Dear Avani,I’m taking an online class that requires me to work in a group project. However, one of the three group members doesn’t like to show up to our meetings or respond to e-mails. The project is due in a couple of weeks and I don’t think it’s fair to me or my other partner to do all of the work ourselves. Unfortunately, we are not graded individually, and if I really have to, I’ll end up doing her part of the project. How can I convince the group member to become more active in our project without having to tell our professor?

Thanks,Grieving Group Member

Dear Grieving, Working in a dysfunctional group for a project a never fun. Does this member show up to class? Talk to her about how she is being uncooperative. It’s important to do this, as cliché as it seems, because you can have computer trouble and not get an e-mail or have a dead cell phone and not receive a phone call. If you speak to her face to face, she doesn’t have an excuse for not doing her part. It isn’t fair to you or the rest of the group if her work is defaulted to you. Keep in mind that although it is very unprofessional of her to simply not show up to meetings or respond to e-mails, there may be a valid excuse. Also, keep in mind that tests and midterms are approaching, so it could just be an overwhelming workload. Although none of these are excuses for her to not do her part, be sensitive to that when approaching her. If after you have spoken to her face to face she continues to slack off or simply be MIA, you’re last option is to bring the professor into it. In all honesty, it isn’t your responsibility to make sure your group member is active and participating in the project. It’s her grade — she should be the one concerned. It isn’t fair that your group has to pick up her slack, and if she is unprofessional enough to leave you in that sort of a sticky situation, your last concern is her motivation for doing the project. You have deadlines to meet, and you have other responsibilities. Her dedication to her schoolwork is not one of them and you shouldn’t concern yourself with it. As a good group member, you have informed her through various methods to do her part and if she does not help, then you need to have the courage to bring the professor into the situation. It is much too often that students who have to work in groups are stuck with members who don’t cooperate and because nobody wants to bring the professor into the situation, they get away with doing minimal to none of their work. Eventually when those same members have to go out into the professional realm and work in groups, they are just as dysfunctional. So although at the present moment you won’t want to be the one taking the initiative to bring in the professor, chances are you’re actually helping her while also ensuring you and your group receives full credit for the work you have been straining to do. From personal experience, I know that often times professors are sensitive to a situation like the one you are in and will even be willing to grant you a reasonable extension to complete the work that your peer failed to complete. It’s extremely sweet of you to be concerned about your inactive group members, but it’s not your problem — don’t stress yourself with it. Make sure you speak to her and convey to her that she needs to do her part. After that, you need to ensure that the active part of the group receives the credit it rightfully deserves.