<p>When the school posted the final grades for the winter quarter today, I noticed something strange. When I checked Blackboard for the individual grading that made up the final grade for this course, I realized one of my team members did not turn in her work. I knew who that person was. Since she did not turn in her work, it impacted the final grades of my group. Some got lower-than-expected final grades because of the 'D' under our group project. (The class average for the group projects was an A-)</p>
<p>I feel guilty and responsible because I was the one who knew the situation behind the girl (her mother is hospitalized) and she has not been going to classses lately. I repeatedly told the girl to email her work so that I could hand it to the professor. The professor also told me that the Dean has been trying to contact her (she has missed and failed so many classes that shes probably on probation). She never turned in her work, I just discovered.</p>
<p>I feel angry because my other group members will look at their transcripts, and they will see a lower-than-expected final grade for the course. Right now, my other group members don't know what's happening to this girl; only the Dean, professor and I know what's happening. We turned in our portions of the project, yet we got lower grades because she did not turn in her work. It has affected our GPAs too. I feel I should plea with the professor to not punish our grades because the girl is probably on academic probation and has family problems.</p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>Plea obviously....what else can you do....except use some l33t h4x0r ski11s to change the grade.</p>
<p>Explain exactly that to the professor.</p>
<p>Essentially she is no longer in the class and it is completely out of your control.</p>
<p>I really doubt the professor will do anything...it was a group project, so it was meant to be a team effort, not just some of the group's effort. I don't want to come off as crass, but that is the simple truth. It was an assignment not completed. I mean as your professor, and don't listen to me, just my opinion if I was the professor.</p>
<p>I agree that the situation glucose101 outlines is possible, but I still agree with ottothecow and Rageking: plea your case.</p>
<p>Some professors (and I've had one) have an absolutely no excuses policy, purely black and white: if the work isn't there and it should be, tough luck. Other professors, however, are very understanding and don't want your performance to be reflected poorly upon because of another's problems if you completed the work. </p>
<p>All you can do is ask! Better to ask than assume he'll flat out reject your plea.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone, especially undecided. This girl is on academic probation so she has a history of problems that the Dean and even the professor knew before I got involved in this predicament. I just feel that my group mates who had no idea what was going on should not be punished for something they had no control over whatsoever. I pled with the girl to turn in her work, but she didn't (and the professor knew.) The others should not be punished for such a crazy quarter.</p>
<p>I disagree with Glucose. This type of grading is fine when there are normal circumstances, just not now. </p>
<p>Your new strategy: email or call the professor and the dean, and arrange a meeting with them. Explain the situation - you are very articulate and rationale, so you'll be fine. Say that, while you do understand the rules of the group project, that it is incredibly wrong for you to be punished for the fact that she has not handed in her work. The D grade is not a reflection on you, your work, or the work of the other team members - it is a reflection upon this girl's problems. Tell them that you understand that, under normal circumstances, the grade you all received would be appropriate, but, under these circumstances, especially as the professor is aware of her issues, the grade is inappropriate. </p>
<p>Whenever arguing something like this, CLOSE. Ask for exactly what you are looking for. Basically ask if the grades that the rest of you got can be averaged together and hers taken out. If that doens't work, negotiate and ask again: say that the team members will work together to get her section done, and then request again that the D grade not stand. </p>
<p>Talk to your parents as well. They pay a ton of money for you to go to your (excellent) school - and the deans and professors know that. Angry tuition payers may carry more weight than someone who can be passed off as an immature student. </p>
<p>You should not be punished either! Regardless of what group this girl is in, there would have been an issue of her not doing her work. That's not a you problem or a group problem, that is a professor and her problem - and it's the professor's problem because he should not be creating a situation that virtually flunks you (sure, in only one thing) because of this girl's problems.</p>
<p>Ya, but rules are rules. I know it isn't fair to tenisghs, and I know I would be ****ed, but that was the assignment, to work as a team. That obviously didn't happen. I mean ask the professor...but I mean don't expect like an immediate yes answer. It doesn't hurt to try though!</p>