After I passed the written qualifying exams, I wrote a letter to Dr. Kahn, Dean of the Graduate School. I listed a litany of issues I was having. Pretty much three years of what he later called "neglect." More like malice and harassment, from where I was sitting. The letter was not dated, but this is roughly when I sent it.
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Dear Dr. Kahn..
Thank you for your offer to help. I will state the facts of my situation and let you do with them as you will.
I am a graduate student in the Aerospace Engineering Department. I began in the fall of 1997. I have completed all the course requirements for a Ph.D. and passed the written qualifying exams this past summer. I would have taken them the year before. But I had a bad eye infection in April and May. I have maintained about a 3.7 GPA so far.
My advisor since entering graduate school has been Dr. Roger Broucke, now a Professor Emeritus. I got a second advisor per University rules last spring, and he is Dr. Wallace Fowler. I didn’t really sit down and visit with Dr. Fowler until a month ago. Dr. Broucke said he would no longer be my advisor this past summer. A week before qualifying exams. For all practical purposes. Dr. Broucke has been my advisor: at least in reference to the following particulars: As of the beginning of the summer term..
(I) I had not even seen Dr. Broucke for three years.
- I have never since entering graduate school. received any advising or assistance in course selection.
- I have signed up for a total of 30 semester hours of graduate research classes. and have never had any feedback on any of my research. I have completed rough drafts of three Masters Theses, and several of my formal papers have been accepted at national conferences. I was not given any encouragement or support in publishing my work.
- Last November I gave a formal presentation in the Department of my research. The moderator.. Dr. Ocampo promised to be my advisor if gave the presentation and said he would critique my Thesis draft. He did neither.
- I have been forced to seek outside help in reviewing my work, having posted all my work on my website – including source code (with Dr. Fowler’s approval). Somebody complained of spamming to ACITS and I have charges pending against me from Student Judicial Services.
- I have performed all the computer analyses on my Own PC at home. Having purchased all the Fortran and other I have never used any ACITS services and with the above situation pending. probably never \\ill.
- If I were to publish a Thesis there would be no one to mention in acknowledgments.
- I have complained to my Graduate Advisor (my research is in his area of expertise). the Chairman of my Department. the Dean of the Engineering College the Ombudsman.. and the Services for Students \ith Disabilities (I am a special disabled Viet Nam Era veteran).. but to no
Regards..
William H. Clark IL P.E.
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