Hi Everyone,
I had a conversation with a good friend of mine recently who is interested in pursuing a career in Speech Pathology.She wanted me to talk to her about my experience at Mercy College in their Communication Disorders program. After sharing some of my horrific experiences with her she thought I should warn future candidates about the program before they submitted any application since they to might be exposed to the same type of treatment.
It took me 2.5 grueling years and I finally completed the program. The orientation was wonderful and all of the professors that were present were kind and polite, well that did not last long. Let me tell you that educated doesn't equal considerate or socially skilled and many of the professors, those who held both M.A. degrees and PhD's were among those who lacked professional socialization, pragmatics and consideration for other human beings.If anyone showed up late for a class, not just myself, regardless of the circumstances including undesirable or unsafe weather conditions (you know the type where the college should have been closed but was not), you were subjected to a verbal attack right then and there in the classroom. Talk about humiliation among future colleagues. This was the first incidence that made me aware that these individuals who had majored in communications lacked that very important social skill.Especially important when the professors are those whom most students look up to as a role model or for some guidance along their career paths. Who would want to emulate someone who humiliated others?
In addition, there were many students who had other lives, other responsibilities, families, careers in the works and these students unfortunately were not given any additional respect, they too were treated with a sense of impertinence as if they were children being molded and remolded by "mother hens" in the field of Communication Disorders. I saw many of these women experience the same type of humiliation who were in their 30's, 40's and some in their 50's who did come from other professions, have families with grown children, and other responsibilities and were seeking to learn the field so that they could someday help others. Many of these women were seen at various times throughout the year leaving the offices of some of the professors in tears, unable to speak, and some, as a result withdrew from the program. Many of those who I knew withdrew would have made wonderful clinicians and professionals in the field with something to offer those in need in the area of communication disorders.It was a certainly a loss for the field. I was extremely saddened by this and did not want to fall subject to the same exodus. So I kept reminding myself of my own personal goal and built up my own "thick skin" not reacting when they wanted a reaction, which I am confident surprised yet bothered them as well. They were not going to break me, although many of them tried unsuccessfully.
I can also recall a colleague and former student in the program who worked so hard on a research paper and even though it was one day late as a result of her son having to have an operation, the professor still gave her a "D" and commented on the paper "Had this not been a day late you would have received a A- ." WOW! This woman was extremely upset and as a result she too withdrew from the program. She mentioned to a few of us that she did not want to go through the remaining year and half "walking on pins and needles" in any of her classes, it was too stressful for her as it has been for most if not all of us that went through the program.She too would have been a nice addition to the field, yet she left due to harsh treatment by a professor. On a more fruitful note, she ended up being admitted to another Communication Disorders program and will be graduating in May 2009. She never truly gave up and I will happily be seeing her in the field in the future.
There are 4 professors who have made the most negative impact on the lives of many of the students including myself in the Communication Disorders Program at Mercy College. Most notably is Dr. Helen C. Buhler, a graduate of Fordham University, New York, NY in May, 2000. She is known as the one who humiliates at least one student a week. She has humiliated most of the students in the program and she is always the perpetrator exercising the power toward students who are seemingly powerless since they are there to get their degrees and not argue back with "athority." Dr. Buhler has overlooked many of the qualities that the students who speak to them have, she takes them for granted and ignores their pleas for assistance if it is not to her advantage or liking. She has made students wait unnecessarily to speak to her or even reply to important emails. She rejects their opinions and holds them distant, abandoned, or isolated as a result. As previously mentioned she has been known to deny students with careers, families etc. recognition and rather manipulates recognition toward herself and her own degrees. She has also been known to deny someone basic social amenities needs or human dignity by manipulating people or treating them like objectsor animals, rather than as a person or a student at the college. Dr. Buhler has treated many of the students including myself unfairly and seems to enjoy the control since it has been observed regularly. She has been observed to use verbal and psychological threats toward many of the students which has caused undue harm on the students or rather "victims" including withdrawal from the program.It has not been fair her treatment toward others and she continues to participate in denigration of a person' values and beliefs and she especially has been known to demonstrate this toward the weaker students and they are forced to submit her and her ways. Truly unfortunate for the program, the college and the field of Communication Disorders. She should be reduced in rank and stripped of her license to teach students she has certainly made a negative impact on the lives of many.
The other professors who play close seconds in order of their inhumane treatment toward students are Dr. Gloria Schlisselberg and then Professor Eileen Hoffman, Professor Denise DiCristofaro, Professor Katherine Melville, Dr. Patricia Chute, Dr. Linda Marvin and Professor Dowling. Oh yes, let us not forget the negative impact that the former Professor Elizabeth Galletta had on her students including myself.She too participated in the humiliation processes and unfortunate withdrawal of many students from the Mercy College Communication Disorders Program.So beware everyone who is thinking about applying to this program.You will have to put everyone in your life aside including yourself and suck up to the likes of these professors if you want to graduate from Mercy. Unlike the name of the school, none of these professors have mercy on any student regardless of their circumstances. I have spoken to others in the field since my graduation over the past 9 months and it seems to me that Mercy is the worst when it comes to student - teacher communication. How ironic, isn't this program supposed to support the idea of communication and collaboration.
Good Luck to those who are considering a career in the field of Communication Disorders and do yourself a favor, apply to another college before you too experience this. Life is too short, it's not worth it.
|
It is NOT ok to contact this poster with commercial interests.
|
