Group member who did not contribute anything...

[purplesoccer34]

For one of my classes, we had a semester-long group project. It was a group of 4, but only three of us did the work. The 4th member did absolutely nothing. Didn't contribute even a word to the assignments.

 

The professor was very strict about every member participating in the project. He made it clear that if there was anyone who didn't do their share, they would not receive points. The problem is however, that the three of us who did contribute to the project are not working full-time jobs and so we had the time to do it. The fourth member told us that he's working 50 hours a week and has kids to take care of. He made it very clear to us that that's why he couldn't do any of the work.

 

I understand it's hard to make time for school when you're that busy. I'm not sure if I should have sympathy for him, and keep quiet about the fact that he didn't participate? Or should I make it clear to the professor that this person didn't contribute at all? We ended up doing very well on the project, and it really frustrates me that this person gets the same grade as three of us when he didn't do anything. Especially since the three of us spent many long hours on this project.

 

What would you do?

[GorillaTheater]

I think you all screwed up during the course of the project by not telling this freeloader that you'd inform the prof if he didn't start pulling his weight.

 

I'd be tempted to let it go at this point. You wouldn't be wrong to let the prof know what's going on, but your position is weaker now than it would be otherwise.

[WhatYouWantToHear]

What would you do?

 

Now? Nothing.

 

As it was occuring? I would have confronted them.

 

You were too passive in the past, don't be passisive aggresive now by telling on them. This is on you as much as them. You had the opportunity to call them out but chose not too.

[purplesoccer34]

Ah, I knew we should've said something. I guess no one wanted to be the person to confront him. It also seems like the other two members are not really bothered that he didn't do anything, especially since the three of us were able to manage. I couldn't help but feel bad that he has to work a ton of hours and then come back home to take care of his children.

 

There is still a small part of the project left though. I don't know if it makes any difference now to tell him to do his part, especially since it's a small part.

[badpenny]

Nope.

You've let it slide up to now, i think you have to take this one on the chin, proceed as you have done - and let this be a lesson/learning curve for you.

 

Don't tolerate 'free-loaders' and if they can't pull their weight, maybe they should reconsider their actions and motives? But you need to say this, at the beginning.

[GorillaTheater]

There is still a small part of the project left though. I don't know if it makes any difference now to tell him to do his part, especially since it's a small part.

 

I'd tell him to do what's left by himself. Then check it to make sure he's done an adequate job. His other choice is to do nothing, and you'll let the prof know that he hasn't done anything.

 

This guy may be busy, but that's on him. He's the one who's enrolled in the class.

[todreaminblue]

If it were me ...i would talk to the person who didnt contribute and ask him or her to come clean with the professor off their own bat......it should have been doen long ago....when they weren't pulling for the team.....would have been easier to instil change....doesn't mean you cant say anything now...and i think you should...but go to the heart of the matter with the person it involves...good team work involves a team leader stepping up to the plate....who was that person? that person should have made sure all members of the team pulled weight evenly.....its beside the point i guess....if there was no team leader that could have been why the work was not smooth and seamless with all members doing their share....a team is only as strong as its weakest link.....so you strengthen the link....and your team is stronger.....

 

 

talk to the person who didnt contribute...explain honestly how you felt.....and why he should come clean to the professor....as a team....you take the accolades...and unfortunately ....the failures.....as a team you failed.....not just him...you all did...by not delegating all work ethically sound and fair....deb

[pink_sugar]

I think you all screwed up during the course of the project by not telling this freeloader that you'd inform the prof if he didn't start pulling his weight.

 

I'd be tempted to let it go at this point. You wouldn't be wrong to let the prof know what's going on, but your position is weaker now than it would be otherwise.

 

I agree. I am an introvert and I hate group projects. In high school, I was assigned to this group project and they gave me almost nothing to do at all and then at the end they said I did nothing to help. Seriously? I was there for every single meeting and they just did it all themselves and then had the gall to tell the teacher, so since this was like 30% of the grade, I was getting a D+ in the class. Though it was a passing grade, I almost had to do 6-8 weeks of summer school because of these a-holes not letting me do anything on one project. Thankfully, they were nice enough to give me a make-up project to complete over the summer instead of the summer school and my grade went up to a B+. Guess it was worth it. In your case, it sounds like the guy admitted to not helping out. While I can understand working 50 hours a week is tough, having kids was a choice and not your problem. If he couldn't handle being in school and working full time, he probably shouldn't have been in the class. But I agree with the above poster...it's pretty unfair at this point to bring up the issue. You guys let it slide this long and the guy took advantage of it. You should have told the professor right away. If you say something now, he or she might wonder why any of you waited until the last minute to say anything.

[pink_sugar]

I'd tell him to do what's left by himself. Then check it to make sure he's done an adequate job. His other choice is to do nothing, and you'll let the prof know that he hasn't done anything.

 

This guy may be busy, but that's on him. He's the one who's enrolled in the class.

 

 

 

This. I would do this. Give him a chance to redeem himself by finishing up the project alone or you'll have to bring the issue up to the professor.

[purplesoccer34]

I agree. I am an introvert and I hate group projects. In high school, I was assigned to this group project and they gave me almost nothing to do at all and then at the end they said I did nothing to help. Seriously? I was there for every single meeting and they just did it all themselves and then had the gall to tell the teacher, so since this was like 30% of the grade, I was getting a D+ in the class. Though it was a passing grade, I almost had to do 6-8 weeks of summer school because of these a-holes not letting me do anything on one project. Thankfully, they were nice enough to give me a make-up project to complete over the summer instead of the summer school and my grade went up to a B+. Guess it was worth it. In your case, it sounds like the guy admitted to not helping out. While I can understand working 50 hours a week is tough, having kids was a choice and not your problem. If he couldn't handle being in school and working full time, he probably shouldn't have been in the class. But I agree with the above poster...it's pretty unfair at this point to bring up the issue. You guys let it slide this long and the guy took advantage of it. You should have told the professor right away. If you say something now, he or she might wonder why any of you waited until the last minute to say anything.

 

I feel like your situation is different. It seems like you honestly tried to help. We communicated through email and group text messages so many times (this an online class) and this guy had the chance to at least respond to the messages. The majority of the time, he didn't say anything in our email discussions. It's not even like we didn't let him do anything--he had so many chances to jump right in. But eh, I guess it's not completely late. I will personally send him an email asking him to do the last part of the project.

[pink_sugar]

I feel like your situation is different. It seems like you honestly tried to help. We communicated through email and group text messages so many times (this an online class) and this guy had the chance to at least respond to the messages. The majority of the time, he didn't say anything in our email discussions. It's not even like we didn't let him do anything--he had so many chances to jump right in. But eh, I guess it's not completely late. I will personally send him an email asking him to do the last part of the project.

 

Yeah, I definitely see how your situation is different. For me, I was always passed over when I was younger because I was quiet and shy, so I always had the opposite issue. But yeah, your best bet is to basically tell him how you feel it wouldn't be fair to be graded the same if he didn't contribute anything to the project and ask that he complete the rest by X date.

[Penguin_hugs]

Do you not get given the opportunity for peer review? On my course we fill out score cards for each group member which is a fairer way to do it.

 

I gave someone a low mark because they missed meetings, left early, went for frequent breaks, never completed the work in between meetings etc- and other people had to do her part. Then she had the cheek to say that we should all give each other full marks!

 

I'm of the opinion now though that I'm not going to let people get "free" good grades off me now.