I know this may sound incredibly minor, I mean, it’s only 1
point, right? But that point is the
difference between a B and a C in this class.
And it all stems from two exams prior to the final. On one exam, the teacher said he would give
everyone a point back because he put the wrong information on the exam. You can hear that below at around 19 minutes through
a little after 20 minutes. If the file isn't working, you can access it here. <----click comment-------="">
Then there is the third exam for this class. The teacher said on the exam day he forgot to
put in a question so it would be extra credit, three points to be exact. I put the extra credit definition on the
exam, but did not receive my 3 points. I
pointed this out when he gave use the exam back, and he said he would add that
3 points to my grade…but it never got added. You can here that below, at around 15
minutes. If this file isn't working, you can access it here. <----click comment-----click--="">
So, before the final, I typed up a study guide and figured
what I would need to make a B in the class.
I’m pretty good at judging my grade and usually can point out which
questions I get wrong. And, for this
class, I did just enough to get the B because I knew there was no way I would
be able to get an A, and also I just wanted to take the exam and get away from
this class/teacher. This teacher is
actually the reason that I changed my degree from AgriBusiness to Math. I just couldn’t face another class with this
teacher. So, here’s some history with
this teacher…
On the first day of class, he SUGGESTED that the table I was
sitting at was crowded and that I might be more comfortable at another
table. I said I was fine and it wasn’t
overcrowded. I stayed where I was
sitting because I didn’t think it was a big deal. I was told by the other students after class
that when he suggests something, he’s really telling you to do it. So, I pissed off the teacher on the first day
of class and it went downhill after that.
There are other things, but it is not appropriate to say
them here, because it has nothing to do with this situation.
The thing that really upset me, is this. When I went to the instructor about the
grades he said he will address it in the fall semester, and I asked if it was
possible to fix it this semester because that C has caused me to not get
certain financial aid for the Summer sessions.
He said that he doesn’t have time, and it “requires a big form and I’m
very busy.”
So, I went to the Dean of the Department, and the Dean tried
to work with me about this.
I was told the other day by my husband, who happens to have
a class with this instructor, that he will see me before class the next
day. So, I went to see him. As soon as I went to the office, he called in
another faculty member and then talked to me.
The entire meeting was less than 3 minutes, and I was not given a chance
to show any of my evidence. He also
called into question my INTEGRITY. Now,
I have the recordings of where it was mentioned about these things ON THE DAY
HE RETURNED THE EXAMS, and that he said he would add those points. Then during that meeting, he said that he “has
absolutely no confidence” about what is on my exams because they have been in
my possession all this time. You can
hear both conversations with him. (hopefully it's below)
You're going to have to skip to about 2 minutes in on both of these, and turn your volume up...I was recording it on my phone.
So, here is what it boils down to…the ONE POINT!!
Here is what my grades would be without those points added
back into the exams, and what I would need to get a B.
Exam 1 68
Exam 2 94
Exam 3 87
Exam 4 ?
I would have had an 83 going into the final, and would have
had to make at least a 71 to get a B in the class.
Here is what my grades would be WITH those points added back
into the exams, and what I would need to get a B.
Exam 1 68
Exam 2 95
Exam 3 90
Exam 4 ?
I would have had an 84.3 going into the final and would have
had to make at least a 67 to get a B in the class.
On the final, I made a 68.
Yes, you can see that I really didn’t try that hard.
Another issue that was brought up and the reason that he
would not change my grade is because I “have performed only average performance”
and he doesn’t think I “deserve any other grade more than that.” My position on this is: IF I EARNED THE GRADE, I SHOULD GET IT NO
MATTER WHAT HE THINKS OF ME. It is
stated in his syllabus that exams are “100 percent of your final grade”, there
is nothing about class participation, nothing about getting a lower grade if I
(as a student) don’t perform my best, and nothing about any other type of
grade. He did, however, put something in
the syllabus, about attendance. If you
miss more than 3 classes, “one point will be deducted from the final grade for
each class absence in excess of three unexcused absences. On a positive note,
anyone who has a perfect attendance record will get the benefit of the doubt
when their final grade is borderline.”
May I point out here that I had PERFECT ATTENDANCE.
So, now I’m going through the formal grade appeal
process. By the time all is said and
done, it will be too late for me to get the financial aid that I would have
been able to get, had this grade been a B.
And, I doubt I will get it in the fall either because of this whole
mess. This really hurts me financially
because I do not get Pell Grants, I only get this other aid, and loans. YES, loans!
So this grant would have helped me considerably.
