Summary

Student name here

Dr. ABCD

ENG 1113

Date here

Summary: “Students Fail – And Professor Loses Job”

In the article “Students Fail — And Professor Loses Job,” writer Scott Jaschik investigates circumstances around the firing of Steven D. Aird, a biology professor once employed by Norfolk State University. Jaschik notes that the conflict underlying Aird’s termination raises the following question: what party or parties are responsible for a college student’s academic success or failure?

Jaschik’s article outlines the facts behind Aird’s firing: the professor awarded Ds or Fs to “about 90 percent of his students ” (2). As a result, despite positive reviews from former students, colleagues, and institutional superiors, the NSU administration denied Steven Aird tenure. In response, Aird defended his academic standards. Aird stated that he thinks most NSU students have the intellectual potential to be successful but that the Administration’s tolerance of low standards dissuades students from trying harder. As evidence of this, he asserted that well over half the students in his class would have failed based upon the institution’s attendance policy alone.

Jaschik informs readers that Aird’s fellow faculty colleagues supported the professor’s position. Chemistry professor and head of NSU’s Faculty Senate Joseph C. Hall agreed with Aird that many NSU students enter the institution unprepared for college-level work. Hall stated that he believes a student’s success is the responsibility of “the student, the university administration, parents and the faculty” (5). Several of Aird’s former students also supported his high standards and effective teaching.

Jaschik’s article notes that NSU Administrator DeLoatch stood behind the institution’s decision to deny Aird tenure. Jaschik quotes her as saying that the institution is known for accepting unprepared students with the goal of “whipping them into shape” (2). Jaschik notes that DeLoatch regards Aird’s high failure...