Can my adviser stop me from graduating??

[Target1600]

Hi,

I'm a PhD student at my current university in US. However, I'm planning to drop out of the PhD program and defend for my master's. I'm transferring to a different university for PhD. Before joining the PhD program at the current university, I clearly mentioned to my adviser that I'll be applying for PhD to other schools. At that time he mentioned that not only can I apply, he will also write me a great letter of recommendation. However, when a professor from a different university interviewed me, I asked him for the letter. He clearly denied me the letter. Furthermore, he said that he never promised me the letter and that I assumed it myself. A few days later he told me that it was a misunderstanding and that it is in my best interest to continue working on my PhD under his guidance. He is technically very poor and can't advice me a bit. I work on my own and keep publishing (of course with him as an author on the papers).

I got an admit from a top 10 university in US without his recommendation. And now I just want to defend for my master's. I have conveyed it to him and he is really depressed after knowing this. He even called one of my fellow PhD students to his office and started asking questions about ethics and justifying that I'm betraying him. When I asked him to defend for my master's he mentioned he is currently very busy and can let me defend only some time in late June. Considering the fact that he does not keep his words, I'm really worried about my graduation. I have done considerable work and have already published 4 papers. Can he stop me from graduating?

Also, please advice on how should I handle the situation?

Thanks

[wildviolet]

Sorry, I don't know that I can offer much advice, but I can certainly sympathize with your situation.

After I had completed my thesis, I had to submit a change of program form because I had taken a class that was not originally on the form. This form required three signatures! My adviser, the department chair, and the dean of the college. I needed the form to be turned in ASAP so that my degree could be conferred on my transcript so that I could get my (substantial) pay raise. It had to be done by a certain date.

After waiting a few weeks, I contacted my adviser, who said she would look into it. Then, after a few more weeks, I contacted her again, and her response was basically something like "Look, I've already done all I can, and I don't think I can do any more for you." I was stunned. I thought she was on my side and understood my situation. So, I turned to the department secretary and department chair, who were able to get things moving so that the form could be submitted by the deadline.

I know my situation was not as dire as yours, but it may help for you to now turn to others in your department. I guess the other thing is, do you need to leave with a Master's? Will your new institution accept you without it?

[Target1600]

Thanks so much wildviolet. Ya, I'm planning to turn to others but the only problem is that as soon as I'll contact other professors they will certainly let it know to my adviser which I believe won't be good. My offer letter says that I need to provide the final transcript but they didn't mention anything explicitly regarding the MS degree. I'm planning to contact the graduate coordinator regarding it some time in near future when things will become a little clear. Also, since I have completed my coursework for master's I submitted a Full time Certification form to maintain my full time status as an international student which is required for immigration purposes. However, the form also requires a letter from the adviser stating the reason for this certification, status of my thesis and time table for completion of the degree. I believe if my adviser provides me this letter than things will be a bit more clear as to what his plans are.

[kaykaykay]

1. I would talk to the chair of graduate studies ASAP. tell them that your interests have changed so you want to leave and ask for help. I would not say anything about the quality of the program. try to play it as nice as possible, you are heading out and you won already. If there are you can mention personal reasons etc...

2. probably your new university will not care a bit whether you graduated or not from this place. so worst comes to worst move on and defend later.

[Target1600]

Thanks so much kalapocska. I'm planning to contact the chair as soon as my adviser provides me the letter (if at all he does). I talked to the chair while I was applying and he said I could leave with a MS degree. But he didn't submit the recommendation letter even after repeated reminders though said he will write a good one. He will for sure convey what ever I say to him to my adviser. The only reason I mentioned I'm switching is the opportunity to work on the project completely aligned with my area of interest in which I won a best paper award during the initial phase of my master's.

[Sigaba]

Can he stop me from graduating?

Potentially. If you wrote a master's thesis/report, he could play "stump the band" when you defend. If your master's requires a written or oral exam, he could potentially approach it as if you were taking qualifying exams for a doctorate. Unless you can document convincingly the process by which you two negotiated the parameters of your defense, it might be very difficult to prove that he's being vindictive.

Also, please advise on how should I handle the situation?

Do what you can to manage better your emotions over this situation. Focus on the issue (determining a time/place for your defense) and the outcome you prefer (sooner rather than later). Let go of any and all rhetoric/thoughts/actions that do not help you solve the issue.

I strongly recommend that you stop the "Johnson measuring" with this professor. It does not matter who is smarter or who is more ethical or who is a better person. Nor does it matter how many awards you've won. Your impressive record of achievement is not the issue.

What matters is that this professor has something you need and he has power over you until you get your diploma (and maybe even after). I understand that you're upset with this person and that you hold him in low esteem. However, this POI may be an incredible political infighter who has rhetorical, procedural, and psychological tactics beyond your imagination. Treat the person with courtesy and as much respect as you can muster. Do not give this person an opportunity to point to your behavior and say to his peers "See? This is exactly what I'm talking about!"

As things stand, since you intend to leave this program anyways, his peers and the administration have more reasons to take his point of view than yours. Not because he's right and you're wrong, but for the sake of pragmatism.

As you work on managing your state of mind, begin, right away, the process of documenting everything. Archive on storage devices you control every shred of digital communication that you've had with everyone in your department. Take careful notes of every conversation you've had. Make a point to document contemporaneously your state of mind during and after each encounter. In these notes, do not write anything you'd not want to swear to in a court of law. By all means, do not include any revenge fantasies. As fun and as harmless as those may be, they can be used to burn you. (If you can help it, do not have any revenge fantasies other than going on your life and living well.)

Consider the value of the guidance in post #4. However, think thrice before disclosing the details of your situation. Do not lie, do not mislead, or allow your new program to have a mistaken impression. Just keep your discussion of the matter as general as possible and disclose the details as needed. Do not try fight this battle in the court of public opinion either at your current program or your new one. Everyone these days has a lot on their plate--do not add to their burdnes. Moreover, as you've not proven yourself in your new environment, you don't want to give anyone a reason to draw the wrong first impression about you.

One last point. You're in a situation in which you're getting to see the elephant. While it is unfortunate, it, given the nature of the Ivory Tower, may have been inevitable. Eventually, almost everyone gets screwed over by somebody. As best as you can, try not to let this experience embitter you. Do what you can to draw from this experience lessons that will make you a better scholar and a person.

A request. No matter how this situation gets resolved, please, at some point, come back to this BB and let everyone know what you did and how things turned out. This step on your part will allow future graduate students to learn from your experiences.

HTH.

[Target1600]

Thanks so much for your comprehensive advice Sigaba. I'm just waiting to let my adviser absorb it during the spring break and then start consolidating the details of the defense. I'll certainly share my experience once it is over for the benefit of others.

[Target1600]

Hey guys! please advice. My advisor is hell bent to not let me graduate without showing it directly but by delaying things. I'm also not sure whether the Department Chair would help as he is an extremely busy man and might not help me graduate under his guidance. Shall I hire a lawyer to help me get my degree??

[coonskee]

Hey guys! please advice. My advisor is hell bent to not let me graduate without showing it directly but by delaying things. I'm also not sure whether the Department Chair would help as he is an extremely busy man and might not help me graduate under his guidance. Shall I hire a lawyer to help me get my degree??

Why in God's name would you ask for a lawyer?

Someone above mentioned asking the program to which you are transferring whether they NEED the Master's to transfer - did you do that? Because you might just be able to drop out of your program and go to the PhD one.

Regardless of how busy the Dept Chair is, TALK TO HIM. Don't be passive by hiring a lawyer; that's not going to do you much good. Be proactive. You've gotten a lot of good advice in htis thread already.

[Target1600]

Thanks so much Mocha. I have already taken an appointment with him. I was just trying to plan for the worst case situation. Furthermore, if I get a MS from current program 30 credits will be transferred straight away to my PhD program which otherwise will be lost.

[Sigaba]

Thanks so much Mocha. I have already taken an appointment with him. I was just trying to plan for the worst case situation. Furthermore, if I get a MS from current program 30 credits will be transferred straight away to my PhD program which otherwise will be lost.

Target1600--

Do everything you can--and then some--to solve your issue in house, face-to-face, and behind closed doors. If you escalate this situation, your victory may plant the seeds for future sorrow. That is, the worst case scenario is not your current POI throwing sand in the works. The worst case scenario is you getting a reputation for being a PITA and that reputation leading you to PNG status at the program you're going to attend. Professors, like bosses, have the discretion to have off the record telephone conversations, and make decisions based upon those conversations alone. And while you try to chase down the bouncing ball, they will move on to the next issue.

[Target1600]

Thanks Sigaba. I'm exploring other options to graduate.

[kaykaykay]

Thanks so much Mocha. I have already taken an appointment with him. I was just trying to plan for the worst case situation. Furthermore, if I get a MS from current program 30 credits will be transferred straight away to my PhD program which otherwise will be lost.

This may theoretically be the case but you never know. I transferred and informally I was told that it would be a counterproductive to transfer credits, as I would lose the chance to have a personal connection to profs if i do not take their classes. of course this depends on the field. But the thing is that your advisor in the worst case scenario can only delay your graduation so you will have your credits whenever it goes through. Don't get obsessed with the problem to the point that you harm yourself in your new place as well. This community is pretty small, again try to play it as nice as possible. Transfers happen quite often your chair will know it, your professor knows it. And they can't keep you there.

[Target1600]

Thanks kalapocska. I understand that transfers happen quite often. However, in my case my professor seems to be taking his revenge. He even asked that without your master's I believe you won't be able to join there. And my past experience with him has clearly shown that he can do anything. So, I'm planning to change my advisor after talking to Department Chair.

[Target1600]

Furthermore, the professor in my new university is aware of the situation here. He let me in even after knowing all this. And he asked me to be as professional as I can in this situation. However, when it will come to degree, he will really understand why I did what I did even if he eventually will know about it. He wants me to join in his group as soon as possible.

[pippa127]

I would talk with your chair or Dean and discuss your problem. I had a problem with my PhD program and I went to the Associate Dean. They had no idea what kinds of problems were occurring the program and now they have taken action. My husband is an attorney and the program directors are well aware of this. However, I would only use his services unless the situation becomes extreme. You have to be quite careful on what you say because you don't want it backfire. For example, I reported a physician for professional misconduct because he threatened my safety and was telling other employees that he was going to "slash their throats." Obviously this person is mentally ill but since he does bring in lots of grant money, he is still here. And I was told by the administrator of my department that I wouldn't get a salary increase because I reported him.

[Target1600]

Thanks for sharing your experience pippa127. I have talked to another professor who might help me with my graduation. Resorting to a lawyer is my last option.

[Target1600]

Hey guys, just wanted to update you on my situation. I was working with two professors - one from my original department (my advisor) and the other from another department (who was actually the PI of the project and controls RA funds). Since, my advisor wasn't talking straight to me, I approached the other professor and asked him to be my advisor with certain medical reasons to graduate as soon as possible. He talked to my advisor and it turned out that my advisor is ready to help me defend within a month now. I hope things will fall into place for me now.

[pippa127]

Good luck! I hope everything works out for you. I think things are finally falling in place with my project. Of course, it took raising hell in order to do it. Now the Dean is revamping the whole PhD program because of my situation. It was a complete embarrassment on their part. You would think that they would have hired two program directors of the PhD program who actually had a PhD.

[drtroy]

Hi,

I'm a PhD student at my current university in US. However, I'm planning to drop out of the PhD program and defend for my master's. I'm transferring to a different university for PhD. Before joining the PhD program at the current university, I clearly mentioned to my adviser that I'll be applying for PhD to other schools. At that time he mentioned that not only can I apply, he will also write me a great letter of recommendation. However, when a professor from a different university interviewed me, I asked him for the letter. He clearly denied me the letter. Furthermore, he said that he never promised me the letter and that I assumed it myself. A few days later he told me that it was a misunderstanding and that it is in my best interest to continue working on my PhD under his guidance. He is technically very poor and can't advice me a bit. I work on my own and keep publishing (of course with him as an author on the papers).

I got an admit from a top 10 university in US without his recommendation. And now I just want to defend for my master's. I have conveyed it to him and he is really depressed after knowing this. He even called one of my fellow PhD students to his office and started asking questions about ethics and justifying that I'm betraying him. When I asked him to defend for my master's he mentioned he is currently very busy and can let me defend only some time in late June. Considering the fact that he does not keep his words, I'm really worried about my graduation. I have done considerable work and have already published 4 papers. Can he stop me from graduating?

Also, please advice on how should I handle the situation?

Thanks

This is almost an identical situation to the one I am in. He said, I am busy, I cannot do this right now, we need to wait till later. Now he ignores all my emails. My work is better than or of equal level to another who graduated in the group. I am planning on different plans, applying to medical school, but he has really had it in for me and thinks I'm some kind of retarded failure. Reality of the situation is, I figured out I'm not really a researcher at this point in my career, and want to get a medical degree because that's what I have wanted for a really long time. Maybe in the future I will do some research, but I feel I'm more than a lab rat. I would be doing great work if I had exceptional guidance, I am just not at the point in my career where I can do really exceptional hypothesis driven work. I did develop my own hypothesis, executed the work, the work was successful, the work is under review and received well by a journal. I am very good with convincing, talking to people, working deals, thats my bread and butter with every authority figure I meet, but my advisor holds strong, cuts me off, and doesn't listen no matter if I'm right or wrong. I really like to recognize when I'm wrong, but everything he says makes absolutely no sense. He is from a different culture than me also, and I think cultural boundaries can become big issues. When you cannot communicate with someone, they are not the advisor for you. If you have the same interests, hobbies, science interests, sports, whatever, if its the same as your advisor, I bet you will get stuff done with them. I don't know how to advise you accept bring him stuff, bring him work, make up stories about how good stuff is going, really put on an act, I dunno, push that defense to come, break his door down. My friend is an idiot who had terrible terrible grad work and data collection, with almost no understanding of science (he cheated all through undergrad and is basically like a mechanic), and got his thesis approved. This is the type of shit that makes me really mad, when I actually have a deep understanding of the field, and my work is rejected more on my character than anything.