RE: Needing to defend myself in a grade appeal

[H. Gelpi]

The students clearly failed to fulfill course requirements that account for 25% of the grade.  If this was broken down in the syllabus, then the students deserve the grade.   Based on my own experience, as long as the syllabus is clear (no loopholes), your department should support you.  The only thing students who challenge the grade can hope for is a grade change to an “Incomplete” and the opportunity to submit the work. However, I would hope that your school would defer to you to decide this.  In this case, I imagine that the student should have to convince the school that there were extenuating circumstances that, not only prevented them from completing the assignment, but also from notifying you, the instructor.  In fact, I see it as especially damaging to this student’s case that they would wait until receiving the grade then, without contacting you, go “above your head” and challenge your grade.  The typical expectation is that one awards an “I” to a student who approaches the instructor and states an intent and desire to do the work and presents some acceptable circumstance that prevented the student from finishing the work.   Haydee Gelpi DHHS/FOH Florida     -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2001 12:39 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Needing to defend myself in a grade appeal   Tipsters, My introductory psychology syllabus states on the first page that the course requirements are based on three (out of four) examinations, quizzes, and a final project. The split is given 50% for the exams, 25% for the quizzes, 25% for the final project. Several students in one section of intro psych at Santa Monica College either just flat out didn't hand in the final project, or decided (without consulting me) to take the fourth exam and not hand in the final project.  In the case of one student who did the latter, I took the average of the three highest exam grades, the quizzes, and got a 67% - a D.  Since her grade would have been an A or a B if she'd fulfilled the requirements as stated on the syllabus, I decided to be merciful and give her a C. But I have received a phone call from the college ombudsperson and fear that I will end up having to revise her grade upwards. How does my case look to you - I have a copy of my syllabus available.  Based on your experiences, will I end up having to raise her grade because "she took four exams, so it's equal to the course requirements?" Nancy Melucci ELAC