The online ego angered student.

 I am in a situation and want to help.

I taught Statics, which is the first true engineering course for many students with a transition from rote solution procedures to geometric problem solving.  The course does have a higher-than-average workload, but I have been reducing the workload wherever I could. I received an Adjunct of the Year award for its original development.  At most schools this course has a very high drop-out/failure rate.

I had a student who filed several complaints against me and the engineering department.  The student complained to the engineering Dean, the student Dean, the school accrediting organizations (ABET and Florida), the president.  I am still under suspension though the complaints were really about the textbook publisher.  I took his complaints seriously and while under suspension have been redeveloping the course to start slower with more background work, new textbook and new testing tools with immediate feedback (WIRIS Quizzes).  It looks like the work I have done over the past several months will be lost.  The student would never actually tell me any details about what his actual complaint was.  The student refused help offered many times because he would not talk with me.  The student evidently had much difficulty getting into the mode of thinking to solve problems rather than using AI, Chegg or other computer tools.  He barely finished half the problems on the quizzes and the final.  

I have found a few web sites that indicate the main issue was probably anger, and he had difficulty applying the material.  The student has exhibited all of the following characteristics from these anger websites.

From
https://meditativemind.org/root-causes-anger-ego-fear-frustration/

Ego:  We always think that we are always right and rest of the world is wrong. What we are saying must be heard and followed. Ego is just like dust in the eyes. Without clearing the dust, we can’t see anything clearly.

Fear:  Behind anger always lies fear of being powerless or fear of being losing the person or losing the belonging/thing.  They think that being aggressive and overreacting is the best way to show that they are strong.

Frustration: “Anger always comes from frustrated expectation”-Elliott Larson.  Most of the times anger comes from frustration which has very bad impact on our mind and body. When things do not go as we wish or as we plan and there is an obstacle we immediately become frustrated and angry on persons around us.

And from
https://www.helpguide.org/relationships/communication/anger-management

Clues that there’s more to your anger than meets the eye:

You have a hard time compromising. 

You view different opinions as a personal challenge.

Negative thought patterns that can trigger anger:

Overgeneralizing

Obsessing over “shoulds” and “musts.”

Mind reading and jumping to conclusions.

Collecting straws.

Blaming.

I also reference the classic book The Power of Concentration, Theron Q. Dumont,  where anger clearly makes it difficult to concentrate.  This probably lowered his performance in the course.  This course requires concentration and focus.

I respect the student outside of the anger ego issues and want to help.  Is there a way to recommend anger therapy without it coming from me.