mtr case study

One morning, even before she has finished her first cup of coffee, Nancy Ames glances up from her computer screen to see Lisa Gray, a third year graduate student in Dr. Youngs lab, coming into the office with a very worried expression. Lisa blurts out, "Now Im sure of it! Dr. Young thinks Im a terrible student. Maybe I should just quit grad school!" After asking a few questions, it becomes clear to Ames that the immediate problem has to do with the summary of Lisas annual meeting with her advisory committee.
As departmental secretary, one of Ames responsibilities is to assist the departments graduate program director, Prof. Oldham, with the record keeping associated with the graduate program. The department requires that all graduate students have a meeting with their advisory committee at least once a year. After the meeting, the students advisor is expected to write up a summary for all the participants and for the files on each student that Ames keeps. These files are reviewed annually by the faculty on the graduate program committee to be sure that all grad students are making good progress.
Last week, Ames sent out reminders to students for whom she did not yet have summaries, about half of those in the department, and to their advisors.
Lisa reports that she had met with her advisory committee almost a month ago. So, when she got her reminder, she immediately went to Prof. Youngs office and asked about the summary.
"She said she was busy getting ready for class, and shed talk to me later," said Lisa. "I tried three more times last week, and each time it was 'Ill get to it when I have time, and I have to get to a meeting or something like that. Then the week before that, I tried to talk to her about whether I should move into this cheaper apartment I found about an hour from campus, and she refused to give me any advice. Guess she figures Im not worth her time; that Im just not cut out for grad school!"
Case Discussion
Interests of the Affected Parties