Thread regarding DeVry Inc. layoffs

Hard Feelings

As one who did quit, I came to believe that no matter what I did (and my gifts and productivity were considerable), I could be fired over not achieving a 3.6 or higher. I taught "killer" courses, which students despised because they were so weakly skilled. I inflated grades to survive, but many students just failed out for not handing in any work. Even with 40 in a class, I gave personalized feedback, including an oral wrap-up commentary as well as a detailed rubric. I published. I attended conferences. I volunteered for everything. Yet, I felt in my IPPs that they searched hard and long for cracks--particularly in end-course evaluations where weak-minded punched back. I had been injured in my last session, but that mattered not. I was expected to perform injured or not. So, I quit. I have hard feelings about it. But, I am much better off without the inescapable unfair, unjust, inhumane practices…

Went through the same thing, so I can really relate to what @Xfr3RZC-1gsu is saying. Great post!

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| 2121 views | | 10 replies (last January 30, 2019) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+Xg88BZK

10 replies (most recent on top)

@Xg88BZK-7vqy , you and other teachers who have seen a decline at DeVry would do a great service if you would share your stories with Veterans Education Success. You can contribute anonymously.

https://veteranseducationsuccess.org/whistleblower/

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Post ID: @7vyt+Xg88BZK

A small private liberal arts college. The students are young, and their training is consistent with ubiquitously poor K-12 education. Maturity levels vary, and behavior is consistent with millennials. Their minds are still soaking up knowledge, so they are highly educable. Faculty enjoy academic freedom and are respected. Course enrollments cap at 20. There are few student-teacher conflicts, and faculty perspectives are well-supported. Job security is reasonably high--linked only to national declining college-entrance numbers. There is fulfillment in actually teaching and holding to a rigorous standard that is not unachievable, but does require skill acquisition. At DeVry, there was no fulfillment in teaching. Students were raced through courses, enrollment (then) was capped at 40+, so it was impossible to hold to any rigor. Students exited courses with no more than they entered with. The few really fantastic students at DeVry did not get the attention they deserved as all energies were siphoned off by ridiculously under-educated, remedial, and even predatory students (interested only in riding their financial aid until they bounced out).

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Post ID: @7vqy+Xg88BZK

What school are you now teaching at? How does it compare with DeVry?

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Post ID: @7keo+Xg88BZK

5hck and 5cfo...the Internet seems to be crawling with DeVry ads...

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Post ID: @6tnw+Xg88BZK

Booming? LOL...that’s called hyperbole.

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Post ID: @5cfo+Xg88BZK

Apparently, they are launching a new Devry? and enrollments are booming unless the numbers are cooked up.

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Post ID: @5hck+Xg88BZK

After decades at DeVry, I am packing up and leaving.

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Post ID: @5cbv+Xg88BZK

It’s very good to hear, 5bnc, that you successfully escaped the “little shop of horrors” and transitioned to a more sane and stable situation, and it also sounds like you no longer straddle the conflict of interest (ongoing implied threat from central academics) of falling below a 3.6 rating when you ethically and honestly grade each student based on the quality of work completed.

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Post ID: @5shw+Xg88BZK

Semi retired, 5qxo, now teaching both online and on-site in a school that caps courses, that honors faculty and education. It amazes me how a genuine education experience can be had in an online setting, when faculty are empowered and enrollment is capped.

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Post ID: @5bnc+Xg88BZK

I’m curious to know whether you took your talents and energy elsewhere or instead decided to pack up and retire for good.

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Post ID: @5qxo+Xg88BZK

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