The Courts and Academic Advising

Question 1

What was the primary reason why Bruce Stain sued Cedar Rapids Community School District?

Answer 1

When Bruce Stain transfered to the school, his counselor changed his English course to techinical communications, which was not on the school NCAA Clearinghouse list, which caused Stain to lose his scholarship.

Question 2

What was the outcome of the Stain case?

Answer 2

The lowercourts ruled the school counselor did not owe students a duty to provide competent academic advise, whereas the state Supreme ruled school counselors should be held accountable.

Question 3

What was Nueman’s (lower court) argument why school counselors should not be held liable?

Answer 3

Nueman argued the the expectations placed on counselors make it impossible to provide correct advice.

Question 4

When Ryan Scott sued the school, what was the ethical dilema in question?

Answer 4

Are school counselors immune from liability for negligance under Wisconsin’s governmental immunity statute?

Question 5

What was the outcome of the case with Ryan Scott?

Answer 5

The State Supremem Court unhappily ruled that the counselor was protected with governmental immunity.

Question 6

What are some lessons and recommendations for school counselors?

Answer 6

1. Acknowledge what you do and don’t know.
2. Don’t be paralyzed by the Scott case
3. Don’t be deterred from your advising role by the stain or scott case
4. Act as the reasonably competent professional would
5. Stay abreast of information needed for competent academic advising
6. empower others to take responsibility for having and giving the right information
   require students and parents to sign off when they recieve critical information
7. establish and disseminate student responsibilities in publications to parents and students
8. take comfort in the knowledge the you have held yourself to a high standard