So, the director of my masters program retired and one of my professors stepped into the director role. She has a reputation of being a difficult person to work with academically.

Anyway, I started my program with different course requirements prior to updated course requirements made to my program this year.

Now, she refuses to let me take my capstone course because I didn't fulfill the new course requirements - specifically one course.

I can go to the academic dean to complain and appeal her decision. The academic dean can't force the director to let me take my capstone. Just report to the director that I complained and if they agree with my complaint, send an email to this woman, asking her to let me take the capstone course.

She can still say no, to the academic dean. So, kind of what's the point but that's higher academia for you.

Don't you just love the unpoetic justice of higher academia?

[Yaowen]

What a heartbreaking situation. Since I have some experience with the jungle of higher academia, I can definitely identify with you at a very deep level. I was unable to complete my PhD because of a technicality. My heart goes out to you!

Sorry to hear you experienced the same thing with your PhD. Yaowen. How did you emotionally recover? Did you feel betrayed? I do.

[pianolady]

I'm sorry this happened. I hope you can take the capstone cause it's unfair.

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Well I have an update now. I appealed to the academic dean about the new director's divisiveness (she refused to follow the previous masters program course fulfillment requirements, b/c she wants to change the scope of my masters program to fit her own higher education political agenda).

Fortunately, the academic dean sided with me and told the director that she can't dictate who gets to graduate and who doesn't, and that she has to follow the masters program's previous course fulfillment requirements before she took over from the retired program director. So, I get to finish my masters program now and am enrolled in my capstone. I even filled out the intent to graduate form too.

I'm so relieved. You have no idea.

[Open Eyes]

Successes like this are so important when you have had such a long hard journey. 😉