Grade Gripes

Students are welcome to discuss with me any questions they might have about their grades. This must be done in person, however. I won't discuss grades over the phone or by e-mail, except in extenuating circumstances.

Note, however, that if I undertake a review of your grade in response to a complaint, whether for a particular paper or the whole semester, I will look at things carefully. This means that there will be some chance that I will find reason to lower your grade. So you should feel confident that you really deserve a better grade before complaining about grading.

I certainly will not raise grades without good reason. Good reasons do not include a claim that you need the grade, for a scholarship or for whatever reason, no matter how significant. Please don't come to me and tell me that you need a better grade. Instead, be prepared to demonstrate that you really earned a better grade.

Note: Asking to go over a test to learn or to find out how to do better is different from complaining about a grade. None of the above cautions apply to asking to review a test for learning purposes.

Updated November 2, 2006