<p>But a 70% D should not be a case of downgrading standards…can you point to any other grading system where a 70% is a D?</p>
<p>You can infer that her full policy is “70-75% is a C, but if I decide you didn’t work hard enough you get a D.” That’s too arbitrary.</p>
<p>How can it not be downgrading her standards? Obviously, someone is begging her to do something for that someone not based on merit.</p>
<p>So you’re saying a professor is incapable of having a policy that’s wrong?</p>
<p>@OP</p>
<p>Did you know that you would have to get an 80% on the retake of the final to get a C in the class? I think that when you agreed to retake the final you implicitly agreed that the results of the final exam retake would resolve the dispute. If you knew you would need an 80% on the retake to pass and you only scored 65% on the original final, did not have a chance to study for the retake and let a month go by before taking it you probably made a poor decision in agreeing to her offer. I think you should put your efforts into trying to take and pass the course during the summer and try to get the UCs that accepted you to agree to let you matriculate in the Fall if you can get a C or better during the summer.</p>
<p>@ Lemaitre</p>
<p>No I still have the power to appeal my grade. The last stage of the informal grade appeal process takes when I sat down with the dean and the prof. The dean typed up a summary of the informal grade appeal meaning. No where during the meeting or on the written summary states or implies that the matter will resolved through the retake final. I ultimately have the power appeal the grade. </p>
<p>At the end of the informal summary (dean emailed me so that I can appeal to the VP of college) that “should you choose to pursue the formal grade appeal process, then, as I told you in the meeting, you should take a copy of this email to the office of VP or instruction and inquire there about the process.”</p>
<p>So the retake was a compromise but it did not strip away my power the appeal as a student.</p>
<p>I have never heard of such a grading policy. Although, I’ve had professors surprise me by bumping me up from, say, an 88% to an A because they saw my effort, but I’ve never heard of it going the other way. I think I would, uh, get a bit crazy if they refused to grade fairly… can’t really say much more than that on a public forum.</p>
<p>Some more thoughts… I’ve cited regulations and such, but I think it comes down to this: could a professor have a policy that allows her to give a student with perfect scores on all tests, assignments, and projects a substandard grade (D or F) based only on her perception of the student’s level of effort?</p>
<p>I think the clear answer to that is “no.” She could have perceived effort affect the score in the class, but she can’t assign a lower grade just “because.”</p>
<p>I took a look at the CCC’s faculty handbook. Part of it discusses how to handle grade appeals, and it advises the professor to keep detailed records to justify whatever grade was awarded. I don’t see what records she would have to demonstrate an unsatisfactory level of effort.</p>
<p>@nick_scheu ummm yes. think about it… the professor made the policy, so what could be wrong in the policy? she made the rules, and that’s how it should be followed. What more is there to say?</p>
<p>The professor cannot make such a polic under California Code of Regulations, Title 5. The student must be evaluated on the level of mastery of the course’s subject matter and the ability to demonstrate it. A student’s level of effort has nothing to do with his mastery of the material.</p>
<p>Professors have a lot of discretion, but they don’t have carte blanche. She made a rule that is not allowed.</p>
<p>@asd</p>
<p>Because professors also have rules that they must follow?</p>
<p>@OP: You received a 65% on your second final? What was your cumulative grade in the class post-second final?</p>
<p>@eyethink</p>
<p>No. My final grade in class was 71.8%. I scored a 65% on the final. </p>
<p>The 2nd/retake final was a compromise between her and I. </p>
<p>The 2nd/retake final did not have a bearing on my overall grade. This was done outside of class. Literally a month after class ended.</p>
<p>^What was your score between the two finals?</p>
<p>I don’t think the second score has any significant bearing on the case because this was outside of class. But I scored in the same range for the second final.</p>
<p>It has significant bearing in as much as it essentially torpedos the best argument nick_scheu proffered. Whoever adjudicates your appeal will make the case that – twice you have demonstrated the inability to master the course material and were judge accordingly. </p>
<p>The professor’s odd syllabus may cause her to get a slap on the wrist, but it should have no bearing on the result of your final grade. The professor’s syllabus notwithstanding, it will be extremely difficult to prove incompetence. </p>
<p>However, you should still pursue this course of action to its fullest extent, but if I were representing the teacher, nick_scheu’s California Community College statues aside, this is how I would come at you. </p>
<p>On another note, they may change your grade just to get you out of their hair. But if the professor makes a principled stance against you and the faculty and administrators back her up, no amount of chicanery using the California Code of Regulations will help.</p>
<p>I hate math professors like this. I had a 90% in precal a long time ago, but the prof said if we didnt get over a 70% on the final he would fail us. </p>
<p>I did horribly on the final (no sleep, ex dumped me the night before!)…sure enough he failed me. Typical Bush league community college stuff. No legit college does this for a normal class. I told my current girlfriend (who goes to UCSD)… she laughed and said she would have failed half her classes with that rule.</p>
<p>I hate to say this, since I seriously feel how upsetting getting a D must be.
But your prof. did give you a second chance and you didn’t make it . If you saw a policy like that in you should of known that you needed at least 75% to get your C in most cases .</p>
<p>Most teachers decide the grade of borderline students based on the final . You got a 65% on your first try and a 60% on your second. I believe if you got, say a 70-75% on your second final she would of changed your grade to a C. I don’t understand WHY YOU DIDN’T RETAKE IT IN SPRING.</p>
<p>Reality check 99% of grade appeals fail . You had a week or so from when the grade was posted to the start of spring semester . You should of signed up for the class again , assuming your appeal would fail( and if it did change on appeal just drop the class.) . Everyone here hopes you get into your school, but you made some serious mistakes . </p>
<p>You mentioned math isn’t your strong suit, but you still took calc instead of Finite Math. Even if classes are hard to get you plan ahead , I signed up for Math for 2 different semesters just in case I had to drop the class for one-due to work and it paid off since I was able to accept a job offer in the winter . Your best bet is to call up you potential UC and ask them what your options are .</p>
<p>@eyethink </p>
<p>Valid point. But the mistake was made during the normal class period (6weeks). By mistake I mean her “adequate clause.” And I was judged accordingly I received a 71.8% overall (final+tests and hw). Of course the 2nd test proves that I haven’t completely mastered it. However I would think that not every student that passes a class (even A students) completely masters their material. If you were to got and retake a final for let’s say a history class you took as G.E. I would think you would have a considerable lower score than before.</p>
<p>@thisislife</p>
<p>At our CC we sign up for winter and spring classes in Fall (around oct). Winter ends on friday and Spring starts on monday. And there aren’t really any open classes left by the time I get my grade. I can try and add, along with maybe 50 other students who are trying to get on the waitlist. </p>
<p>I know a lot of grade appeals fail. But I feel like this his a solid argument.</p>