I’m currently attending a community college (2-year) on dual enrollment status. I’ve been having a lot of issues with my College Algebra professor. I emailed her a few weeks ago because I had gotten a bad grade on my assignment, asking if I could redo it or do some extra credit, but she refused both suggestions and does not give extra credit under any circumstances.
I explained to her that I’ve been in a really hard family situation- my mom was deadly ill and I was caring for all 3 of my younger siblings as well as running the household. At the same time I had been cramming college applications and juggling my full-time senior year classes on top of all this. She still refused to allow extra credit and proceeded to tell me that if I wanted feedback, I would have to submit my assignments by Friday (the official due date is Sunday and nowhere in the syllabus or official dates is Friday listed as a requirement).
For the past few weeks I’ve tried to stick to this, however she started grading my assignments wrong. On one assignment, she marked two problems wrong. I redid the assignment, and then she graded it with two problems wrong again- one of them was an issue with the first problem that she didn’t point out, and the second problem was a whole new one that she did not mark incorrect the first time around. I had submitted the exact same worksheet, only with edits. She gave me a point for the new problem she missed, but not for the initial problem that she did not give me full feedback for.
This week now, I had been working on an assignment on an alternate platform. The “quiz” had problems that were way more complicated than the ones gone over in the instruction video, and I went through four different hour long tutoring services before any tutor was able to actually solve the problem. By the time I was ready to go back to the assignment, the website was down for scheduled maintenance and remained so until past the extra feedback Friday “due date.” And then the professor graded my assignment as only half finished due to me not completing it that night.
Technically, next week is the last week of class, but she is non negotiably requiring everyone to take the final exam the day before Thanksgiving (Nov 26) unless there is extreme circumstances, and the assignment opens and closes that day. It is also the final day of class.
I have attempted to send her emails regarding all but the last two issues, but she has never budged. She is requiring students to submit by an unofficial due date that is unrealistic if they want a second chance at getting a good grade; she gives out zero extra credit; she doesn’t even give you leeway if you have a dying immediate family member; and requires the final exam to be on the last day of class only, the day before a holiday.
What is the college’s policy on final exams? Is there a separate final exam period. If there is, is it a college requirement that finals may only be given during that time? Or are all finals given the last day of class?
In terms of denying you extra credit, that’s left at the discretion of the instructor so long as it’s applied equitably, which appears to be the case
Late start or short classes that are scheduled to end before the last day of the semester will have final exams during the last scheduled class meeting.
I don’t see anything to report. You should not expect extra credit opportunities in a college setting and the final is being given during the same timeframe for all students.
I’m sorry about your mom and hope she has a full recovery.
If your mother is dying and you have heavy family responsibilities, I think withdrawal would have been the best solution. Meet with an advisor, therapist or a dean- probably all three- and see if you can withdraw, even at this late date. If your mother is dying, your family is a priority. Drop the class if you can (in our experience the grades are wiped clean). You have good reason to do so. (And if you have a full load of high school classes, is this community college class needed?)
Sorry to hear about your mom. But there is nothing to report here.
If you think answers are correct and she says they’re not, you should find out why they are wrong. There must be a reason. If it’s not sufficient, ask the head of the department to review your exam.
Being allowed to redo work or getting extra credit is not something you should expect in any class. So you should temper down that expectation.
There are two things here:
First, your family situation. I am so sorry your mom is so ill and that everything has fallen upon your shoulders. I hope your mom will recover and that a responsible adult will step in to help you. I agree asking for a late withdrawal sounds like the best idea at this point, unless you think you can get a B or higher in the class or if you can attend the final without trouble.
Second issue: your expectations college is like high school, which it isn’t. Extra credit, do-overs, and fluff points are rare to non-existent in college. Expecting p-sets on Friday for a Sunday due date is extremely generous - most instructors at my flagship would either require the draft a week before or p-sets during office hours, generally the Wednesday or Thursday before a Monday due date, so that they have time to go over the exercises/draft, return it, and give the student 48h to correct/improve/edit. Everything you report indicates a mismatch between college professors’ expectations and yours and right now your instructor must be pulling her hair out about dual enrolled HS students.
BTW, do you start your emails with Dear Pr. X, I’m sorry to be bothering you but… And close them with Thank you. Sincerely,(name). Some freshmen don’t know how to write an email and end up sounding disrespectful without meaning to, compounding their problems.
The technical glitches are a problem for sure. Since you went through four different tutors, can you request they each provide a note testifying you did try to complete the assignment on time but were blocked by the glitches, for which you’re not responsible for. Perhaps IT can vouch for that too. The professor may be willing to consider your full assignment in that case especially since there must be quite a few students in your situation.
For Nov26, try to allocate a lot of time to the assignment in case there are similar glitches which is likely since everyone will try to log on and submit. If that seems impossible due to your family situation, see with the Dean of you can withdraw due to having to take care of your mother (a doctor’s certificate might help). This may be the easier way for you, unless you need this class to graduate.
No, you should not report your professor as the professor has stated that all students are treated the same and it appears that you want to be an exception.