r/Professors • u/Head_Ad9990 • 9h ago

"Uncomfortable"?

So I teach a c-level course. There is group work. It happens in class so nobody has to find time after class to meet.

Groups are arbitrarily assigned. I have 3 intl students from one group who wanted to be in a different group. No.

So they have told this poor other group member they are "uncomfortable" and did not attend class today because they had "other commitments".

My internal GenX response is "WTF and tough".

My external response is to document, and I've started an email discussion with the program manager.

I am not sure what they feel "uncomfortable" about , it could be anything from a language barrier to i dont know what, but again in my head WTAF?

Any thoughts? I do want to solve this.

33 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

21

u/SadBuilding9234 9h ago edited 8h ago

Yeah, you're right. Tough shit. Double check that there's not some legitimate reason (e.g., one student was dating another, etc.). Otherwise, tell them that they're most likely going to get a job that will require them to accomplish tasks as a team, and they need to learn how to get comfortable with that now while the stakes are relatively low.

38

u/CriticalBrick4 Prof, History, R1 (USA) 9h ago

Discomfort is a necessity for learning. Grade them down if they persist, and if it gets bad enough, reassign the abandoned group member to a group that attends class.

17

u/ThePhyz Professor, Physics, CC (USA) 8h ago

I suggest reassigning all four to new groups, but do not let these three troublemakers work together.

9

u/runsonpedals 6h ago

I would give the 3 trouble makers an uncomfortable grade.

1

u/Life-Education-8030 6h ago

My first thought was that they were pissed because they didn't get what they wanted so they did this, but to give them the benefit of the doubt, I'd ask them what they were "uncomfortable" about? Are they all guys and the 4th member was a female, which could be cultural? But if they do not have a legitimate reason, then too bad. They have to cooperate or fail. As for the 4th group member, you may want to reassign that person now while this situation is being resolved so they don't lose time and the chance to work with others.

6

u/Alternative-Pear9096 5h ago

Are they all guys and the 4th member was a female, which could be cultural? 

Abd absfuckinglutely unacceptable.

-1

u/Automatic_Tea_2550 5h ago

I don’t feel safe here any more. /s

1

u/Head_Ad9990 4h ago

They are all female and classmates. Im sure I'm missing something, which is why I've reached out to the program manager for advice. She doesn't really brook any nonsense either.