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.
Comments
He might just be trying to scare you and has no intention of actually deducting the points. Have you spoke to anyone that previously took his class?
have you spoken to your dean?
Did the syllabus even say anything about docking points for it ?
Honestly I think you have to take the L on this one.
Some professors like pulling that kind of shit.
Maybe try talking to him one more time, noting the repercussions
Escalate. College Dean or otherwise.
If the professor is using that to dock points it should be abundantly clear in the syllabus that not only should phones not be seen but that it will result in a loss of points..
Raise it to a school newspaper that grading system that is arbitrary and capricious is being used.
Do you have the option to do directly to the faculty Dean?
Look up on rate my professor or otherwise and see if they have actually followed though in the past. A teacher that fails everyone for something trivial will certainly have a reputation
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.
If it’s in the syllabus, comply. If not, maybe you can challenge it.
Ego/ power trip
Did the syllabus also have information regarding the penalty for phones being visible? That’s the only angle I can see helping. That, or kicking up a bigger fuss over your department head by pointing out that a bunch of students failing a class does NOT reflect well on either the professor OR the university and that prospective students should know the kind of ethics that are being supported.
A university is a place to foster education and community and attempting to sabotage their own success because of one smug professor is very poor practice. What a jack ass.
Speak to someone higher up, this sounds like a little man trying to feel big
if all of you are about to fail then take it to the dean.
OP, I’m really sorry to hear that. Some people here are telling you you’re out of options and that the professor can do whatever they want if it’s in the syllabus. I disagree–even if he technically has the power to, it doesn’t mean he should. Fight this through collective action, since it sounds like there are others in your position.
Use an app like BoPeep petitions (bopetition.com) that’s designed for small-scale classroom/workplace petitions. This one uses game theory to encourage people to sign by having signatures start out anonymous and then be revealed only when enough people sign. You can then use the app to anonymously send the final petition to your professor, while copying the department head, the dean, and your school newspaper’s rep. Or you can print the petition, and walk it to the dean’s office. Or do both.
They might just ignore it, but it’s better than nothing. At the very least, it will make the professor think twice about pulling this same shit on the next class.
Former professor here. Read the syllabus, even if it’s five whole pages.
What a clown. Can he actually alter the trajectory of your existence over something so petty? I hope his family treats him like trash at home and that he loses everything in the tariff wars.
I’d appeal this. At the post secondary institution I taught at for thirty years, this professor’s policy would never fly if he hadn’t announced it at the beginning of the exam and is in the syllabus. Even then it might not be allowed.
Keep your phone off the desk. Problem solved. Does he sound like a clown absolutely. I could see if you were scrolling all class long but it’s your money. Hell I once had a professor who said I pronounced my last name wrong.
I would suggest not having your phone out then. Seems pretty clear
If it’s in the syllabus you are cooked
gotta follow school policy
Students are responsible for reading the syllabus for each class. Policies are explicitly stated.
I am a college instructor, and the syllabus not only needs that statement but it also needs the enforcement policy and point value impact. I would suggest if you are going to fail the course you have nothing to lose and I would go to his management, the dean and similar and protest the policy. Say that you agree that phone use is to be limited but having one on your desk and getting point loss without that policy being outlined in syllabus is a violation of school policy. Just complaining like you did without giving valid reasons and pointing out where the policy violates school policy is not enough. Find the actual articles and lines in school policy. Cuz you have to have stuff not just in the syllabus but also what it means. The professor fell short
I would keep taking it higher. I had an issue with a professor who wanted to fail me, and I had a 3.9 GPA, so it wasn’t that I was a bad student.
The department head was zero help. I ended up speaking with the university president who spoke with my advisor, and the president intervened and the professor was not allowed to fail me. The professor was pissed about it.
Welcome to life. If you don’t do what’s asked of you at work, you don’t have a job for long.
Yes it’s petty and pathetic, but you’ll meet lots of people like that in your working life too.
Learn a lesson and move on
Well, if it’s either failing or putting your phone away, just put your phone away. You are there for a reason and should be able to keep your phone out of sight through lecture. I had professors like this too. And honestly, it is disrespectful to be on your phone while a professor is lecturing.
Lots of boot lickers in these comments lol
Sucks but it doesn’t really seem like you can get out of this one. This is an opportunity to learn and grow from your mistake.
Can you ask the “Professor” if there is any extra curricular work you can do to make up the points?
A harsh lesson but an important one – not everyone is going to have your best interests at heart, and there are people in the world who are actively counting on you to not pay attention to the contents of a contract. They are ready and eager to exploit your inattention to detail.
Deal with it as best you can. Pivot, if you have to. Practice your negotiation and self-advocacy skills with your prospective employer. Own your mistake and articulate how the lesson will make you a better employee, without complaining about how you were tricked. And work your ass off to ace the final and make your professor choke on it. In short – toughen up, straighten your back and get smarter. This won’t be the last time you encounter this shit in your adult life.
Was it, in fact, explicitly stated in the syllabus? If so then you don’t have a lot of options.
If not then I’d bring a copy back to the department head, and if they don’t care your last resort is the dean (of academics). If you speak with the dean you should note that the department head told you this was not a problem because it was in the syllabus but it’s not in the syllabus – I’d also make sure I can demonstrate the quality of work I’ve done for the class so far.
To the people saying escalate. They’ve already gone to reddit. There is no higher power.
What’s the exact text in the syllabus with relation to the cell phone policy?
No one’s going to take your point seriously until you’re confident that you have a solid argument about this. Do you actually believe that you have grounds for a complaint, or are you simply frustrated by the situation?
You should be able to discuss this with someone beyond the department head, but only after you’ve had a serious conversation with the department head making it clear that you’re not just trying to get out of a bad grade, that the professor’s actions are unreasonable and unjust, and how you expect the situation to be rectified. If that conversation goes nowhere, then seek assistance higher within administration. Consult your student government reps if you are not familiar with who the next best person might be to talk to. Be confident that you are in the right, and keep pushing until you reach a reasonable conclusion.
Based on the post and comments, I don’t think you’ll get traction with any of the combative / attrition oriented approaches offered (petitions, complaints / escalations above the professor).
Could you describe the resolution attempt you had with the professor in more detail? You mentioned speaking to the professor. Could you talk about that conversation in more detail? I see where you mentioned that he referred you the syllabus and looked smug. What did you say before that? After?
So you didn’t read the rules, broke said rule. Now you’re upset? This is why you read stuff. If you get this job you have lined up, make sure you read everything before complaining about the established rules.
So the syllabus says “Don’t take your phones out” and “I can give you whatever grade I want.” And this asshole has been secretly planning to deduct points from your final grade every time he sees a phone? He didn’t say anything about that, just happily waiting to ruin a bunch of students’ grades? What a fucking prick.
Don’t use your phone in class? This seems like something that could have been easily remedied.
Have you tried putting your phone away?
Oh, what a jerk.
Inspect the syllabus. If this wasn’t documented as an “infraction”, demand the prof reinstate points. If he won’t, right to the Dean of his department, en masse. Go as a group with the syllabus and be BIG MAD but keep your cool.
Deans hate this crap and will absolutely come down on the Prof for making them have to deal with students.
So it’s 20% of your grade that’s a zero? What’s your grade like otherwise? You should still be able to pass.
(Happy to be corrected; I’m an English major so my math may be faulty.)
Try to get a local news station to do a story
To hell with the people telling you to just bend over and take this. Fuck that. Fight this in every way possible. This is college, not high school. You literally paid to be there. Get everyone in class involved and even reach out to some of his other classes because I’m sure y’all aren’t alone.
Edit: All the loud and proud bootlickers in the comments are hilarious 😂
This is incredibly poor practice. The purpose of grading and assessment is to demonstrate how well you know the material. Grade points should never be used as behavior modification tools.
I would contest this to the head of department, using that rationale. It would be reasonable for the professor to ask people to leave the lecture if they were distracted or being distracting, but grades should be about performance.
I regularly wonder why university professors have no requirement to learn how to teach and assess learning.
I would ask him
“What do you get out of this? It makes you feel good to pull a gotcha on students who are just trying to get an education? That’s the kind of person you are?”
Wow. I see two options here – Sorry you are going through this btw.
If multiple people have been docked for cell phones being out – Multiple people need to speak with the dean. One at a time, over and over and over again so it’s all the dean hears about. A seemingly LONG trickle of sad students all complaining about one class…This will move the needle. And the complaints can’t be loud an vitriolic. They need to be sad and regret ridden and dripping with post class consequences like your situation. Universities WANT their students to go on to get good jobs. They are denying themselves bragging rights.
You need to launch a charm offensive as “he retains discretion to adjust”. The professor , wants and likes the win – give it to him. You need to telegraph the following in the most sincere and belevable way possible : You love the class. You have learned so much in this class, you are totally guilty of having phone out – you totally missed that line in the syllabus cause sometimes you just skim for the most pertinent information. – ASK – Is there any extra credit work I can do to re-earn those lost points. – And THIS is super important – You need to make it HIS problem…. Say,
“I just want YOUR ADVICE right now. If you were in my position having lost 20 points in this class, what would you do to overcome this deficit?” Be kind , be humble, take notes.
Try to work this phrase into your discussion “You’ve been kind and generous with this class so far and I really appriciate everything I’m learning here.”
He wants the ‘gotcha moment’ you want the 20 points. Trade him.
I wonder if it’s a bell curve and the kids without deductions don’t care lol
That’s really frustrating. Since talking to the professor and department head didn’t help, try escalating it to the dean or a higher up. Gather evidence showing the rule wasn’t clear, and consider reaching out to a student advocate or legal help if needed. You’ve got every right to fight for a fair resolution.
It’s time you learned to accept authority? Next it will be your supervisor, or a police officer, or a judge.
If you’re an American you should know that ignorance of the law isn’t a defense. When you do things you’re not supposed to there will be consequences.
My advice is you pay the piper.
college is to prep you for the adult world of working. this isn’t gonna be popular but here it is.
I see a lot of you blaming others but not a lot of you taking accountability for not following written directions you were given and the repercussions they come with.
sounds like failing would do you good. keep you in school a little longer to grow up a bit more.
I would demand evidence. No evidence, no case. If the professor cannot articulate the details about when the supposed infractions occurred then they don’t have a leg to stand on.
Honestly if I were you I would get a wallet or credit card holder that looks similar to a phone. And say I have never once had a cell phone on my desk only this wallet/ case. Make professor prove otherwise.
Here’s what really pisses me off about this. You’re paying for this education. If you’re not using your phone, it’s just sitting on your desk (face down, no less) and he’s deducting points from your grade, that’s going to trash not only your pocketbook, but your potential career. This is wrong. I get if you were texting or scanning the internet, that’s a whole other matter but for having it out at all? This is your livelihood he’s messing with. I would definitely go to your Dean and make a case.
Take it up with the dean and if that doesnt work just raise hell
School is not a fucking joke and hes playing with your futures. Its hard enough to do well, stupid fine print is a sign of an insecure shitty prof who needs not be a teacher anymore
OP, does your cell phone have a case? If so and it really always was face-down, I would argue the professor had no grounds to deduct points. He has no way of knowing if a cell phone was on your desk, or just an empty case, and it’s on him if he didn’t verify what he thought he was seeing. The phone itself was, per the language of the syllabus, not visible.
My guess is there is more to the story. Turning off your phone and putting it away seems like an easy and reasonable requirement in a classroom.
Seems people in the comments telling OP to read the syllabus are incapable of reading themselves. What a bunch of unhelpful stuck up brown nosers.
Could be worse, at least you aren’t in the job you have lined up and violated a policy. Tbh that’s probably the lesson to take from all this is make sure you understand the rules you’re agreeing to. But that’s just someone who has to deal with that type of thing for a living. (Cyber security)
Pure hilarity
Just put the phone away.
Put your phone away unless you plan to make a career out of breaking the rules This is not rocket science.
Apologize to the professor, tell him you’ll abide by his rules and ask (beg) if there is any extra work you can do to improve your grade.
Let him know he taught you something… That pesky thing called living by the rules. Adulting isn’t always easy
People: “F*ck Karens!”
Also people: “I’d like to speak with your manager.”
I’m with him. Read the syllabus, it’s an important teaching tool in itself and is also legally binding for professors.
NAL but I noticed it says SHOULD not MUST. All the contracts I’ve been party to make a distinction between those words.
He’s a little man on an ego trip.
Since he doesn’t want to budge you could try going to the dean or the head of his department. It was in the syllabus so you hold some responsibility but if he truly didn’t call attention to it or highlight the gravity of that specific rule he is laying the ground work for you to fail. He also should be making sure you know you’re loosing points every time he docks them. Is there a way for you to monitor your grade in real time for the course? Assuming that he isn’t simply a miserable scumbag the policy was probably instituted to keep students from getting distracted and missing parts of the lecture. That is a valid policy for a professor to have. However, if he is docking you points and there is no way for you to know that until this far in the semester the policy isn’t being used as a tool to foster your education, rather one designed explicitly for bringing down your grade.
How are your grades in the class otherwise? If this policy is truly the only thing making you fail then your grade isn’t a true indicator of what you’ve gained from the course. Administration may be interested in looking into it.
If the schools administration isn’t going to do anything about it then I would contact the school paper, local news agencies, blast him on rate my professor and try to do everything possible to warn other students about it.
If the syllabus does not specify a grade reduction for having the phone out, this may be worth having an attorney write a letter
This is on you.
Read the fucking syllabus.
I hear ya. Some of these professors are on such a power trip it’s ridiculous! I had a professor who docked points for absences but I was literally in the hospital for surgery and getting blood transfusions for 2 classes and provided doctors notes and receipts and everything but he said that it didn’t matter that he applied the rule regardless of what the reason is for absence. Mind you then this was literally the only B I got in graduate school and all of my other classes I got A’s across the board. I was disgusted with this guy and gave him very bad reviews after classes ended.
I’d strongly suggest that you put your phone away and on “Do not Disturb” for the rest of the semester. If he noticed that you had it out, he’ll notice that you no longer do. As someone who has spent time in front of a class, it is impossible to know which of the 30 or more phones on students desks are being ignored, which are being “peeked at” every five minutes and which are actively being used. It’s very discouraging to have one’s teaching disrupted and ignored because of phones. Maybe not your phone, but it’s impossible to know who the multiple culprits are, thus the rule. I bet word will get around that in his class you read and follow the syllabus.
Did he document every infraction? Has he provided exactly when you broke the rule? If not then it sounds like you’re being discriminated against. Email your professor asking for exact dates and time and proof then say you feel like he is discriminating against you and mention that your next step is to contact an attorney. Have some other students do it as well. Also see if you can find any reporters for local news stations. Then if they don’t respond to your email meet with the dean and make an off handed remark about having a meeting with the news paper or station. Universities don’t like bad press so it’s really the nuclear option so don’t use it as a first step. Also contact your school’s ombudsperson.
Where, my simple friend, did I give legal advice? Have you ever known a lawyer? Are you 12? You were the one giving legal advice by saying the OP had no recourse because they didn’t, “read and follow the syllabus.” I stand by my original statement. May the judgemental be judged.
That’s pretty scummy tbh. What if you’re checking on your kid via a nannycam or something? There’s a big difference between that & having your phone out texting repeatedly or checking your notifications.
Put. The. Phone. Away. This is addiction folks. Just like tobacco, alcohol, drugs. Phone addiction is by far the biggest threat to our society. Zero reason, ZERO to need to have the device visible except the addiction. I’m 49 and remember a world without these devices, and somehow people survived. No argument is valid, the professor is right.
One thing i would like to point out. Covertly giving you demerits for this is not actively enforcing the rule. The clause “at his discretion” goes both ways. His silence on the subject could easily lead to what felt like an implicit blessing to have it out which lead to the misunderstanding. Did he ever verbally enforce or lay out the rules during specific classes? Did he ever ask for someone to stop using their phone? Did anyone ever get reprimanded for anything verbally?
Tactical enforcement of rules is not allowed.
But is your phone out? Or is it just from other students?
At this point your still the student, you dont have anything else besides taking that class.
does your school require you to use 2 factor authentication with your phone for logging into course materials. mine does and I couldnt loggin to look at the course materials or powerpoint one day when my phone broke, its essentially required to use your phone in class. Id point this out if its a thing at your school. I also use my phone in class to quicky look up definitions or things we talk about in class, or write notes on my phone related to course material, or wishlist books on audiable that my proff mentions. Its 2025 if they require you use your own persoanl computers you should be allowed to use your phone as they have the same capabilities.
This is scummy. Go to ratemyprofesor to warn future students. I wonder why you didn’t hear from classmates about him. It seems he has been doing this in past classes.
Embarrass the crap out of him.
Go as public as you can with how you’ve never used your phone during class, you just put it down on top of things face down because you don’t like having it stuffed in your pocket or wherever. The same time you have to explain everything you’ve done to appeal this.
This five page buried in the syllabus thing as akin to the licensing agreements everyone scrolls through and does not read every time we install a new piece of software. There could be anything in there.
My belief is if something can significantly impact your grade, needs to be called out verbally during class
I would try to seek legal counsel from a civil rights lawyer. One of the other commenter’s mentioned note taking. With today’s phones being multi tasking, the professor doesn’t know why it’s on the desk. That is a totally unreasonable assumption.
Sucks that the prof is like that. I’ve had some strict professors but fortunately went to college before cell phones were much of a thing. Though back then (90s) if you had one and it rang you were chastised in class (as it should be). I don’t know that you have much to do besides fix your behavior immediately and see if there is anything that you can do to get the points back. You can try talking to a dean but it is in the syllabus and he could say that at the beginning of the semester when going through the syllabus he says not to have phones out.
This is fucking wild. What the hell. I’m so sorry OP. Sadly I can’t give you too much advice since I am european and this would be wildly illegal at universities here, but you have my sympathies. I’d’ve been screwed since I wrote almost 100% of my notes, throughout my entire uni career, on my phone – since I have strain injuries in my hands which makes phone typing the least painful.
Go to the Dean.
lol. how are you going to pay your student loans back?
I am a professor. All these things should be in the syllabus. Also students need to know each time points are deducted, not find out at the end. You should be able to lodge a complaint on transparency with first your professor, then the chair of the dept, then the dean of students or whatever role deals with students and academics. Secretly is not acceptable!