Tennessee State Fails on Terra Strong, Incomplete Grade Irony
Written by HBCU Digest, Posted in Students, Tennessee, Tennessee State University
The Tennessee State Board of Regents cleared Tennessee State University of any wrong doing in its case of mass incomplete grades changed for students against faculty will. TSU, which adamantly defended against any wrongdoing in their change of more than 100 students’ final grades in introductory courses, was vindicated in the Board’s report to a state Senate investigation panel this evening.
Good for Tennessee State, but a remarkable contradiction in the university’s approach with Terra Strong, a TSU senior who was stripped of the title of Miss Tennessee State University, in part, because of an incomplete grade that left her one credit short of the 12-credit semester requirement necessary to run for the position.
Strong says that she was advised by her instructor to accept an incomplete to receive a better grade in another attempt. That decision cost her the title and a legitimate sense of humiliation amongst her peers.
100 TSU students completing remedial coursework but not fulfilling all of their requirements were given a chance to make up the work, and to receive the grade they eventually earned. Never mind that the students didn’t do all of the work required of them – they were graded on the work they submitted, and the merit of that work.
Tennessee State has a proud tradition of bringing students from good to better, and better to best. But for Strong, a duly elected student leader who met the academic qualifications to run for one of the university’s most prestigious offices, the university allowed no make up, no chance to keep a rightfully-earned position with rightfully-earned credit hours.
Her earned merit to be Miss TSU wasn’t good enough to retain her crown.
The student handbook suggests that Strong has little case to make against the revocation of her crown. So far, Tennessee State’s Board and the state’s Board of Regents have denied or refused to hear her appeals of the university’s decision. The letter of the law may not be on her side, but certainly Strong did not violate the spirit of the law – that students’ academics shouldn’t suffer in the name of campaigning for a student leadership position.
Tennessee State worked hard to defend itself from faculty and legislative inquiry about the spirit behind changing students’ grades. The university wanted to be judged not on bending its own rules, but on its effort to improve the lives of deserving students. TSU ducked a major legislative bullet tonight, and will probably maintain that it was right all along.
It sucks that Terra Strong, a senior with years of investment in the student body and the legacy of student leadership at TSU, will likely leave the university with no will to give back or pride in her HBCU experience. She’ll maintain that the Tennessee State University was wrong to allow one course to change her perspective on alma mater and allegiance amongst her own people.
And for the rest of her life, she’ll be right.
TSU Alum, you do not know the facts. Terra had 14 credits when she ran, or they would not have allowed her to run and win in the first place. She had a B and was trying to maintain the B or even earn an A. So your contention about her getting a horrible grade isn’t even accurate. Terra has worked hard for everything she has ever had. Sense of entitlement is not applicable here. And to say it hasn’t happened before isn’t true either. There are several documented cases of Mr. TSU’s, Miss TSU’s and SGA officers who had actually failed post certification because they failed courses and didn’t make the GPA requirement who were given opportunities to retake tests to raise their GPAs and save their positions. Terra had a B grade, was on track to maintain or raise that B grade, and was told she couldn’t continue in the position, even though the university’s academic policy regarding Incompletes said that she could. The university chose to selective ignore its own policy. That is unethical and unprofessional. So please TSU Alum, learn the facts and please spread the truth.
The young lady knew she was 1 credit hour short when she ran for Miss TSU, and she also knew that she didn’t do what was necessary in that particular class to warrant a good grade. The professor advised her right: Take an I & save your GPA. She could’ve gotten a horrible grade (which is what she would’ve EARNED) and not have the GPA to run in the first place. Students’ sense of entitlement has gone overboard – We surely don’t need a Miss TSU who isn’t making the grade. And to compare her case with the remedial students who’s class is more or less an INTERVENTION is downright ludicrous because the purpose of the remedial class is to prepare students who need more help with basic skills to succeed in college. If the University decided to be slightly more lenient and catering to struggling students by extending a deadline or requiring them to engage in more learning before issuing that final grade – SO BE IT. That’s how intervention works: Getting the student to master the material before moving on.
Folks, learn the purpose of college. In this case, the young lady didn’t have all her ducks in a row before attempting to be Miss TSU. She can’t represent TSU like that. Sorry. Hasn’t happened in the past, and won’t happen in the future if we can help it.
SUCK IT UP.
TSU Alum, you do not know the facts. Terra had 14 credits when she ran, or they would not have allowed her to run and win in the first place. She had a B and was trying to maintain the B or even earn an A. So your contention about her getting a horrible grade isn’t even accurate. Terra has worked hard for everything she has ever had. Sense of entitlement is not applicable here. And to say it hasn’t happened before isn’t true either. There are several documented cases of Mr. TSU’s, Miss TSU’s and SGA officers who had actually failed post certification because they failed courses and didn’t make the GPA requirement who were given opportunities to retake tests to raise their GPAs and save their positions. Terra had a B grade, was on track to maintain or raise that B grade, and was told she couldn’t continue in the position, even though the university’s academic policy regarding Incompletes said that she could. The university chose to selective ignore its own policy. That is unethical and unprofessional. So please TSU Alum, learn the facts and please spread the truth.
Terra Strong the real Miss TSU 2012.
I agree with Terra Strong that she should remain Miss TSU, because at the time of the running and the votes all grades as I am reading it was in. Based on this TSU would not be breaking their own rules. Keep Terra Strong as Miss TSU.
Wow, so sad.