Expelled student demands answers

[drurygirl]

Hi, my name is Jonna. I am 22 years old and from Massachusetts.

I attended an occupational therapy assistant program up to the fourth, final semester. From the start my head prof and I didn't like each other. I am a quiet and reserved person, something she criticized me for endlessly, even in front of my classmates. I used to be a lot shyer but have improved drastically in the past two years.

Let me add that I have worked in the healthcare industry for four years. I am a certified nursing assistant. I provide direct personal care to nursing-home residents.

In the final semester, we were to do internships. Prof asked if I was nervous. I said no. She said she believed I would not do well because I would not make eye contact or relate well with the supervisor (she told me this while I was making eye contact with her, I add). I *used* to have trouble with eye contact early in the program. By Semester 3 I was doing great with this issue.

Prof set up the internships. She told me she had called the internship ahead of time and told them that I have lots of issues and would not make eye contact or have good social skills. I was upset because I had been deprived of making a first impression.

I went to the internship in a hospital. The supervisor talked briefly with me. I was very careful to make eye contact (after the warnings I was getting I would be incredibly stupid not to). The supervisor later announced that she thought I had trouble making eye contact. (??????????????????????????????????????????????)

They called in Prof, who informed me that because I could not make eye contact or interact properly that I had failed the internship and would be kicked out of the program.

I made an appt. with the dean to discuss my POV. He ruled that Prof's decision stands, the reason for my expulsion being "concerns brought up by the internship supervisor."

Here is the thing: I have a chance to appeal and be allowed to complete the final semester in the Spring Sem of 2009. I have to "address the issues" that caused me to "fail" and tell how I did that so the issues won't be an issue.

I contacted the dean and demanded to know IN WRITING what the "concerns" were brought up by the supervisor, so I have something to base my appeal on. He told me that the supervisor has the right to refuse a student based on "concerns," and he hopes that answers my question.

I e-mailed Prof asking her to tell me IN WRITING what the concerns were. She refused to even answer me.

What am I to do? I can't appeal that I received months of intensive eye contact therapy. That's ridiculous. And I was making eye contact anyway. I am so furious I can't see straight sometimes.

So here is my question: is there a way I can get a lawyer who can force the school to tell me IN WRITING what these so-called "concerns" are? I don't even want to sue, I just want to appeal and get this back on track for next year.

I know nothing about lawyers or anything like that. If anyone has any advice, you have my deepest gratitude. Thanks very much.What is the name of your state?

 

[Perky]

Perhaps I'm inferring too much, but I think the professor feels that your social interaction skills are somehow deficient. Of course, you probably won't find a therpist who specializes in making eye contact, but you can easily find one who can help improve your social skills and help you to discover the reasons for your problems. At the very least, you should see a therapist and discuss your situation. The therapist, as an impartial observer, can help you identify any problems and work on them. That should help you in your appeal.

 

[GaAtty]

GaAtty

Absolutely you should appeal. It is a waste of time to have done all that work and not be able to finish with only one semester to go. You may try two things. First, have a friend either video you or observe you in several social and if possible, clinical situations find out if you really are failing to make eye contact. It probably is such an ingrained habit that you may be unaware when you are not doing it. If it turns out that your observer is right (or the video shows that you are not making eye contact), then you need to work on it some more. The seond thing is that you could possibly get an educational attorney to help you write your appeal. It does not sound like, from your writing, that you would be the best one to write it. That is not unusual, because you are so emotionally involved. The school might be more likely to be more specific in a response to the attorney. Then do the internship again.

 

[GaAtty]

GaAtty

Absolutely you should appeal. It is a waste of time to have done all that work and not be able to finish with only one semester to go. You may try two things. First, have a friend either video you or observe you in several social and if possible, clinical situations, to find out if you really are failing to make eye contact. It probably is such an ingrained habit that you may be unaware when you are not looking at people. If it turns out that your observer is right (or the video shows that you are not making eye contact), then you need to work on it some more. The seond thing is that you could possibly get an educational attorney to help you write your appeal. It does not sound like, from your writing, that you would be the best one to write it. That is not unusual, because you are so emotionally involved. The school might be more likely to be more specific in a response to the attorney. Then do the internship again.

 

[drurygirl]

This is great advice, thanks so much.