Graduate Assistant wanting to resign TA duties

[mamselle]

Sorry it appears that I sort of hijacked the thread by myself.

It looks like the consensus response for the original post is to   work with the student/professor the student TA's to get this semester
through. Alternatively, another option is to seek the help of DGS.

I think you've got that backwards.

I'm not getting the sense that anyone thinks a conversation with the DGS is an 'alternative,' they're using words like 'should,' that suggest it's essential, imperative, necessary.

You brought up the timeline that tries to float her until Spring, no-one else did.

I'd re-read the suggestions once more,, this time without seeking re-inforcement for what you already want to do in them first.

Cognitive dissonance can arise when we're wrong, as well as when we're right.

M.

[Hibush]

Sorry it appears that I sort of hijacked the thread by myself.

It looks like the consensus response for the original post is to   work with the student/professor the student TA's to get this semester
through. Alternatively, another option is to seek the help of DGS.

I'm not getting the sense that anyone thinks a conversation with the DGS is an 'alternative,' they're using words like 'should,' that suggest it's essential, imperative, necessary.

M.

I agree. This kind of situation is exactly the DGS' job. That ought to be the first stop. Several people have constraints and a strong interest in finding a solution that meets their requirements. They are unlikely to sort those out independently, by the DGS is the person who can.

[Caracal]

I don't think this student should go beyond this year if this continues. Stack up the warnings in writing, check on what the rules are, and you for research and your colleague for teaching should be extremely clear on what has to happen in current and future situations in order for her to be able to remain a student in the program, or at least, a funded student. Some grad students, and I mean going back decades to my day, think of funding as a gift and that they can do whatever they want including nothing.

I am planning to give the student a chance with respect to tuition support and possibly stipend support for at least next Spring. She will be done with all her course work as of end of this year and with TA duties off her shoulder next spring, I am hoping she should be able to fully dedicate to research. If the student will not be able to deliver and has attitude issues next Spring, then I would need to make hard decisions in regards to providing tuition support/stipend support.   

You need to be prepared to accept the fact that the student may still not achieve to your level of expectations. If she is still taking classes, the work in those classes could expand to fill all available time - just as she does not appear to have time for her TA duties this semester, she may claim that she does not have time for your RA duties in the spring.

This particular student will complete all the course work by end of this semester and so in Spring the student should have all the time for research. So, I dont think she will have any excuse for not performing in the research work or RA duties in the Spring.

I might be misreading this, but it sounds like you have gotten in a pattern with this advisee where you express disappointment and frustration about  particular problems-failure to meet deadlines, poor quality of work etc.-but you aren't having a big picture conversation with her about her future in the program.

It sounds like you keep hoping that by bringing up the particular issues, the student is going to get the message that there are larger problems that need to be addressed or she can't continue in the program. The problem is that these issues all stem from the student's difficulty in understanding and interpreting feedback and figuring out what expectations people have of her. Lots of people do respond well to mild or even implied criticism. This student obviously doesn't.

When you avoid the big picture conversation and get more and more frustrated about the little stuff, you just end up muddying things up. Unless there's a hard external deadline, it really isn't a big deal if a grad student says they'll have something done by one date and is a week or two late and in normal circumstances I would think scolding a grad student for that was weird. I get why you did, because it isn't just an isolated thing, it is part of a larger pattern. However, the student is likely to focus on the particular criticisms and think they are unfair. I'm also not sure the student really knows they are in danger of losing their funding.

You need to have a big picture talk with the student where you address the larger issues.
1. They aren't turning in the kind of work you expect from a grad student
2. They aren't making satisfactory progress
3. There seem to be some issues in terms of collegiality and meeting responsibilities.

You can and should do this in a firm but nice way. If there's something going on causing these problems, you might be able to help. However, I think as part of this discussion there should be very clear benchmarks in terms of what the student needs to do to stay in the program. Your goal isn't to kick the student out of the program and you should be clear that you want them to succeed. You aren't doing her any favors by allowing her to stagnate and hang around in the program alienating people and not getting anything done. It's possible she could be quite happy and successful getting a masters and doing something else with her life.

And yes, you should probably make sure you have the DGS or chair in the loop and in agreement with all of this.

[kerprof]

I found today the reason for the problem with the PhD student and she told me that she is expecting child in the Summer. She told me that she does not want stipend but just the tuition support going forward.

It looks like that, that is the reason she is not performing per expectations in the research as well as TA duties.

[mleok]

I found today the reason for the problem with the PhD student and she told me that she is expecting child in the Summer. She told me that she does not want stipend but just the tuition support going forward.

It looks like that, that is the reason she is not performing per expectations in the research as well as TA duties.

I don't know about your institution, but for mine, there would be no way for us to pay for the tuition without appointing the student as a TA or RA. One wouldn't be able pay for the tuition out of the instructional or external research grant budget because there would be no justification. She could just take a leave of absence to avoid having to pay tuition.

[apl68]

I found today the reason for the problem with the PhD student and she told me that she is expecting child in the Summer. She told me that she does not want stipend but just the tuition support going forward.

It looks like that, that is the reason she is not performing per expectations in the research as well as TA duties.

I don't know about your institution, but for mine, there would be no way for us to pay for the tuition without appointing the student as a TA or RA. One wouldn't be able pay for the tuition out of the instructional or external research grant budget because there would be no justification. She could just take a leave of absence to avoid having to pay tuition.

And if ever there was a justifiable reason for taking a leave of absence, this ought to be it!

[Ruralguy]

 And probably legally required.

[kerprof]

And probably legally required.

To make things complicated, student is officially an international student with F1 visa status. Though it appears her husband is on H1B visa.

[Puget]

And probably legally required.

To make things complicated, student is officially an international student with F1 visa. Though it appears her husband is on H1B visa.

You need to get the DGS and international students and scholars office (or whatever it is called there) involved in this in this discussion ASAP to sort through the options. This is way above your pay grade.

[mamselle]

As was suggested earlier.

M.

[mleok]

And probably legally required.

To make things complicated, student is officially an international student with F1 visa. Though it appears her husband is on H1B visa.

You need to get the DGS and international students and scholars office (or whatever it is called there) involved in this in this discussion ASAP to sort through the options. This is way above your pay grade.

Yes, that does complicate matters significantly. There does not appear to be a provision for a leave of absence that would allow the student to stay in the US in F1 status. At best, the expectation of full-time enrollment can be scaled back for medical reasons, but that would mean she would still be on the hook for tuition. I agree there is nothing a professor can do in this situation to address the issues, and the Dean of Graduate Studies and the International Office need to be roped into this discussion.

She could be eligible for a H4 visa as a spouse of a H1-B holder, but she would be responsible for the application fees, as again there is no justification to use university funds for such a purpose.

[kerprof]

And probably legally required.

To make things complicated, student is officially an international student with F1 visa. Though it appears her husband is on H1B visa.

You need to get the DGS and international students and scholars office (or whatever it is called there) involved in this in this discussion ASAP to sort through the options. This is way above your pay grade.

Yes, that does complicate matters significantly. There does not appear to be a provision for a leave of absence that would allow the student to stay in the US in F1 status. At best, the expectation of full-time enrollment can be scaled back for medical reasons, but that would mean she would still be on the hook for tuition. I agree there is nothing a professor can do in this situation to address the issues, and the Dean of Graduate Studies and the International Office need to be roped into this discussion.

She could be eligible for a H4 visa as a spouse of a H1-B holder, but she would be responsible for the application fees, as again there is no justification to use university funds for such a purpose.

I am not sure but I was told earlier by a senior colleague that H4 holders are not eligible for tuition support and stipend.

[Ruralguy]

oy.

[kerprof]

At best, the expectation of full-time enrollment can be scaled back for medical reasons, but that would mean she would still be on the hook for tuition.

Good thing regarding tuition is that the student just recently got approval to be eligible for the in state tuition based on her husband's employment/tax filing situation. As a result the student going forward will be responsible for only 50% of what a typical International / out of state student would pay.

[kerprof]

I have got an appointment to meet with the PhD program director on Monday. I had chat with my wife in regards to this and she strongly suggests, If anything I should only bring up the student's performance issue rather than pregnancy issue. If I bring up pregnancy issue, my wife suggests that I will be the one who will get into the trouble. Please advise how I should structure my conversation with the PhD program director.