Southern New Hampshire University replaced an online adjunct instructor, when he incorrectly advised a student that Australia is not a country, giving the student a failing grade on her assignment.

The 27-year-old student from Idaho was assigned a research assignment on the comparison of American social norms to that of another country. The student chose to study social media use in Australia, but was given a failing grade by the professor, stating Australia is not a country, but a continent.

Factually, Australia is both a country and a continent.

The University officials expressed deep regrets over the interaction between the professor and student and declared that the professor has been promptly replaced.