I’m not sure if this is the right place to post but I was wondering if anyone has any advice. I missed my exam due to a terrible migraine on the day of the exam. I emailed my TA asking for the opportunity if possible to make up the exam and have yet to receive an email back. I emailed him twice and learned that other students from the same lab got emails back to their questions. I email the lab supervisor but no response either and its been almost a week. I called a few numbers and the last response I got was, “You can’t do anything if they don’t reply.” Is there really nothing I can do at all?
Did you contact them before the exam? Or did you show up to the exam and speak to the professor? Did you go to heath services to get a written excuse?
It was on the day of the exam that I contacted them. I actually went to take two exams on that day but nearing the end of the day it just kept getting worse so I had someone drove me home. After I was home I emailed a bit after I rested. I unfortunately, didn’t go to the health clinic which is possibly a mistake a made.
I think it may also be a problem that you didn’t notify the TA until after the exam. I agree with the above post, going to the health center would have been helpful. Although you had a medical reason for not taking the exam you probably should have tried to contact someone prior to the exam and leaving campus. This isn’t always easy because you were probably feeling miserable at the time. Either way, someone should have contacted you in response to your emails. Keep trying. You don’t want a zero. Go in person if you have to but don’t let it go. You have to know either way where you stand.
Is the lab supervisor the professor of the course? Usually when I don’t answer it’s because I’m waiting for an answer from the prof because I don’t know how to respond.
Next time have the friend drive you to the health office or doctor. Typically you need some documentation from a professional that you were sick.
The syllabus may provide information snout what happens if an exam is missed. Dont expect faculty to contact you because they are busy correcting tests and other class requirement as well as posting grades. If a grandparent died, I requested an obituary or program from the funeral. It is staggering how many family members, even multiples for some students, die during a term. Reports of illness including hospitalization are common. Students should contact faculty asap before the test and be ready to document it. One student reported hospitalization, but could not produce medical information, paperwork for entering or leaving the hospital or even show a wrist band.
Faculty rightfully request proof. It isn’t just about not trusting the student. Documentation provides evidence of the event if there is a complaint or inquiry by administration or classmates. Unfair is not an issue because the student is expected to meet all class requirements. My advice is obtain and presenting convincing evidence rather than trying to argue fairness.
On a similar topic. Faculty are not obliged to provides incompletes. Faculty often find a good I number of students don’t complete them. They are not always inappropriate, but the student must schedule finishing one class while taking others. Further, successful completion does not include dropping a bunch of papers on the faculty’s desk minutes before grades are due.presenting
One of my Ds developed a serious illness during exam week. Though she had ample documentation, and was having an emergency procedure at a local hospital during the time period of her OChem final, the professor was still being a jerk. She got the Dean of Students involved and replied to every nasty email that the professor sent with a polite and factual reply with the dean of students copied. She took the final during the makeup period and was still given a lousy grade which she just moved on from because second semester had already started and this illness still required a lot of attention. She had to get a medical leave a month later (thank you tuition insurance).
It’s not clear that you have sufficient documentation - not going to the health clinic was a poor decision - but if the professor is uncooperative or unresponsive, get the dean of students involved.
Even if you get an F, it’s not the end of the world. You now know that in the real world, you need documentation for accommodations, and you’ll just move on.
Others have answered most of your question but I’ll add, this is not an issue for email. This is an issue to go straight to the TA/prof in person. Prefereably that was in advance but if not, as soon as possible afterwards.
Email is not a method for urgent communication. And that is important to learn in the workspace as well. My inbox is a river of emails at time and things get missed.
There is also a modern phenomenon of fire and forget. “Did you follow up on such and such.” “Yes, I emailed last week and they didn’t reply.”
Usually if you don’t get a reply in a day, it was lost in the shuffle or read and action not taken immediately for whatever reason and then forgotten. I have to be diligent not to do that on my important work emails that need more follow up than I have togive at the moment I read it.
@Kerari any update? Were you able to make up the final?
“This is an issue to go straight to the TA/prof in person.”
I was thinking the same thing. You need to talk to the professor in person. Go to the professor who is teaching the class, not to a TA.
I agree with @romanigypsyeyes that likely the TA is waiting to hear back from the prof.
Talk to the Dean of Students at this point.