We, the undersigned students of the Fall 2024 COMM 213 course, hereby express our collective dissatisfaction and concern regarding the circumstances surrounding the recent final exam. Our aim is not to place blame but to advocate for transparency, fairness, and empathy within our academic environment.

Background and Issues:

1. Abrupt Reduction in Exam Time:
   Initially, we were led to believe that the final exam would be three hours in length—an already demanding timeframe given the depth of the material. However, on December 10th, just two hours before the exam started, the duration was unexpectedly reduced to two hours. This last-minute decision severely undermined our ability to demonstrate our learning, as we had prepared strategies and pacing based on the original three-hour allocation.
2. Inadequate Communication and Timing:
   This sudden change was communicated far too late. Many students, having planned their approach and schedule around a three-hour exam, were left anxious and confused. Such short notice not only created undue stress, but also called into question the fairness and reliability of the assessment process.
3. Lack of Acknowledgment of Impact:
   While subsequent announcements attempted to justify the exam’s constraints, they did not fully acknowledge the emotional toll and sense of injustice felt by the students. The communication primarily defended logistical decisions rather than recognizing how these changes affected students’ morale, trust, and academic well-being.
4. Dismissal of Student Feedback:
   When students voiced their concerns and frustrations on the course’s Moodle forum, many felt their voices were being dismissed. Rather than addressing these concerns openly and empathetically, the communication from the instructional team appeared more focused on defending the existing policies than on hearing the students’ legitimate grievances.

Our Requests:

1. Fair Reassessment of Grading:
   We respectfully request that the final exam and overall course grading be re-evaluated with consideration for the last-minute change in exam duration. Possible remedies include:
   1. Adjusting the exam’s weighting or curve to account for the time constraint.
   2. Offering an optional make-up or supplemental assessment.
   3. Allowing students to submit an appeal for regrading, backed by evidence of their preparation and effort.
2. Transparent Communication and Accountability:
   We ask for an acknowledgment that the timing and communication of the exam adjustment was mishandled. Clear, sincere recognition of this mistake would go a long way toward rebuilding trust.
3. Long-Term Policy Improvements:
   To prevent similar situations in the future, we request that the JMSB and Concordia University consider formal guidelines for communication surrounding major course assessments. These guidelines should ensure that any significant changes are conveyed well in advance and that student feedback is met with genuine listening and engagement.

Why This Matters:

We chose Concordia and JMSB because we value rigorous academics and a supportive learning environment. When sudden changes occur without sufficient notice, and when our concerns seem dismissed rather than addressed, it undermines our trust and confidence in the institution. We believe that a fair and empathetic response to this incident will reinforce Concordia’s reputation for integrity, respect, and excellence.

Conclusion:

We are not asking for special treatment but for fair treatment. We ask that the university and the COMM 213 instructional team recognize that the impact of this situation has been more than logistical—it has affected our morale, our sense of being valued, and our trust in the system. By taking steps to rectify this situation, Concordia can demonstrate that it upholds the educational and ethical standards we all respect and aspire to.