Feeling Frustrated (long) - YouLookFab Forum

My daughter is taking an accelerated 16 month MSW program at NYU which started last January as part of the program she has two field placements that are 3 days a week 9-5. These need to be completed in order to graduate and also be eligible to take the licensing exam in May/June. Her new field placement was to be at a large hospital in NYC. She emailed the supervisor at the hospital at least 3 times over the summer regarding getting clearances, and called numerous times with zero response. She contacted her advisor at school who replied "oh yes he is really pretty slow and unresponsive ". Finally she heard from him who in HR to contact for clearances. She went to the providers she was told to go to and waited two weeks, nothing. She went back to HR , saw a different person who told her that they had no relationship with that provider and to go to a different one. She did that and waited again she called HR to follow and they were unhelpful and nasty. Another two weeks have gone by now. she called again and HR finally followed up and they lost her paperwork. They seem to have found it now but she still hasn't got the word to start , and when she does she needs to get permission form her supervisor there who has never responded all the time she has been updating him !
My daughter is extremely upset as her mid term , in a week is based on your current field placement which she has none. Also if she does not meet the hours requirement the school may allow her to graduate but she will have to make up the hours after graduation to qualify for the exam . This will involve living in NYC longer having to renew a lease which is very very expensive, in addition to lost earnings as she won't be able to start a job. She has sat around for 3 days a week since the end of August she would happily have found a part time job, she has got depressed and very lonely.
The whole reason she went to NYU was because they touted great field placements, The school has not been helpful in following up whatsoever and she told me that they said "Oh well we may have to start work on finding a new placement " wonder how long that will take !! Plus how is she going to make up the hours now. NYU is extremely pricey and I wonder what we pay for !!
I am so angry,
I wanted to call the school about 3 weeks ago and should have. I know my daughter sent them a long email yesterday. I know that it is really the HR dept at the hospital and the supervisor that is at fault but the school needs to stop using this placement as I hear that the supervisor has a terrible reputation , and this is the person who will be reviewing my daughter , he is unresponsive, shows up late and never follows though.
My daughter has worked so hard as the 16 month program is continuous with no time off, she was inducted into the honor society two weeks ago so she is really upset that this has gone so wrong.
Sorry for the rant, I've been up since 4am stewing about it all in conjunction with the notice from the bank yesterday about the overdraft on DS's account at college . Had to explain to him that when you write a check from your checking account the money has to be in your checking account not in your savings account lol !
If you made it this far without losing the will to live thank you:)

10 years ago

Alassë

Veteran

I'm sorry, Gail. That is really frustrating.

Eliza

So sorry. My daughter did her masters in NYC and it is costly. She finished hers as quickly as possible for the reasons you cite.

Take my advice with a grain of salt as I don't know NYU. This is my field and I have worked in academia. I would suggest your daughter schedule an immediate meeting with the academic dean of the program. I'd probably skip the field work people at this point; they seem to be okay with time passing. Also, your daughter may need a higher authority to help resolve the credit issue that could ensue if there is no alternative to the field worked based mid-term.

Have her bring all correspondence with her placement from the beginning to the meeting with the dean, so that if indicated, she can confirm her efforts. This will document that she did not drop the self -advocacy ball. I'd also keep her correspondence with field work dept accessible, although it is important not to create tensions that will follow throughout her program. I would not want to pay for courses that yield no credit due to systemic issues.

I am assuming your daughter was on top of all she could possibly do and that she was encouraged to wait for the placement to wake up rather than pursue alternatives.

All the best. I hope others will weigh in with relevant options. This is just one point of view on an initial pass. If she has a close relationship with any profs, she could also ask for assistance or recommendations, though I think it likely needs to be "up the chain". She doesn't want to burn bridges, just be treated fairly.

Here's to a constructive resolution.

abc

Eliza gives sage advice.

One thing that struck me reading your post is the communication method - which Eliza touched on as well.

To me, and I come from a business background, email is ok for non urgent things. Or for the first time it happened. After that, I believe email is not the way to get action you need. Of course it helps to have a written record but I don't think it can be the only communication (not saying it was). In this digital age we've gotten so accustomed to firing emails to resolve anything and given this situation I agree with Eliza, I think it may take a face to face between your daughter and a more powerful person in the organization as well as calls from you (assuming you're not local).

As frustrating as it seems, this can be a learning experience for your daughter too. Try to stay positive and don't accept half-a** answers. You need action and resolution and you deserve it.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Anonymous

As someone who worked at a major university's graduate school for 37 years,I agree that your daughter should meet with her academic dean and graduate adviser immediately to discuss this. She should not be penalized for what looks to be administrative dysfunction on the part of the hospital in question. Good luck!

rachylou

Oh, that's NYU. NYU was my brother's first choice and they screwed the paperwork, said he had no place, but totally cashed the check. Right and this is all seconds before the start of term. USC agreed to let him come and still have his scholarship after he said no. Then NYU says oh they'll give him his place back... After he's already gone to LA. Yes. Bite me NYU. Go give them heck. Be shrill.

Gail

Thank you all for the great advice. Her academic advisor called her today in response to the long email she sent and since then the hospital have called wanting more details regarding dates etc. She also has a meeting tomorrow with the field placement top dog so fingers crossed. I am going to tell her that depending what happens tomorrow she should set up a meeting with the academic dean .
PS Still working on my sons major credit card debacle lol

unfrumped

Good luck and be polite but persistent.
There is a long history of "lost" paperwork and delays in academia and related bureaucracies, affecting students and staff/faculty in key situations for licensing, job start dates, other peoples's lives and schedules as well.
I agree with rachy--give 'em heck.

Glory

Good luck with all this. Wonderful advice here. I would make the appointment regardless - at least you will be in the schedule. Fingers crossed you get a speedy resolution.

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