Hello All,
I was sent a letter today from the university I attend stating that because I did not meet the SAP requirement, I cannot receive financial aid. This semester was pretty tough for me and I let my personal family issues affect my school work (which I know is totally my fault). After receiving the letter, I checked my grades (I know, I should have checked them earlier) and noticed that one of my professors gave me an "F4". According to the school's grading roster, the "4" means "the week the student last participated in the course." Correct me if I'm wrong but I do believe that it means that that's the last time I attended class, completed course work, etc.
Ok. the problem is that I have completed my homework assignments, midterm, final and attended class the FULL semester. I will admit that I did not complete all the assignments but there is no way that I stop attending the course the fourth week of the semester. Now this grade is prohibiting me from getting financial aid this semester.
My questions are do I have a good reason to appeal? Is it possible to win? What are my chances? And should I contact my professor first? I know professors can make mistakes but that is just freaking ridiculous! Help please! TIA
Update:oh and another thing, the semester has ended. is it possible for my grade to be changed?
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
If the grade was entered in error -- that is, if the professor either made a mistake that resulted in you getting an F4 or if the professor entered someone else's grade under your name -- yes, the grade can be changed. Collect all the graded work you have and try to figure out what grade you should have earned based on the grades you earned, the assignments you got zeroes for by not turning in, and the grading formula given on the syllabus.
Check in your student handbook to find the grade appeal process and any deadlines. Then appeal your grade by following the steps in the handbook. (Exception: if there is a deadline and you can't get a response from your professor, you can go up to the department chair without actually trying to convince the professor that your grade was entered in error. But if possible, do not go over people's heads without talking to them first.) If you cannot find the grade appeal rules in the handbook, try contacting the registrar.
And mistakes happen. This is a small mistake when you look at it from the perspective of how easy it is to make. Just because it's having a major effect on you doesn't make it "freaking ridiculous!" and doesn't mean it's any easier to avoid than it really is. Obviously if it is in fact a mistake (I'm saying that because I don't know for sure, not because I doubt you) it needs to get rectified ASAP. Everyone gets that. But the attitude toward your professor is unwarranted, because it's the sort of mistake anyone could make.
I hope that this gets straightened out soon.
What is it that you want appeal, the F or that it says you quit at week 4. And what is it you want to win? I mean what is your desired outcome. You can't appeal it just by saying you don't want a F4.
Did you miss a lot of classes or something? Maybe it was a mistake.
Go to the teacher and ask him or her about it.