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UVic professor who told students he wasn't qualified suspended without pay

The UVic computer-science professor who objected to teaching an introductory-level course outside of his expertise has been suspended without pay. University of Victoria Prof. Jianping Pan has been suspended from Oct. 6 to Nov. 4.
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University of Victoria Prof. Jianping Pan has been suspended from Oct. 6 to Nov. 4. Meanwhile, the administration at UVic is taking steps to ensure Pan’s graduate students will not be affected by his suspension.

The UVic computer-science professor who objected to teaching an introductory-level course outside of his expertise has been suspended without pay.

University of Victoria Prof. Jianping Pan has been suspended from Oct. 6 to Nov. 4. Meanwhile, the administration at UVic is taking steps to ensure Pan’s graduate students will not be affected by his suspension.

Reuben Keller of the University of Victoria Faculty Association confirmed the suspension. Keller also said the association is considering whether to take any further measures on Pan’s behalf.

Pan was assigned to teach an introductory course in numerical analysis.

The university regularly asks professors to teach foundational courses not directly connected to their area of research.

But Pan showed up for the first day of classes on Sept. 7 and told the students he had little experience with the subject material. He told them another professor was better qualified to teach it.

He wrote the email address of his department chair on the blackboard. Some students did send complaints to the department.

Pan was told the following day that he had been removed from the course. The next day, he showed up at the class and was escorted away by campus security.