Can political views sometimes be a factor in if a black male nursing student graduates in a small city?
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Answer:
Five points are five points. Are the student-athletes studying Nursing? You might look at that. The best nursing schools don't care about anything but quality of graduates because they know that their graduates reflect on their long-term success. Fake 4.0 students are probably studying soft topics that only require an opinion. This kills an academic department in the long run and the best schools won't allow it. Some student-athletes really ARE 4.0 students and, while some DO select less challenging majors, a few 4.0 atheles enter medical school and grad school, which usually don't care what sports you played because there are no grad school athletics programs (hence the weigh gains). Also, if a student athlete only spends "work" time on atheletics (for a scholarship), then they are putting in about 20 hours of practice time and some weekend hours into games. Student-athletes that put work on top off all the other mental and physical stress tend not to do as well.
Your husband is working many hours!! In a few cases, this works out, but you're talking graduation from Nursing school. He is likely tired and this has an impact on his practical coursework/intern positions. Maybe in the real world nurses are sleep deprived and exhausted senseless, but this is college and profs are trying to create an ideal. He could getting reviewed with a fine tooth comb with the expectation that he will be well-rested. That's not political; that's common sense.
Chances are, he worked too hard and that hurt his grades. I'd like to say there was some better way of doing this, but loans seem to be the only option in an age of financial aid cutting. For the nursing field, it's worth the loans. Those signing bonuses and pay rates are just too good, aren't they?
I do admit that politics are POSSIBLE, but not from your description. After my MA from OSU, I worked with a private nursing school through my public school job and I have to say that I'm shocked at some of the garbage I had heard come out of the private nursing school (notice the past-tense - I decided it got old too fast and now have a better job). They had a couple guys that were definitely on a power trip and - like McCarthy - if you didn't agree with them, you got hell. I guess that comes with not being as accountable to the state... Even then, they still have the issues of long-term impacts of angry alumni...
In response to your additional comments:
Well, that IS politics and you knew it. Racism is such a crap reason for denying someone their degree. Still, he should have an advocate in his academic advisor, who will probably know his record and would prefer to take pride in another successful graduate. Sometimes, although it might not seem like it, those advisors will be able to get more done in the academic world than 10 lawyers. If your husband is a good student, expect to find some academic allies.
Addition 2:
Academic policies are those of the prof. Their metaphor in medical fields is the STAT situation: always handle with urgency. Yeah, I know - makes for some crazy nursing studnents! If the deadline policy is in the course syllabus, your husband may not be able to get out of losing the points for the late assignment because the prof had tied her own hands before it even happened! Still, it doesn't seem like it should be such an unmanageable catastrophe. I can feel the frustration from your writing! Sounds awful.
I would hate to answer a question with a question, but is it possible he missed some of the required courses for his academic degree? Sometimes, students, regardless of colour, miss graduating on the expected date for that reason. If he has to stay another year it may complicate financial aid and scholarships may no longer apply. Private schools tend to have that sort of issue more commonly, for what reason I cannot say, but it's something that had to be monitored carefully prior to that point. It's now too late to fix it. He'll just have to attend another semester to finish. Right now, I would recommend reviewing his transcripts and the academic requirements for the course of studies. You may find the hole in there. If not, speak to the counselors at the school and find out exactly what the issue is.
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