Tom Chappell vs. the Unfeeling Administrative Machine
I went to see the CSUN Graduation Evaluation department today. They have a physical office, but I’d always called them on the phone.
“When will you have my Grad Check done?”
“Oh, well, you submitted your Grad Check application late–”
“–late, six months ago–”
“Yes, yes. So, we should have an answer for you in four to six weeks.”
“But when I asked you this same question in early March, you were telling me mid-April, so that was six weeks at that time, and it’s mid-May now, and you’re still telling me four-to-six weeks…”
“Well, you have to understand, Mr. Chappell, you *did* submit your Grad Check late–”
“–late, six months ago–”
“Yes, yes. Well, another way to put it is that we are currently working on the forms submitted in September and October.”
“Ok, so no chance whatsoever that it will be done in four to six weeks. What about Commencement? Do I still go?”
“Oh, sure! You just go, 4:00pm Thursday, June 3. I mean, nobody gets diplomas at Commencement. We haven’t had a chance to evaluate the grades by then. Everyone just gets a handshake. The people who submitted their applications on time can expect to get their diplomas in July or August.”
“All right, I see. I’m not going to hold my breath. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Larry Helmerich makes the point that back when we were in college the first time, in the late 70’s, schools managed to have the diplomas ready on the day, even though computers were so very much more expensive. Of course, administrative scum are the very last thing that donors or legislators want to pay for (they’d rather pay for buildings, or labs, or teachers, and rightly so), so in a way, I can understand.
John Blackburn wrote:
Your last classes are next week, meaning you will take your last test at the latest by May 27, a full week before Commencement. Larry’s right: it’s surprising that computers haven’t improved that more.
If your teacher received your last test by Thursday (May 27), I don’t see why that teacher couldn’t submit grades by EOD Friday, May 28—days before June 3. Sheesh.
Posted 20 May 2004 at 1:41 pm ¶
Tom Chappell wrote:
Well, it’s not really reasonable to expect the professor to have graded all of the tests within one day; I believe that they are required to submit final grades no later than one week after the exams are held. Think long-winded Western Civilization essay exams, man!
But what I’m complaining about is the six months, six months!
Posted 22 May 2004 at 11:14 pm ¶
Tom Chappell wrote:
Actually, remembering back, at Georgia Tech, 25 years ago, graduating seniors didn’t take the final exams, so that the professors could get their grades to the administration specially early. It’s better to have to take all the exams.
Posted 16 Jun 2004 at 6:11 am ¶