....with honors.

 

[bagger]

She got a B for getting 40s on tests. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me.

 

[jon_mx]

She got a B for getting 40s on tests. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me.

No kidding. It was not like it was a higher level class. It was just more of a real chemistry class than the phony one they offered.

 

[Brony]

Seems like this teacher got quite a reaction from her students.

 

[fred_1_15301]

These students were in a Nguyen situation.

 

[Ilov80s]

Usually colleges have more than 1 intro level science class: Bio for Science majors and a Bio for non-Science majors, same for Physics, Chem. There is pretty big difference. The class for non-majors assumes this is not an area of focus, but a class to fill general studies and make the student more well rounded. The class for majors assumes the student will take quite a few more courses in that area and work in that area. It's pretty obvious why the courses should differ.

 

[Joe Summer]

In before Cook Pu.

 

[St. Louis Bob]

These students were in a Nguyen situation.

Intro to Chemistry doesn't sound like something that should be taught in college

I heard Intro to Math was a real bear.

 

[Ilov80s]

These students were in a Nguyen situation.

Intro to Chemistry doesn't sound like something that should be taught in college

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school, you can never take it?

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I am curious what really is the difference to Intro to Chemisty and General Chemisty? Is Intro to Chemistry for people who need a science credit but don't really want to learn a science?

In Intro to Chemistry, mercury is the only element that is liquid at room temperature. In General Chemistry, bromine is as well.

 

[St. Louis Bob]

I am curious what really is the difference to Intro to Chemisty and General Chemisty? Is Intro to Chemistry for people who need a science credit but don't really want to learn a science?

In Intro to Chemistry, mercury is the only element that is liquid at room temperature. In General Chemistry, bromine is as well.

 

[jon_mx]

I am curious what really is the difference to Intro to Chemisty and General Chemisty? Is Intro to Chemistry for people who need a science credit but don't really want to learn a science?

In Intro to Chemistry, mercury is the only element that is liquid at room temperature. In General Chemistry, bromine is as well.

I don't know about all that complex stuff, but as long as the sun revolves around the earth, I am good.

 

[St. Louis Bob]

These students were in a Nguyen situation.

Intro to Chemistry doesn't sound like something that should be taught in college

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school, you can never take it?

Are kids too busy studying the Emancipation Retraction these days to take chemistry?

 

[Tick]

Seems like this teacher got quite a reaction from her students.

Nobody laughed at this, but I smirked.

 

[joffer]

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school?

That seems like a problem

 

[Ilov80s]

These students were in a Nguyen situation.

Intro to Chemistry doesn't sound like something that should be taught in college

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school, you can never take it?

Are kids too busy studying the Emancipation Retraction these days to take chemistry?

There are a lot of science courses a kid could take. Thinking back when I was in HS these were my options: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, Environmental Science, Botany, Electronics as Science. Every 9th grader took a general course of the basics of Physics and Chem, but that doesn't prep you for a serious college chemistry course. It must not be so crazy, I did a quick search and saw Stanford, Penn State, Boston University with multi-level intro or general Chem courses.

 

[Ilov80s]

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school?

That seems like a problem

So if a kid took Physics and Anatomy instead of Chem, you think that is a major problem?

 

[Sarnoff]

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school?

That seems like a problem

So if a kid took Physics and Anatomy instead of Chem, you think that is a major problem?

I don't get it either. Seems reasonable to have an intro level course to make sure that transfers, students changing majors, and those who just need a basic science pre-req are covered.

 

[joffer]

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school?

That seems like a problem

So if a kid took Physics and Anatomy instead of Chem, you think that is a major problem?

major? I don't know. I think a kid graduating high school without having taken an intro to Chemistry is a problem.

 

[St. Louis Bob]

These students were in a Nguyen situation.

Intro to Chemistry doesn't sound like something that should be taught in college

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school, you can never take it?

Are kids too busy studying the Emancipation Retraction these days to take chemistry?

There are a lot of science courses a kid could take. Thinking back when I was in HS these were my options: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, Environmental Science, Botany, Electronics as Science. Every 9th grader took a general course of the basics of Physics and Chem, but that doesn't prep you for a serious college chemistry course. It must not be so crazy, I did a quick search and saw Stanford, Penn State, Boston University with multi-level intro or general Chem courses.

I guess I'm old and/or when to a crappy school. I only had the first three offered, and took, although anatomy was covered in Biology & Health.

To your second point, there were kids that didn't know how to do basic Algebra in college. It doesn't mean you shouldn't have been exposed it already though.

 

[Ilov80s]

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school?

That seems like a problem

So if a kid took Physics and Anatomy instead of Chem, you think that is a major problem?

I don't get it either. Seems reasonable to have an intro level course to make sure that transfers, students changing majors, and those who just need a basic science pre-req are covered.

Right. Say you took Chem in high school and did well. After high school, life happens, you end up working instead of going to school. Then you are 26 and decide to re-enroll and you need to take a science class like Chem or Physics. You are expected to just be able to jump right off from what you learned in high school 10 years earlier? Ok. I'd love to see some people in the world that don't work in the field of science dropped into a 2nd year college Chem course like Organic Chem. Good luck.

 

[Ilov80s]

These students were in a Nguyen situation.

Intro to Chemistry doesn't sound like something that should be taught in college

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school, you can never take it?

Are kids too busy studying the Emancipation Retraction these days to take chemistry?

There are a lot of science courses a kid could take. Thinking back when I was in HS these were my options: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, Environmental Science, Botany, Electronics as Science. Every 9th grader took a general course of the basics of Physics and Chem, but that doesn't prep you for a serious college chemistry course. It must not be so crazy, I did a quick search and saw Stanford, Penn State, Boston University with multi-level intro or general Chem courses.

I guess I'm old and/or when to a crappy school. I only had the first three offered, and took, although anatomy was covered in Biology & Health.

To your second point, there were kids that didn't know how to do basic Algebra in college. It doesn't mean you shouldn't have been exposed it already though.

The people in basic algebra classes at colleges were exposed to Algebra or they came from a foreign country.

 

[joffer]

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school?

That seems like a problem

So if a kid took Physics and Anatomy instead of Chem, you think that is a major problem?

I don't get it either. Seems reasonable to have an intro level course to make sure that transfers, students changing majors, and those who just need a basic science pre-req are covered.

Right. Say you took Chem in high school and did well. After high school, life happens, you end up working instead of going to school. Then you are 26 and decide to re-enroll and you need to take a science class like Chem or Physics. You are expected to just be able to jump right off from what you learned in high school 10 years earlier? Ok. I'd love to see some people in the world that don't work in the field of science dropped into a 2nd year college Chem course like Organic Chem. Good luck.

Organic Chem? Way to move the goalposts.

 

[Ilov80s]

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school?

That seems like a problem

So if a kid took Physics and Anatomy instead of Chem, you think that is a major problem?

major? I don't know. I think a kid graduating high school without having taken an intro to Chemistry is a problem.

By Intro to Chem, do you mean a year long class that would be equivalent to a first year college Chem class or just have some experience with Chem?

 

[Ilov80s]

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school?

That seems like a problem

So if a kid took Physics and Anatomy instead of Chem, you think that is a major problem?

I don't get it either. Seems reasonable to have an intro level course to make sure that transfers, students changing majors, and those who just need a basic science pre-req are covered.

Right. Say you took Chem in high school and did well. After high school, life happens, you end up working instead of going to school. Then you are 26 and decide to re-enroll and you need to take a science class like Chem or Physics. You are expected to just be able to jump right off from what you learned in high school 10 years earlier? Ok. I'd love to see some people in the world that don't work in the field of science dropped into a 2nd year college Chem course like Organic Chem. Good luck.

Organic Chem? Way to move the goalposts.

I just looked at some college Chem programs, saw Columbia and their 2nd year course in Chem is Organic.

In the first year, Track 1 students take a one-year course in general chemistry, and the one-term laboratory course that accompanies it. In the second year, students study organic chemistry, and take organic chemistry laboratory.

https://www.college.columbia.edu/bulletin/depts/chem.php

 

[Drifter]

I took an upper level Poli Sci class with a professor and enjoyed it so signed up for another class with him. Although the class was supposed to be different when he handed out the syllabus it was 80% the same as the class I just took. I complained to the department and withdrew even though I could have just skated and gotten another A with little work.

Moral of the story- Professors can be lazy or incompetent bastards and generally the administration doesn't really care that much.

 

[T Bell]

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school?

That seems like a problem

So if a kid took Physics and Anatomy instead of Chem, you think that is a major problem?

I don't get it either. Seems reasonable to have an intro level course to make sure that transfers, students changing majors, and those who just need a basic science pre-req are covered.

Right. Say you took Chem in high school and did well. After high school, life happens, you end up working instead of going to school. Then you are 26 and decide to re-enroll and you need to take a science class like Chem or Physics. You are expected to just be able to jump right off from what you learned in high school 10 years earlier? Ok. I'd love to see some people in the world that don't work in the field of science dropped into a 2nd year college Chem course like Organic Chem. Good luck.

So now "General Chem" has turned into "Organic Chem"?

 

[joffer]

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school?

That seems like a problem

So if a kid took Physics and Anatomy instead of Chem, you think that is a major problem?

major? I don't know. I think a kid graduating high school without having taken an intro to Chemistry is a problem.

By Intro to Chem, do you mean a year long class that would be equivalent to a first year college Chem class or just have some experience with Chem?

Yes, a year long class. No, unless it was AP chem, I wouldn't expect it to be equivalent to a first year college class.

 

[Ilov80s]

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school?

That seems like a problem

So if a kid took Physics and Anatomy instead of Chem, you think that is a major problem?

major? I don't know. I think a kid graduating high school without having taken an intro to Chemistry is a problem.

By Intro to Chem, do you mean a year long class that would be equivalent to a first year college Chem class or just have some experience with Chem?

Yes, a year long class. No, unless it was AP chem, I wouldn't expect it to be equivalent to a first year college class.

So the HS Chem isn't equivalent to a first year college Intro to Chem but colleges shouldn't offer an Intro to Chem? How does that work? How did kids make up the difference?

 

[IvanKaramazov]

These students were in a Nguyen situation.

Intro to Chemistry doesn't sound like something that should be taught in college

I heard Intro to Math was a real bear.

You laugh, but at my college (a four year regional university), "college algebra" is the minimum math requirement, and it's considered one of the more difficult courses in the university. I hear stories all the time from advisors in other deparments -- e.g, Journalism, Theater, Visual Arts, Music -- about students who fail this class three times and have to petition to get a fourth try. All over a class that probably would have been considered remedial when all of us were in school. It still blows my mind to think about this.

In other words, don't just assume that all high school graduates have minimally proficient math and science skills. A disturbingly large proportion don't.

 

[joffer]

Why not? What if you had never taken chemistry in high school?

That seems like a problem

So if a kid took Physics and Anatomy instead of Chem, you think that is a major problem?

major? I don't know. I think a kid graduating high school without having taken an intro to Chemistry is a problem.

By Intro to Chem, do you mean a year long class that would be equivalent to a first year college Chem class or just have some experience with Chem?

Yes, a year long class. No, unless it was AP chem, I wouldn't expect it to be equivalent to a first year college class.

So the HS Chem isn't equivalent to a first year college Intro to Chem but colleges shouldn't offer an Intro to Chem? How does that work? How did kids make up the difference?

I'm not calling a first year college class Intro to Chem. That's the point. Someone accepted to college should already have that course in high school.

 

[Sarnoff]

These students were in a Nguyen situation.

Intro to Chemistry doesn't sound like something that should be taught in college

I heard Intro to Math was a real bear.

You laugh, but at my college (a four year regional university), "college algebra" is the minimum math requirement, and it's considered one of the more difficult courses in the university. I hear stories all the time from advisors in other deparments -- e.g, Journalism, Theater, Visual Arts, Music -- about students who fail this class three times and have to petition to get a fourth try. All over a class that probably would have been considered remedial when all of us were in school. It still blows my mind to think about this.

In other words, don't just assume that all high school graduates have minimally proficient math and science skills. A disturbingly large proportion don't.

I'd certainly be scared if some kid enrolled in pre-med was in an "Intro to Chem" class, but I wouldn't bat an eye if it was some Journalism or Visual Arts student just filling up elective credit hours that he was required to take (i.e. some kind of '15 credits from "any science course"' requirement) out of genuine interest in the topic.

My degree in Communications required a minimum number of math & science courses before sending us out into the world. Filled 'em with Calculus I & II, Statistics, Astronomy, and enough Computer Science courses to get me a free minor on the side. College liked a "well-rounded" education.

 

[Ilov80s]

Yeah, you guys are flat out wrong on this Organic Chem thing. If you are a chem major that often comes after Intro or Gen Chem.

http://www.canisius.edu/chemistry/courses/#one

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I'm not calling a first year college class Intro to Chem. That's the point. Someone accepted to college should already have that course in high school.

Why? Lots of colleges have courses called Introduction to Chemistry. Here's one from a pretty good school.

As a general principle, college "intro" courses are pitched significantly above the HS level.

 

[joffer]

Yeah, you guys are flat out wrong on this Organic Chem thing. If you are a chem major that comes Intro or Gen Chem.

http://www.canisius.edu/chemistry/courses/#one

I have no idea what you're trying to say anymore1. Intro to Chemistry - what I would expect you get in high school.

2. General Chemistry - 1st year college course, or what you could expect to test out of with AP chem in high school.

3. 2nd year college specialized courses. Organic, Physical, Inorganic, etc.

 

[joffer]

I'm not calling a first year college class Intro to Chem. That's the point. Someone accepted to college should already have that course in high school.

Why? Lots of colleges have courses called Introduction to Chemistry. Here's one from a pretty good school.

As a general principle, college "intro" courses are pitched significantly above the HS level.

Then maybe this is just semantics. When I see "Intro to Chem", that sounds like it's for someone who has never taken it before.

 

[jon_mx]

I took an upper level Poli Sci class with a professor and enjoyed it so signed up for another class with him. Although the class was supposed to be different when he handed out the syllabus it was 80% the same as the class I just took. I complained to the department and withdrew even though I could have just skated and gotten another A with little work.

Moral of the story- Professors can be lazy or incompetent bastards and generally the administration doesn't really care that much.

Depends on the school. I know schools which care very much and students who would rake the professor over the coals for doing this.

 

[jon_mx]

I'm not calling a first year college class Intro to Chem. That's the point. Someone accepted to college should already have that course in high school.

Why? Lots of colleges have courses called Introduction to Chemistry. Here's one from a pretty good school.

As a general principle, college "intro" courses are pitched significantly above the HS level.

Then maybe this is just semantics. When I see "Intro to Chem", that sounds like it's for someone who has never taken it before.

I doubt if Intro to Chem would transfer to any real degree.

 

[Ilov80s]

Intro to Chem is typically General Chem, just different names for the same thing.

ETA it depends on the colleges for sure, just a semantics game.

 

[jon_mx]

Intro to Chem is typically General Chem, just different names for the same thing.

Apparently there is a major difference at this community college.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

These students were in a Nguyen situation.

Intro to Chemistry doesn't sound like something that should be taught in college

I heard Intro to Math was a real bear.

You laugh, but at my college (a four year regional university), "college algebra" is the minimum math requirement, and it's considered one of the more difficult courses in the university. I hear stories all the time from advisors in other deparments -- e.g, Journalism, Theater, Visual Arts, Music -- about students who fail this class three times and have to petition to get a fourth try. All over a class that probably would have been considered remedial when all of us were in school. It still blows my mind to think about this.

In other words, don't just assume that all high school graduates have minimally proficient math and science skills. A disturbingly large proportion don't.

Ahhh, College Algebra.

I was supposed to take College Algebra because of a deficit in my HS math curriculum...and by that I mean I flunked a semester of Algebra II my senior year. Yes, I'm mathematically re###ed and I'm aware of that. So my HS math teacher said if I got a C over the 2nd semester that it would average out and I'd get credit for a full year. And trust me, I had done the research to make sure what I needed to avoid taking ANY math class in college.

Anyway, I never noticed until my senior year in college that my HS transcripts were a 1/2 a math credit short because my teacher was a spiteful little pr*ck and lied to me about getting full credit. I decided to follow the real Homer Simpson's advice and just crawl under a pile of coats and hope everything turned out ok. I would have literally dropped out rather than take College Algebra. Luckily, the History department didn't communicate with the registrar or something and everything turned out honky dory. Except I learned far too late how useless a History degree is.

tl;dr -- I actually shouldn't have my college degree.

 

[jon_mx]

I'm not calling a first year college class Intro to Chem. That's the point. Someone accepted to college should already have that course in high school.

Why? Lots of colleges have courses called Introduction to Chemistry. Here's one from a pretty good school.

As a general principle, college "intro" courses are pitched significantly above the HS level.

Then maybe this is just semantics. When I see "Intro to Chem", that sounds like it's for someone who has never taken it before.

I doubt if Intro to Chem would transfer to any real degree.

It's the first requirement for a Chem major.

But that is the issue. These students are in an uproar because they got General Chem instead of Intro to Chem...there should not be a huge difference, but the Intro to Chem course must be code for here is a ridiculously easy science course so we can give you an associates degree.