That's OK.
And yes, Sweet Pea, at that point I will hire counsel...
Please bear with me here...
(And forgive my paranoia as I must ask...
Are they doing this just to kill me by trying to mess with my blood pressure)?!?!
hehehe
Article from Fridays (02/08/2008) Green Bay Press Gazette
>CLICK HERE< for this one entitled
UWGB joins initiative to keep talented students in the state
At the risk of repeating myself, I don't think so!
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I have added the article from the Green Bay Press Gazette, the posts I have made, commenting on the comments received today... February 7th, 2008
>CLICK HERE< for the article in 02/07/2008 Press Gazette
OK ~So the first rebuttal I receive there says "I" should be ashamed???
I don't think so!
Thankfully most people who wrote since that point have expressed their own concerns for KC's education.
Here is the story in its entirety...
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay chancellor pushes for increased suicide awareness
By
Kelly McBridekmcbride@greenbaypressgazette.com
NOTE:
Mr. Nichols did have his own article there or I never would have intruded on this topic for Caseys benefit.
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Chancellor Bruce Shepard has embraced the issue of mental health on campus.
He has encouraged students to seek counseling if they are depressed or are having difficulty coping. Last year, he addressed the stigma associated with depression with an open letter to the campus community that talked about his son's suicide.
The university trains resident assistants to be alert for suicidal behavior, said Greg Smith, director of counseling services at UWGB. Friends and family members can remember the acronym "QPR" — for which there is training similar to CPR — to recognize and try to curb suicidal tendencies.
It stands for Question, to ask the person if he or she is suicidal; P, for persuading the individual to get help; and R, for resources, to direct an individual to find help.
Smith is encouraging increased suicide awareness after the Jan. 22 death of Scott Nichols, 32, who killed himself in an off-campus apartment.
Those close to Nichols knew he was suicidal and had helped him — or tried to — on several occasions. But the signs aren't always overt, Smith said. Friends and family should watch for things like suicidal talk, depressive symptoms, giving away personal items or collecting the means with which to kill oneself, such as stockpiling pills.
Perhaps most of all, they shouldn't be afraid to step in.
"I think there's a stigma," Smith said, "that you don't want your friend to think you're thinking that they might be suicidal. … They just might say yes. That's a scary moment. … The right thing to do is just push through this."
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My reply...
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:04 am
Post subject:
UWGB "Cares" for Its Students?!?
_________________________________
You HAVE to be kidding!!!!
(You ARE kidding, right)?
Attention Students!
Are you in any way ill?
Physically, emotionally or mentally?
Do NOT believe for one minute that this school will actually support you when you go to them for help or assistance.
This article is almost the biggest load of crap to come out of UWGB in its many years of claiming to care.
****My sincerest of sympathies and prayers to those parents who have lost a child; and to those of us who live in fear of losing a child...
Gods Blessings.
Please hear me out.
I have a daughter, 21 now. And has been ill for 3+ years.
Physically ill.
She has had no less than 13 surgeries within this time period, and continues to have persistent bouts of pancreatitis.
She is also a 3.98 GPA student.
She became ill during her 1st semester at UW River Falls, and as a result of that 1st lung surgery, (she has had three to date); transferred to UWGB to be closer to her surgeons and hospitals.
Changing her major from pre vet to math.
Long story short(er).
She has been hospitalized all these times, (both at Green Bay hospitals AND at Froedtert in Milwaukee), and she SO TRIED to keep up with her studies.
She consistently/persistently emailed her teachers/professers during her hospitalizations begging for the ability to remain in school and keep up, (or catch up) with her cherished studies...
Since her profs are NOT required to be active in her education, only ONE at UWGB chose to email her back stating that she could easily catch up when she was better.
ONLY ONE!!!
Clearly the rest of her teachers did NOT give a (DELETED)!
She has had to withdraw then because of her illnesses and surgeries three times. And this past July received notice that she HAD to complete a full semester WITHOUT BEING HOSPITALIZED, or she would never again receive grant money to attend.
At this point, we went to the Dean of Students at UWGB to ask for his help after receiving this notification.
He blamed financial dept, saying there was nothing he could do.
We KNOW he could have done something!
Instead, he sat back in his chair and did nothing.
There is NO WAY that she can guarantee that she will not be needing additional surgeries and/or hospitalizations.
Indeed she would have had to have found ALL sympathetic profs to have even made it this last semester.
The Dean, when pressed, firmly stated that had she been blind, or an alcoholic, or even an addict, she would have been granted programs and leniency AND CLASSES...
Go figure.
Caring?
I DON'T THINK SO!
And so this ailing body WITH A FULLY CAPABLE MIND is left out in the cold so to speak.
Suicidal?
I do know that am fortunate that this daughter of mine has a spirit that allows her to go on, even when she is in extreme pain, and cannot eat any foods for a week at a time. She is currently at 89 pounds and with each bout of pancreatitis she loses more weight, as her pancreas slowly digests itself...
But GB leaves her sit...
UWGB SHOULD BE VASTLY and PERMANENTLY ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES- from the top dog to ALL of the professors. Minus just that one who cared enough to take the time to even hit 'reply' on his computer...
CARE? I'll believe it when I see it for ALL of their students!
To read more about her problems at this 'school', with the dean, or about her illness please go to the following link.
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-dpmNyxc.dbILPvAAWzZ3Tq.I9pxXBodPASLWCZE-?cq=1&tag=%22college_problems%22
Please keep in mind that my blog is clean and family oriented.
_______________________
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:37 am Post subject:
jman
Yes, all of UWGB should be vastly and permanently ashamed of themselves because of one very special case that they handled improperly? I agree they handled your case poorly and I wish nothing but the best for your daughter, but come on, to blame an entire institution because you didn't like the treatment you received is a shame in its own right.
I've worked at state higher ed institutions and one thing you find is many of their rules are set in place by the UW System, not the individual campuses so its quite possible there is nothing the Dean could have done, especially with the grant money. A permanent disability is acknowledged by the state so special accommodations can be made, but as you found out in your case, its not so cut and dry with your situation.
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:09 am
Post subject:
Jman;
I should have blamed the entire UW System, and not just one individual campus.
However ALL of her profs at River Falls worked with her illness that 1st semester so she could go to school.
I stand by what I wrote above!
Kudos though to UW River Falls.
As noted then, THEY should have turned their backs too.
Thank you UW River Falls
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:43 am Post subject:
The Axis
That gets me when a recovering addict gets better consideration than a young lady who is giving everything in the face of serious illness. There are legions of perfectly healthy people who aren't trying half as hard as your daughter is. Good luck to you both, I hope somebody wakes up and does the right thing. These kind of stories really get under my skin.
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:39 am Post subject:
Mo
Annie-
It is a shame that you did not receive more help for your daughter's situation. I will agree that there are many professors out there that only care about earning their paycheck (welcome to college). I do not know how much time your daughter was out, but from the school's perspective, where do they draw the line? They cater to you daughter, and next thing you know, everyone who has any illness is looking for special treatment. I don't know what the right answer is, and I do not know exactly what the UW system's policy is for these special circumstances. But it seems as though they should probably take a good look at their policies. I would think that if the student is willing to do what ever it takes to pass her classes, the school should be more willing to work something out. We do also have to remember we are talking about a public school in a large university system. Even though we are a small community, our school is just a blip on the Univeristy program as a whole.
I will say that it is nice to see that the school even acknowledges the issues discussed in the article, I personally don't think they really need to take on that responsibility as it is a personal matter, not an educational matter.
_______________________
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:50 pm
Post subject:
UWGB "Cares" for Its Students?!?
To The Axis,
Thank you for understanding what I was trying to get across to the people here. You are most compassionate, and correct with your assessment of her hard work. Further, I do not believe that your anger is misplaced either.
~
~~~
~
Mo.
You sound a bit like the dean of students.
While there are policies in place for addicts/alcoholics etc, there are NONE to help my capable child get a decent education.
The dean could have at least asked her teachers to help her out should the need arise. But there was not even an offer of this basic accomodation. He sat at his desk, 'churched' his hands and just made noise as he spoke.
(It didn't take too long to figure out that when he spoke, he spoke only to pass the buck, and NOT to help her in any way, shape or form).
At no point in time, save for her 1st lung surgery, was she out more than 10 days of classes. (She is MORE than capable of keeping up with those absences).
River Falls, 350 miles away, even understood that she could not drive, medically, to get back to class and even accomodated her during her recovery period!
~
~~~
~
And for everyone reading this, my daughter is currently a waitress. She is not covered by any public assistance, AND she is still trying to be positive and upbeat about her world, her surgeons and her pain.
This is a far cry from being a veterinarian.
Even from being a brilliant mathematics teacher, wouldn't you agree?
Still positive though.
~
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject:
Mo
Anne,
I am not trying to be disrespectful at all, I am just trying to look at the big picture. Unfortunately, you get these professors and deans who have been in their profession for so long, they have lost all of the true values of what their professions hold. They don't care about their students, they care about a paycheck. Their job couldn't be any easier. Take a couple days and put a bunch of reading and work together for the students for 16 weeks. Grade tests (tests that probably haven't changed in years), skim through some papers, and assign some grades. There is no compassion for individuals, they show up for work, do their job, and get paid. I bet you could have went to class for her and turned in her assignments, and they probably wouldn't have cared. Heck, I had several classes I took that you showed up to get the syllabus, then showed up on the test days and you could still get an A in the class.
Anyway, I hope your daughter can one day fulfill her dreams. It sounds like she has the willpower to be successful. I would have her look into taking classes online. There are many degrees out there now a days that you can get without ever even sitting in a classroom. Obviously being a vet requires some clinical work, but it may be possible.
Good luck with everything, I am sorry UWGB was such a disappointment for you. Perhaps the school system can learn something from this.
_______________________
by FUNTIME
Annie,
Your daughter could also look at schools like SNC. I know the perception is that it is expensive, but they do give good financial aid (thanks to generous donors). The other perk is some garauntee four year graduation (like SNC, assuming classes are not dropped, etc). The four year thing may be tough with the medical issues though. The smaller classes of these schools really helps, and the professors are there to teach first, not do research or write books. You may find more accommodations at SNC. It at least would not hurt to look into it.
I am an SNC alum and I am biased to that school because of a great experience. I got a teaching degree in 4-years, having entered with zero credits, and recieved great guidance from faculty that not only knew me, but actually cared how I was doing.
Schools are like a business, if you don't like their service, switch. Remember you pay them for a service.
_______________________
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:17 pm
Post subject:
Re 21 year old with illness
Berta
http://forums.greenbaypressgazette.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=5530
I am the sister of that young lady that is severely ill. I also feel that UWGB could have done more to try to accomodate. She was trying very hard to be able to keep up with her studies, and not have to withdraw. She is very intelligent, and has a very high drive to succeed. This illness is holding her back, and it is not her fault. I wish the "no child left behind" applied in college too....then we wouldn't have this problem...they would find a way to help her succeed.
My sister is a very strong girl and has put up with so much in her 21 years of life and all she was asking for was the chance to succeed. I know that she will figure out a way to get the education she so badly wants....I only wish that she could have had a better chance already.
Do you know what it feels like to have someone tell you that you are never going to amount to anything in your life??? She never knew that until UWGB told her that there was nothing they could do to help her, so the girl that was going to amount to a whole lot in her life, is being told that she cannot because she has an illness...not because she is incapable, but because they are unwilling to work with her on this matter.
I think that they would have a lot more of my respect if they would just work with someone who wants the education, rather than some one making their child attend college and the student doesn't want to be there. It seems like those kids get a better education because their family has money. We may not have a lot, and an education has always been important to my sister. I am very confident she will find a way, but it would be nice if she could have a little help when her illness gets the best of her.
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:53 pm
Post subject:
I see that I am also getting a few replies in my mailbox on my blog, and also a few comments there too.
Thank you all.
Mo;
Thank you so much for returning here.
I am sorry that I read your comment out of context.
And how awful it sounds when it is all cut and dried as you have explained.
(Gee, it also makes me feel as though I could do their job)!
I am also thinking that it really IS sad that the 'humanity' factor isn't part of their contracts...
Let's see...
The teachers already have THEIR education.
They already have THEIR secured-by-contract jobs.
They have nothing further to do than collect their checks...
...But still, there was that ONE math teacher who offered to help her too.
Oh and she did ask about online classes too. The dean replied that was for adults returning to school and NOT for her!
~
~~~
~
Funtime;
She would NOT have dropped ANY of her classes, but was told she had to.
Am wondering if her credits thus far could be transferred then?
My sister went to Saint Norberts College. And yes, you are very correct about that perception of its co$t too.
Perhaps, if what you have said is true, then it could be something for her to be looking into...
Thank you so much for the idea. I honestly never considered private college as an option.
~
~~~
~
BertaG;
Thank you so much too.
It just makes me ill to even think that after succeeding so well at Pulaski High School, and then working so hard to go to college, that yes, she has been shot down.
All she ever asked for was someone to stand by her when this all happened...
~
~~~
~
_______________________
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:29 pm
Post subject:
rmart
I have no knowledge of the specifics of this situation and am not intending to comment on it. I am quite sorry that your daughter has suffered so greatly, Annie. However, I have a response to Mo's earlier post about college teachers.
Mo,
Your assessment of the amount of work that college teachers put in is painfully inaccurate. I don't blame you for not knowing this as many people's perceptions of college teachers is that they only work during class and have no responsibilities other than teaching. So, it's normal for people not to understand the other responsibilities that come along with working at a university.
Many instructors I know put in between 40-60 hours a week. Most work over the summer despite the fact that they are not under contract or paid for doing so. In addition to their classroom requirements, they are also required to conduct research, advise students, and serve on various university and community committees. They also lead independent studies, honors projects, and research assistantships for students, a hugely time consuming but important learning experience.
The notion that they are in it only for a paycheck is laughable. In fact, most could make far more money working in a different field but choose not to because they are dedicated to education. In fact, most pay for professional development activities like attending conferences (part of their job requirement) out of their own pocket. I also know several teachers who spend 100s of their own dollars each year on classroom activities because there is no money in their department’s budget for such activities.
Are there some professors who are phoning it in and not doing a good job? Of course. That comes with every profession. Are there some who are not very good at their jobs? Yes. Again, that comes with every profession. But to suggest that, collectively, they don't care about their students or that their job couldn't be any easier is horribly inaccurate.
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:04 pm
Post subject:
rmart;
The above author stated "Unfortunately, you get these professors and deans who have been in their profession for so long, they have lost all of the true values of what their professions hold. They don't care about their students, they care about a paycheck. Their job couldn't be any easier."
Clearly, this does NOT apply to ALL of them.
Nor have my own comments applied to ALL of them.
Just that my own personal experience (at UWGB), denotes a care factor of about 7-9% with respect to my daughters professors.
That then translates to roughly 91-93% that didn't care enough to even hit the reply button when she wrote to them from her hospital bed.
Oh wait.
That simple respect factor wasn't in their contract.
(Or so the dean informed us)
>sigh<
No.
Sorry, but I have not seen this 'dedication to learning' that you have spoken of...
Should you want to know more about her 'experience' at GB and her chronic problem, the link is included within my top posting here
I too am sorry for all that she has been through...
Her health is basically unpredictable from day to day, week to week and month to month.
But to be so put down, ignored, and sent away by UWGB should NOT have been even imaginable!
But it was/IS/remains unforgiveable
-and completely unprofessional.
~
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~
Here's the link to the comments: CLICK HERE
Please feel free to join in the discussion.
It only takes a moment to sign up and post.
Love to all
XOXO
Anne
