Help...Employer says I must have a degree completed by 8/15

[ajsteven5]

• Hper A361 - 2credits – Coaching of football
• Coun 317 - 2credits – Student Leadership Education
• BUS Z302 - 3credits – Managing & behavior in organizations
• Edu 409 - 3credits – Sociology of education
• Edu 451 - 3credits – Contemporary topics: multicultural education
• Edu 350 - 3credits – Educational research
• Edu 205 - 3credits – Human development & learning

I have just gotten approval to take these summer online classes.

Kine 501 - 3credits - Facility & Equipment Management
Kine 511 - 3credits - Event & Program Management
Kine 351 - 3 credits - Leadership & Ethics in sport
Kine 341 - 3 credits - Sports Operations

I hope I can put this all together into a program that will work.

[Chebasaz]

I'd second (or third) the HR and lawyer route if needed, but with a caveat. Get the policy from your employer in writing before you contact either. Don't be confrontational about it, just ask for it so you're clear on what you're expected to do. Without that, it's your word against theirs. There's a million and one ways to terminate an employee legally. Any company can come up with a dozen reasons why someone was let go. Proving they did so for not having a degree (without something in writing) is near impossible.

From there, you can move forward. By all means, go ahead and earn your degree. Use this as a catalyst, get the degree and make the policy a non-issue. Just have it in writing in case you need it later.

[ryoder]

I would file a case with the EEOC if I were that type of person. From the HR management I have studied I think it may be illegal to exclude people based on a college degree. Requiring a college degree tends to weed out minorities that do not have the same educational access who may be able to perform the duties of the job.

For me I would use it as an incentive and realize that the company isn't doing themselves any favors with that type of policy. I am just as employable now as I was prior to June 3rd when my BSBA was conferred.

[alleycat]

If this guy is coaching more then likely it is in an academic setting. Which probably has policies on minimum educational requirements. But in all fairness they should have given someone a little longer then 2 months to complete a BA. He actually could do it but he will not be graduated by then.

[ajsteven5]

I just have to show that a degree is completed and coming. We have had a change in leadership and a change in enforcement of the rules.

[alleycat]

May I ask where are you taking your classes this summer and when will they be done? I know you could do the LDAS. As long as they just need to know you have it completed pending graduation and they consider that enough. You could do it.

[ryoder]

Start working toward it and document your progress. Call their bluff and don't quit. Let them terminate you based on those grounds and then you could file a wrongful termination suit in most states. In florida we are in at will employment which means the employer is better off just telling you to take a hike than telling you why you are being terminated.
In the meantime, work on your plan, document your progress and look for another job just in case.
Good luck.

[Magedo]

Athletic coaching sounds like an academic position they are hard to come by these days

[cookderosa]

Hummmm.....I probably shouldn't "go there" about your degree deadline. At the risk of sounding disingenuous, I have good intuition which is suggesting I keep my mouth closed. In short, I guess I'll just answer your actual questions and leave it at that lol.

It's June 16th, and any academic person- secondary or postsecondary, knows that one must file for graduation ahead of graduating. They also know that a) registration for a traditional summer session has closed and b) August is the traditional start of a fall term- leaving you out in the cold.

Your credits as written are probably very close to the distribution requirements for either the liberal arts or LDAS options.

I see 3 barriers to the August deadline.

a) you've missed the graduation deadline for TESC's next cycle.
b) you'll need no less than $3000 cash today to make this happen by winter.
c) you're going to need classes rather than tests for the LDAS which means more time and more money. I don't know what the "problems" are that TESC said you'd have with the liberal arts option, most people answering phones at TESC are unfamiliar with much of that college's policies/procedures/ credit earning options- that's just a fact. If you'd like to revisit that option, perhaps someone here can help you.

OTOH, most people would be THRILLED to be within a semester of completing, so you are starting in a great place. One way or another, your degree is within reach, and I wish you the best on getting it completed.

[JDM]

You should double check this, but I'm almost sure all LDAS programs require a capstone course taken through TESC. I'm not sure you have time to finish that by August 15.