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LOGAN -- A pregnant college student was en route to take an exam but ended up in the doctor's office because of complications with the pregnancy. Utah State University sophomore Kimberly Harris thought she'd be able to reschedule her exam. Instead she ended up dropping the course.
Two weeks ago, Harris was at school preparing for a chemistry exam.
"I sat down going over my notes and I could feel my heart racing," Harris explained. "I've had problems with my heart, being pregnant. But it's never affected my schooling."
She mulled over the decision to go to the hospital and miss the exam. Harris has a 3.87 G.P.A and hopes to get into the university's nursing program. So, even though she felt light-headed and dizzy, it was important for her to take the exam.
"This one in particular, because if I do apply to the nursing program," she said, "this one will directly affect my science G.P.A, which will affect my chances of getting into the program."
Harris called her husband. He took her to the doctor. She eventually passed out and spent the next two days working with her doctors. After spending time in the hospital, she sent an e-mail to her professor explaining in detail why she missed the exam.
I sat down going over my notes and I could feel my heart racing. I've had problems with my heart, being pregnant. But it's never affected my schooling.
–- Kimberly Harris, USU student
In an e-mail KSL obtained, the professor wrote in part:
"Thank you for this message. I certainly hope that you and the baby are doing fine. Please review our syllabus course policy #3..."
"I was surprised. I really was," said Harris. "I've had friends who've gotten in car accidents on the way to school to take a test and the teacher let them take it as soon as they were able to."
The syllabus states that students need two weeks advance notice to reschedule an exam. University officials explained that includes things like school sponsored athletic events, weddings, and surgery. However, in the case of a medical emergency, students can drop one exam that will not affect their overall grade.
"A student can drop an exam with no penalty should they have to miss one," explained Alvan Hengge, head of the university's Chemistry & Biochemistry Department. "The information that I had from the student was that this was just a one-time event and that she would have no difficulties finishing out the rest of the course. In this case this exam wouldn't have counted against her in any way."
Hengge says emergency situations frequently arise among students, especially in a large class of about 180 students like the one Harris attended. Hengge feels the university made the right decision.
"That's the policy. It's not perfect. There's no way to be perfect," said Hengge.
Meanwhile, Harris says she felt like she was forced to drop the class.
"Because I am pregnant and because of the complications that I've already had, I'm not guaranteed that in the future I'm not going to have more complications," said Harris. "And if they can't work with me this time, they're not going to work with me again."
At this point, Utah State University says Harris has no recourse because she dropped the course.
E-mail: niyamba@ksl.com
