I went and met with my teacher today about my final grade. We were able to agree that my final average should have been an 80 but he will not change it from a C to a B- based on my test grades because he doesn't think that I deserve a B-. Is he allowed to subjectively decide my final grade regardless of what the syllabus says my average is and give me a C because he feels like it?

12/12/2005 3:17:23 PM

I'd complain about that. Bring a copy of the sylabus and your tests to the head of the department to complain, first make double sure you numerically deserve a better grade. If he really did that it is unethical in my oppinion.

12/12/2005 3:22:08 PM

no - i had to argue with that whore tiffany barnes about my grade for csc226 - i earned a A- but only because i did some extra credit and she only gave me a B+ and i went to talk to her about it and she had the audacity to tell me i should present a case for my grade - my case was i'm leaving right now to go to the dean's office because you are an idiot to think i'm not getting an A- when you have posted the grades online the entire year - problem was resolved - she was a TA that basically taught the course b/c bitzer is listed as the professor for wonderful beaurocratical reasons - everytime i see her or her brother (who tried to tell me i graded my own hw in the same class) i have to refrain from saying something

12/12/2005 3:24:50 PM

yes i double checked numerically and wrote everything out and he agreed that with replacing one of my test grades with my final exam grade, as the syllabus said, which he didn't do, i had an 80, but he said he's sorry, i did average work, i deserve an average grade.

12/12/2005 3:27:36 PM

Yeah, I'd take that to the dean

12/12/2005 3:28:31 PM

Definitely go to the dean and get your B-, then go back to the professor and tell him/her to kiss your ass! Crap like this seems to be happening all the time at NC State. They need to have a mandatory uniform grading scale for every class to stop jerk professors like this.

12/12/2005 3:40:11 PM

Quote :

"They need to have a mandatory uniform grading scale for every class to stop jerk professors like this."

I don't necessarily agree with that, and it doesn't seem to be the issue here. The issue is that some professor is not honoring the syllabus which was in place all semester.

12/12/2005 3:41:37 PM

he didn't put his grading scale on the syllabus, so is he going to get away with it because of that? I thought that it was 90-100 A-/A/A+ 80-89 B-/B/B+ and 70-79 is C's. So basically he can decide if an 80 is a C, and a 90 is a B, etc. if he feels like it?

12/12/2005 3:51:49 PM

Oh, I missed that he didn't put a grading scale. Hmmm... seems like I heard that in classes with % grading (obviously, most of them), professors were required to at least use the 10 point scale. I may be wrong on that, and if I am, you may be SOL.

It's definitely worth a try, though.

12/12/2005 3:54:01 PM

check the policies page
i seem to remember there being something along the lines of "if a prof doesnt give a scale, this is what's used"

hang on while i go look (yay for procrastinating!!!)

Quote :

"Explanation of how grades are determined and the relative value of the various evaluation components of the course, i.e., the portion of the grade that derives from quizzes, tests, final exam, projects, attendance, etc. Instructor's conversion system from numerical to letter grading, if applicable. "

is one but not what i'm thinking of
another applicable policy

so far, nothing quite like i thought i was remembering

[Edited on December 12, 2005 at 4:02 PM. Reason : l;k]

12/12/2005 3:55:36 PM

now you need to find out the scores of some fellow students if that's the case. Obviously if you can find someone with a lower or equal numeric average but a higher letter score you can complain.

12/12/2005 3:57:13 PM

If any part of your grade was based on class Participation than you are screwed. What class was this for?

If you can prove that your grades definitely add up to an A- you may be able to appeal to the dean. But you better be damn sure you can prove it, otherwise you are just making enemies in the dept.

Also if you are talking about rounding up to get the 80, then again you are screwed.....that is entirely up to the professor.

[Edited on December 12, 2005 at 4:01 PM. Reason : .]

12/12/2005 4:00:09 PM

No, he did the point system, where our tests were worth 300/800, etc. But he didn't say what each numeric grade was in the letter system, for example 97-100=A+

no part was class participation

and its CH 223

[Edited on December 12, 2005 at 4:08 PM. Reason : .]

12/12/2005 4:06:16 PM

well, at the very least, the deans office will have a heads up that he didnt include this

Quote :

" Instructor's conversion system from numerical to letter grading, if applicable."

i can't think when it wouldn't be applicable.

12/12/2005 4:08:04 PM

thats what i was worried about, when i said that an 80 was a B-, not a C+, and definately not a C, he said where on the syllabus do you see that?

12/12/2005 4:09:15 PM

yeah
"i didn't see it on there, and i should have"

12/12/2005 4:41:23 PM

like everyone else said, just take it to the dean ASAP. the worst thing that can happen is that you don't get your grade changed and you're stuck with what you were given, so you can honestly only go up from here. The sooner this is handled, the better.

12/12/2005 5:00:08 PM

When you meet with the appropriate people, have all of your documentation ready. Copies of tests, Spreadsheet of grades/syllabus percentages/final grade, an objective (READ: non-emotional) written account of what happened, etc.

The easier you make it on them to get through the case, the easier they will make it for you to get your case resolved.

[Edited on December 12, 2005 at 6:22 PM. Reason : .]

12/12/2005 6:18:23 PM

Quote :

"Also if you are talking about rounding up to get the 80, then again you are screwed.....that is entirely up to the professor."

89.6, I was so pissed but didn't argue it

12/12/2005 7:09:32 PM

yeah its a solid 80. i have a spreadsheet and all my old tests and problem sets and quizzes to prove it. I'd even take a C+, but an 80 is not a C

12/12/2005 7:42:27 PM

what professor is this

12/12/2005 10:35:11 PM

look, the professor does NOT have to use a typical 10 point grading scale. if he feels you deserve a C, then you deserve a C. it's not like there is anything on the syllabus that specifically contradicts what he is giving you. I think you should just realize that you didn't do well enough to earn a B, and move on.

12/14/2005 2:28:47 AM

^ WHAT IN THE FUCK?! If the syllabus reads: "I will give the grade I feel you deserve", then he's screwed. If the syllabus breaks down the points for each thing, and he can support his points, then he gets exactly what the syllabus says. No emotions or interpretation required. If he really did so "average" maybe his grade would already be lower.

You douche. I'd love for you to get a 90 in a course based on the syllabus breakdown and the professor tell you you're getting a C+ b/c that's what you deserve. I'm sure you'd stick to your guns

12/14/2005 2:48:30 AM

Quote :

"look, the professor does NOT have to use a typical 10 point grading scale. if he feels you deserve a C, then you deserve a C. it's not like there is anything on the syllabus that specifically contradicts what he is giving you. I think you should just realize that you didn't do well enough to earn a B, and move on."

a seconday issue is the fact that he didn't put the conversion from numerical to letter grades on the syllabus, which he didn't. if he had, this would have been resolved already, more than likely.

12/14/2005 2:55:01 AM

on a side note but semi-related - i'm not a fan of professors that don't return e-mails.

12/14/2005 8:54:38 AM

if you want to go to the next appropriate person above the professor to discuss your grade - who should you contact? Dept head or associate dean or dean?

this seems to be a problem with a few people in the class i'm thinking of, and would liek to speak with someone about this before everyone goes on holiday.

12/14/2005 11:00:16 AM

sarah =\

i know what you need. NAILS IN THINE EYES

12/14/2005 1:25:58 PM

i went to my advisor and also to dr. boss in the chem department, who went to the dean about it. ill find out after christmas break how it went

12/14/2005 1:38:01 PM