Southern New Hampshire Professor Flunks Student For Saying That Australia Is A Country [Updated]
jonathanturley
Southern New Hampshire University is one of the burgeoning online universities that promises faster and cheaper degrees than the traditional colleges. While there are considerable questions raised over content of these courses and the value of the degrees, SNHU insists that it is reaching a population that would not otherwise be able to attain degrees. Ashley Arnold, 27, however, had to educate her professor that Australia is not just a continent but also a country. Update: SNHU has fired the professor. This type of story is particularly harmful for online universities given their perception as diploma mills.
Arnold is a stay-at-home mom trying to complete an online sociology degree with SNHU but was shocked when she received a failing grade on an assignment to compare a social norm in the US and another country. She picked Australia but the professor struck her grade because apparently Australia is only a continent. When confronted, the professor who holds a Ph.D in philosophy explained that she was quite confident that Australia is not a country. Arnold patiently sent sources showing that Australia is the sixth largest country in the world.
Nevertheless, the professor maintained her position that Australia is a continent but agreed to research it.
I will gladly re-examine your week 2 milestone project report. But before I do I want you to understand that any error in a project can invalidate the entire research project.
Research is like dominoes, if you accidentally knock over one piece the entire set will also fall.
Australia is a continent; it is not a country. That error made it nearly impossible for you to accurately complete your week 2 research outline correctly.
As I mentioned above I will look over your week two paper once again and see if you earned more credits than I gave you.
I checked it out. Arnold is right! It has its own flag and everything.
Arnold sent more explanations that Australia is both a country and continent. The professor promised to look into her novel theory.
Thank you for this web-address. After I do some independent research on the continent/country issue I will review your paper.
Eventually, the professor relented . . . no doubt after renting Crocodile Dundee. She awarded Arnold a B+ but did warn her: “Please make sure the date, the facts, and the information you provide in your report is about Australia the country and not Australia the continent.”
Of course, philosophy professors have had some awkward moments in Australia:
SNHU did apologize and gave Arnold a new professor.
The issue of online universities is a tough one. People like Arnold find the at-home access important to achieving the education. However, these courses are still $1,000 a pop and the question is whether the education and degree would be worth more at a traditional brick and mortar school. I have been a long critic of online schools, remote learning, and for-profit schools because I do not agree that the educational quality is the same. However, I also recognize the barriers presented to people like Arnold who struggle to maintain their families or employment while seeking higher education.
After all, she just proved Australia is a country.
Now learning the language could be more challenging:
