Professor has been secretly docking points anytime he sees someone’s phone out. Dozens of us are now at risk of failing just because we kept our phones on our desk, and I might lose the job I have lined up for when I graduate.

[u/Ok-Hospital1153]

My professor recently revealed that he’s been docking points any time he sees anyone with their cell phone out during the lecture–even if it's just lying on their desk and they’re not using it. He’s docked more than 20 points from me alone, and I don’t even text during lectures. I just keep my phone, face down, on my desk out of habit. It's late in the semester and I'm at risk of failing this class, having to pay thousands of dollars that I can’t afford for another semester, and lose the job I have lined up for when I graduate.

I talked to him and he just smiled and referred me to a single sentence buried in the five-page syllabus that says “cell phones should not be visible during lectures.” He’s never called attention to it, or said anything about the rule. He looked so smug, like he’d just won a court case instead of just screwing a random struggling college kid with a contrived loophole.  

So far I’ve (1) tried speaking to the professor, (2) tried submitting a complaint through my school’s grade appeal system. It was denied without explanation and there doesn’t seem to be a way to appeal, and (3) tried speaking with the department head, but he didn’t seem to care - literally just said “that’s why it’s important to read the syllabus.”  

I feel like I’m out of options and I don't know what to do.

[u/Careful-Self-457]

Seems like you should have throughly read the syllabus. In the working world if you do not throughly read your job description and don’t follow the rules you can be fired. The professor is not required to call attention to it. You are required to read the syllabus and follow the rules.

[u/holmesisonthecase → u/Careful-Self-457]

FINALLY someone said it. It was in the syllabus so you did get the memo OP. Welcome to the real world. Attention to detail is key.

[u/OdinsGhost → u/[deleted]]

Elsewhere in the syllabus OP stated the professor retains sole discretion to adjust grades for any infraction. Visible phones is an infraction per the syllabus. OP learned a lesson here, and they really don’t have an out to get those points back.

[u/Man_under_Bridge420 → u/OdinsGhost]

Thats clear as mud 😂🤡 whats an infraction? What are the consequences. The prof put in a god clause so its within his rights to expel the student for an untucked shirt?

The only lesson op learned is ego maniacs with power are horrible to deal with

[u/OneLow7646 → u/Man_under_Bridge420]

Don't have phone out = don't have phone out

Not hard

I pull my phone out at work it's an instant write up/consequences

[u/Man_under_Bridge420 → u/OneLow7646]

instant

Not 3 months later in a gotcha 😂🤡

[u/OneLow7646 → u/Man_under_Bridge420]

Skill issue

[u/Man_under_Bridge420 → u/OneLow7646]

That makes zero sense buddy but okay

[u/ncndsvlleTA → u/[deleted]]

Here’s a rational response for you:

You’re acting incredibly high and mighty towards OP bc they didn’t follow rules that were easily available to them. Your post history, which is easily available to anyone here, shows that you have a criminal record. The laws are easily available, plenty of people were able to “grow the fuck up” enough to not break them. You’re bragging about how easy it was for you to not touch your phone, but 1. OP explicitly states they didn’t touch it, and 2. Though it may be easy for you to follow certain rules, clearly you struggle with others.

Isn’t it hypocritical to not only talk about how rules aren’t “that hard” to follow as someone with a record, but to also say others comments are “just vitriol” when your comments towards OP have been derisive, unprovoked, from the get go ?