For as long as there have been college students and professors, some students have been unhappy with the grades that they receive in some courses.  Sometimes a student expects the grade they receive, and sometimes they may be taken by surprise.  Sometimes a student knows that a particular grade is coming, but they are unhappy with the grade.  Grades are intended to reflect the quality of the work produced and the level of understanding which the student has of the material covered in the class.

Occasionally, however, a student is not only unhappy with the grade they receive, but they also feel the grade is not appropriate; either because it does not fairly represent their work or understanding, or because a mistake has been made.  As a parent, this may be one of those situations when you want to jump in and help to make it better for your student.  Like so many other situations for your college student, this is one of those times when it is not appropriate for you to step in.  If your student feels they have been graded inappropriately in a course, they must consider their options and take any potential action on their own.  However, if your student shares their feelings with you, you can help them consider their options.

The first thing for you and your student to consider is that, short of gross negligence and/or gross unprofessionalism, the principle of academic freedom means that no one can change a course grade except the instructor unless there is an obvious mistake or incompetence.  A department chair, or dean, or even a college president can talk with the professor, but the professor is the ultimate authority in his or her own classroom.

The second thing to keep in mind is that course grade changes, except for clerical errors, are relatively rare. To put the request into context, your student is challenging the judgment of someone who is probably an expert in the field, who probably attempts to be at least as fair as possible, and who has devoted their life to this work. Your student is asking the professor to take time and effort to review their evaluation and to give special consideration to your student’s work.  Your student should consider whether the change in the grade is worth the effort and personal issues that may arise from the appeal or dispute.

If your student has decided that that their course grade is inappropriate and that they would like to request a grade appeal or review, there are some things that you and your student should discuss and keep in mind as your student proceeds. Your help in brainstorming possible actions will help to model for your student how to deal with a difficult situation.

• The first thing that your student must consider is why they think the grade should be something other than what it is.  Do they believe that there was an error in calculations?  Is your student asking for an exception to a policy such as an attendance policy or a deadline?  Are they simply asking for a favor because they ”need the class?”  Your student needs to be very clear about what they are asking.
• Your student must think carefully about why they believe they were given the grade.  What did, or didn’t, they do to earn this grade?  Are they possibly mistaking liking a class or working hard with doing well?  College grades generally have very little to do with how hard a student tried, the student’s attitude, or whether the student liked the class or the professor.  Grades are intended to reflect what the student has actually demonstrated of their learning or whether they have completed all that was expected of them.
• Your student might begin by rereading the course syllabus to review the expectations and criteria for grading.  Have they truly completed everything to the standards set out in the syllabus?
• If your student has determined that they believe that they have met all standards and believes that it is worth the effort to challenge a grade, the best place to begin is by talking directly to the professor. Your student should choose their timing carefully. They should ask for an appointment during office hours rather than asking a question quickly in passing.  Your student will need to make an appointment to have time and privacy to discuss the situation fully.
• If your student is going to ask for a review of a grade, they should do this as quickly as possible.  Waiting weeks or months will not work in your student’s favor.
• Your student should be prepared for their meeting with the professor.  They will want to have an outcome in mind and to bring all documentation (assignments and exams) with them.  They should behave courteously and professionally.  Any other approach will almost certainly fall on deaf ears.
• If your student is unable to resolve the situation with the professor, they may talk to their advisor, a department chairperson, or someone else.  Once again, however, your student will need to keep in mind that no one can change an instructor’s grade, and appeals such as this are generally rare.
• Sometimes, the best thing that the student can do is to know when to walk away and make the best of it.  This will be a learning experience for your student, and will probably not be the last time that they will need to let go of something which they feel is important or unfair.

As a parent, it may be difficult to sit on the sidelines of a situation which your student feels is so important.  However, this is not a time for you to intervene.  Your student must handle this situation on their own.  It is important to remember, too, that your student’s perception of the situation, the potential injustice, and the outcome, may be very different from the professor’s.  You may be hearing only one of these perspectives.  Give your student the support that you feel is appropriate, help them understand the situation as clearly as possible, and then help them to move on if necessary.  Once again, the important lessons of the college experience go well beyond the classroom walls.

Related Posts:

What to Do If Your College Student Is On Academic Probation

How to Help Your College Student Use the College Appeal Process Effectively

What to Expect from Your College Student’s First Semester Grades

Helping Your College Student Avoid “How Do I Tell My Parents?” Fears