Sessional Professor Offers Students a B- to Stay Home

A University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) lecturer makes no excuses for offering students a 70 to not show up for his course. But the administration gives his deal a failing grade. David Weale said he made the offer because the class is too big and some students aren’t interested in being there.

David Weale believes his class is too big. About 20 students–out of a class of nearly 100–took him up on it, he said. He teaches an introductory course on the history of Christianity. Weale, a retired professor who came back as a part-time sessional lecturer, said he originally offered students a 68 to go away. “But they negotiated with me and got it up to 70,” he said.
A 70 is a B-minus at UPEI.

Weale is more than just a lecturer. He’s an author, storyteller and actor and consistently one of the more popular teachers on campus. His knack for teaching island history while using local phrases and tales means his courses were always packed.

He argued that cutting the size of the class is good for everyone. “It was uncomfortably large and a lot of the people who have taken the deal didn’t want to be in the class anyway. They weren’t going to learn very much.”

There’s nothing unusual about his offer, he said. “Happens all the time. I’m just upfront with it.”

Weale had only one assignment for the dropouts: walk to the registrar’s office and pay for the course.

The fee? “Over $400, close to $500,” he said. “They’re not doing something for nothing.”

The university has vetoed the idea, however.

“There won’t be a free pass,” said Dean of Arts Richard Kurial. “This university prides itself on teaching excellence. We’ve won many awards and this is an aberration.”

Many of Weale’s students don’t seem to mind if others get a university credit without the work.

“I enjoy his class,” Philip MacIsaac said. “I think he’s free to do what he wants to do, and I’d like to see more freestyle proffing, as such.”

“I guess it’s up to the student whether they want to go to the class or not,” Gillian Lenentine added.

Weale has been ordered to make the dropouts return and earn their grades with more than a receipt from the registrar.

Originally printed in CBC News, January 20, 2006. Reprinted here with permission.