So, this week I was academically suspended for a full year ( Spring 2018, Fall 2018) for receiving a D and F for physics and calculus respectfully. I had to write an appeal , but that got denied and I feel personally that the university is being sort of unreasonable. I wasn’t aware of my poor grade in physics, because the professor had incorrectly weighted the gradebook, so I thought I had a B in the class when really it was a D. And for my F in calculus, our final was weighted 70 percent of the grade, and even though I had the right answers, since I didn’t make the answers clear they were marked wrong. I tried to call student advising and contact the professor to advise the grade, but have received no response. What should I do?
Was the correct weighting on the syllabus or otherwise given to you? If not, you might have a case there. If it was, they’re probably going to consider it unfortunate, but ultimately your job to check.
What led to you getting a D and an F? Courses too difficult? Lack of effort on your part? Something else? The exam weighting and gradebook issue don’t really explain why you did so poorly in two of your classes. What were your grades in your other classes?
You are a soph at Columbia? How were your freshman grades? This is physics 1 and calc 1 or higher?
For Physics I don’t think you have much recourse. If that final grade weighing is the same as the syllabus.
For calculus what do you mean by you “didn’t make the answers clear”? Were there specific instructions on how to denote an answer?
Yes, I’m a sophomore at Columbia, this is for Quantum Mechanics and Multi-variable Calculus
Oh there were no clear instructions on how to denote an answer, so I just circled the ones I wanted graded, but that apparently was not clear.
Is there more backstory? Warning? Probation? You went straight to suspension?
I’d really love to know what happened. ( I’m on the same boat :’( )
But in Physics, if you had a D on a test and a D on homework…wouldn’t you know you were getting a D?
I would contact the Dean of Students.
In college, grades are often decided by tests primarily with other requirements listed on the syllabus. Answers can be poorly explained or unclear. When asked about symptoms, a student replied eating and challenged denial of credit. The answer was unclear so did not receive credit. D and F grades are not awarded without careful consideration of the student’s performance and potential fairness. Faculty can explain their grades to administration when an appeal is made. If your appeal was denied, especially when the grade weighting was reviewed.
Talking to your advisor or dean will probably not change the grade by very much if at all. No extra credit or
do over are likely. What other grades did you earn last term?
Along with other faculty, a few of my grades were challenged. The dean was not so happy that I assigned a A when the student turned in what I had requested at the end of the previous semester and her advisor apologized. I am unaware of colleagues whose grades were changed in an appeal. Did know a handful considered easy graders. While schools aren’t perfect, but grading standards seem firm.
Find out where you might earn credits for your major at other schools. Replace both grades. Take this experience as learning a hard lesson, be angry for a few days and then move on. Gather credits elsewhere and delay transfer, if considering it, until the two grades are replaced. You will survive; your parents will be seriously angry, but that too will pass.