23 January 2009
Hailey Dean was absent from the Living Green Interim class on Tuesday morning, January 20th. Members of the class had been previously notified verbally during class and via the course website the following information regarding attendance:
Quoted directly from the course website:
Attendance policy implemented 15 January for remainder of Interim sessions:
Unexcused absence will result in the assignment of 3 page essays to be composed based on writings of Edward Abbey or Aldo Leopold.
Those with unexcused absences or tardiness prior to 15 January are expected to attend the Sierra Club meeting at 7 pm on Thursday Jan 20th. Those students how have no unexcused absences are encouraged to attend this meeting but are not required to do so.
On either Wednesday, Jan 21 or Thursday, Jan 22 Dr. Davis informed Hailey privately during regular class meeting that a doctor’s note would be required for an excused absence. (I’m uncertain about the date but I am certain that I did directly ask Hailey for a doctor’s note.) Hailey responded by volunteering to provide a doctor’s note.
Dr. Davis reminded Hailey again on Thursday, Jan 22 in an email time stamped 4:52 pm (photocopy attached.)
At the meeting of the Sierra Club at 7:30 pm on Thursday, Jan 22 which Hailey was required to attend, Hailey handed to Dr. Davis a “doctor’s note” (see attached). In the discussion that followed the adjournment of the meeting, Dr. Davis used the “doctor’s note” to write down the email address of attendee Heidi Robinson (Chaplain’s wife) because no other piece of paper was readily available. This explains why is hand-written on the back of the “doctor’s note.”
Upon review of the “doctor’s note” later that evening, Dr. Davis observed that there was no signature on the note.
In the early afternoon of Friday, January 23, 2009, Dr. Davis showed the note to Associate Dean of Students Beth Wallace and Ruth Rainer at Wofford Campus Health Services. They have no record of seeing Hailey Dean on the date of her absence (Jan 20th.) After calling and faxing the original “doctor’s note” to the Wofford College Physicians at Family Medical Center, staff at that office absolutely confirmed that they had not seen Hailey Dean on Jan 20, 2009 and in fact the last record they have of an office visit for Hailey Dean is 11/28/08.
Dean Wallace can provide independent documentation of the steps taken by her and her staff and the results of those inquires (copy attached.)
It appears that Hailey Dean has violated the honor code (article g. on p. 35) by “misrepresenting personal circumstances (such as conflicting responsibilities, personal illness, or illness or death of loved ones) in an effort to avoid an assignment or deadline or as an excuse for not meeting academic responsibilities in a course.”
Co-instructors Davis and C.L. Abercrombie discussed this matter at 3:30 pm on Friday, Jan 23 and agreed to inform Hailey Dean of her options which we see as
1) completing the Interim project and thereafter processing this charge through the Honor Court , or
2) agreeing to accept a failing grade for this interim project with the additional options of
a) completing the course (including her presentation scheduled for Monday afternoon January 26), or
b) no further involvement in the course.
At 3:45 pm, Dr. Davis left a message on cell phone number 270-227-8580 requesting Hailey to return the call and meet with Drs. Davis and Abercrombie by 5:00 pm on Jan 23 if possible or to meet with the professors at 8:00 am (before class) on Monday Jan 26th. Dr. Davis did not indicate in the cell phone message the nature of the meeting but did indicate that the same request would be made by email.
At 4:25 pm Dr. Davis sent an email with the text:
Dear Hailey,
We need to speak with you on Monday 8:00 am about the note you presented as an excuse for your absence of 20 Jan 2009.
If you wish, I can send you an attachment documenting the nature of our serious concern.
I hope to hear from you soon,
Dr. Davis
Confidential Document on Wofford’s Health Services shared by Dean Wallace:
January 23, 2009
Approximately 2:30 p.m.
GR Davis met with Beth Wallace to inquire if a medical excuse form he had received from Hailey Dean was legitimate. The form was on what appeared to be letterhead from FamilyMedicalCenter (college physicians located on Dillon Drive). The form indicated that Hailey should be “excused” from class on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 and could return on January 21, 2009. A copy is in the file.
Beth Wallace asked Ruth Rainer, RN if she would check Hailey’s medical file to see if she had been seen on that day. She had not been seen in Health Services by our staff. Ruth Rainer called the doctor’s office to see if the student had gone on her own. They had no record of her being seen on January 20, 2009 nor did they recognize the form that was faxed over for their verification.
Ruth Rainer also called the Athletic Department and asked if she was a student-athlete to rule out the Sports Medicine Department being involved. She is not a student –athlete.
Ruth Rainer spoke with GR Davis again to share this information.