Ex-Penn State prof cites grade-changing pressure
UNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A former nursing instructor at Penn State’s satellite campus in Fayette County says her teaching contract wasn’t renewed after she complained about being pressured to pass some students who had failed an exam.
Elizabeth Barry, of White Oak, says in her federal lawsuit that she worked in the nursing program from August 2003 until May.
Barry says 19 of 52 students failed their final exam in her psychiatric nursing class in the spring 2008. Barry says school administrators forced her to change some of the grades to passing, which she opposed, saying it was academic fraud.
Even after the grades were changed, nine of those 19 students who failed the test failed the class.
The school says it doesn’t comment on pending litigation.