Frustrated...

One of my current online students is bi-polar and we suspect she is not taking her medication. Why? Well, she does not make much sense most of the time and you have to sit and listen to her gibberish until she gets back on track and starts making sense (partially, at least) again.

Last Tuesday, I spent over an hour going over my requirements and providing specific (both written and verbal) instructions for each assignment. Apparently, she called last Wednesday (my office hours are only on Tuesdays this semester) and cussed out student assistants because I was not available for an immediate "consultation." She was waiting for me this morning -- since 9:00 a.m., according to her, even though my syllabus states clearly that I have a class at 9:00 a.m. and won't hold office hours until 11:00 a.m. Duh -- well, for a normal person!

So we talked (um, she talked and I listened most of the time) for over an hour again, with dept. chair peeking into my office several times to make sure everything was OK (she is aware of the situation and offered to help if necessary). I heard snippets of this student's life (real or imaginary, who knows), heated statements of her brilliance (did you know she is here to benefit her teachers?), excuses for not completing any assignments for this week (several surgeries, complications, doctor insisting on narcotics (don't tell anyone but illegal narcotics), mother dies of breast cancer, mother (apparently alive again) messing up the computer, etc.), and other stuff that about ended my patience even though I am a very patient person. She was loud, too, so several students gave me strange looks as they passed my office.

Finally, I was able to persuade her that those assignments were not "magically" placed online today but were there since the first day of classes; and, yes, they need to be completed tonight by 11:59 p.m.; and, no, I won't sit and "catch" her assignments at 11:59 p.m. Aaaaaaaaaaaah!

While she seemed lucid enough, I insisted on taking at least one quiz. She opened the quiz and then quickly exited, declaring that it was time for lunch and "refreshment walk." You have to stay healthy, you know? Another aaaaaaaaaaaah!

So she is gone, for now... And it's only third week of classes... Five weeks to go...

OK, here is my question for y'all... Have you ever been in a similar situation? Any suggestions on how to deal with Ms. Idiot? And why do we allow students with severe emotional problems take college courses? It's obvious that these students are wasting everybody's time as well as money (I am sure she receives financial aid); yet, IEP requires accommodations and you have to comply. And she can sue us if we don't so we have to be careful.