‘I’ll call your boss’ MSU professor says [or] Quid pro no-show: Air Force candidate files civil rights complaint against MSU, professor

With a delayed graduation date, senior MSU student Abby Jones’ educational financial assistance and Air Force public affairs officer candidacy are in jeopardy.

“The central issue was that I was directed to permit the disclosure of my private educational information to my employer with the explicit understanding that (not doing) so would result in failure of the course,” Jones said.

Jones filed a civil rights complaint against MSU and Christina Anderson, her photography professor in Montana U.S. District Court last week. In the document Jones alleges Anderson crossed a line insisting on contacting Jones’ civilian employer, threatening to disclose her academic attendance in exchange for excusing a missed class.

“To put it mildly it was shocking,” said Anderson, who could not comment further at her legal counsel's advice. “I’ve taught for 26 years and this is a first.”

On March 18, Anderson discovered she and MSU were co-defendants in the same civil rights case via a Google alert in her inbox revealing she was named in an online copy of the dispute, one day after Jones filed her complaint. Anderson said she was slated to accept a National Society of Photographic Education Honorary Educator of 2026 award the same day.

It was the end of the 2025 fall semester. Jones, 22, was submitting her final project for Anderson’s class and had to travel to the Washington D.C. area on a civilian work trip when the conflict began.

Jones was a full-time paid grassroots director pushing policy for Concerned Veterans for America. The nonprofit is a conservative advocacy group aimed at veterans and military families.

“My boss is sending me to our required staff training at headquarters in D.C. from Dec. 2 to Dec. 5,” Jones emailed to Anderson on Nov. 17, 2025, requesting class excusal.

A Military National Scholarship Recipient, Jones has a higher than 3.0 cumulative grade point average. She sent similar emails, provided to the Chronicle, to two of her other professors and her military command.

An employment letter from CVA detailing Jones’ work obligation was also sent to the Chronicle.

Jones said she did not hear back from her other two professors, likely because the work trip did not conflict with her other class schedules. Command excused her from Physical Training and Leadership Laboratory, a mandatory weekly hands-on military training program.

“Is your boss aware that you have missed four classes and one late already?," Anderson replied to Jones on Nov. 17, 2025. "I will make him aware of that when we talk by phone so please give him my contact information and let him know I will require a letter from him saying the training is required."

Jones said a call between her professor and her employer could have resulted in a negative job outcome. The class had a zero-absence policy, according to Anderson’s email.

Refusing to comply with Anderson’s demands, Jones absence went unexcused resulting in her failing Anderson's class.

Jones had a counseled session with her commander after the incident. When her superior saw she failed the class, the consequences became immediately glaring for Jones.

“That’s enough for (them) to kick (me) out,” Jones said. “If they do that, I’m susceptible to pay back every dime of the scholarship money they’ve given me. That’s four years of $18,000.”

Jones brought her case to MSU departments including Campus Civil Rights and the Office of the Dean of Students.

“I have investigated the potential misconduct around your FERPA rights and did not find any evidence of FERPA violations involving your educational records,” Dean Adams, dean of the MSU College of Arts and Architecture said to Jones in a Jan. 29 email. “I encourage you to go through the grade appeal process.”

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act prohibits schools from disclosing student academic records to private employers without the student’s prior written consent. Protected records include transcripts and grades.

Directory information, including names, attendance, dates, and the title of an area of study can be released unless the student opts out. Exceptions require subpoenas or health and safety related emergencies, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The MSU Grade Grievance Policy defines an academic complaint as “an unfair academic decision.” Grievances include a result on a basis other than course performance or compliance with assignments and other requirements.

Standards unequal to other students, or “substantial” policy departures are also valid complaints, per MSU.

“The instructor offered Abby an opportunity to provide information in support of her request for an exception to the syllabus policy, but Abby chose not to provide the requested information or offer any alternatives in support of her request,” said Jim Zimpel, MSU College of Arts and interim School of Film and Photograph director in a Feb. 18 email. “I believe the instructor followed the grading requirements as outlined in the course syllabus.”

Jones recieved an email from Montana University Legal Counsel Ali Bovington on March 19, two days after she filed her civil rights complaint.

“You may be eligible for an exception to the absence policy if you are able to provide appropriate documentation,” Bovington wrote in an email to Jones, sent to the Chronicle. “If you are able to provide this information now, I can help you with facilitating a resolution.”

When asked what an optimal outcome for her could be, Jones said “I Just want to graduate on May 8 and move on with my life.”