Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Dear Dr. Rankin,
We are contacting you in regards to Biology 223 test exam scores. With the replacement of Dr. Utz, the Spring 2014 semester has been frustrating to say the least. We strongly believe that we have been placed at a severe disadvantage in progressing towards our respective careers goals.
Therefore, the students of Biology 223 are humbly requesting that you take into consideration the following statistical trends which validate our request to raise our grades: current average exam scores compared to previous semesters, instructor evaluations, course drop rate, syllabus deviations resulting in incomplete quiz scores.
We are confident that the faculty, staff and students of Biology 223 can come to an agreeable resolution which shows the level of education that the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has promised to its students. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. We look forward to hearing from you.
Very respectfully,
CHRISTINA O'GARA
Dual Pre-Nursing, Kinesiology
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Biology 223 Spokesperson
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Grade Reconsideration for BIOL 310
A request to help us succeed
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
May 12, 2014
13 Comments
I feel it is an issue, because some of us didn't sign up to be instructed by Dr. Rankin. Some of us learn differently, not all can just be self taught. I believe grades are well earned, but I don't think its fair for all students. In regards to those students who learn from others instructing with actively explaining, instead of just reading off the powerpoint. I feel that this petition is worth a shot.
Hello Biology 223, First of all I want to thank you for participating and keeping these discussions respectful and productive. I would like to add that Ariana does make a good point in the fact that we earn our grade. I believe that to be true. However, grades have always been an indicator of the level of understanding that one has of course material. If our grades drop when we switch professors then that is the indicator. As students, there is a certain level of excellence that we should expect in the quality of education that we pay for. I feel as though I am not getting my moneys worth. This is an opportunity to give UNLV the chance to correct the discrepancy as any other institution or business would.
I don't think its reasonable to ask for grade hikes. I agree with Ariana, the issue is content delivery. If you don't attend the lecture your penalized, when you do attend (at least me) I feel as though the content presented confuses the priority of what to understand and the depth intended. I am at a B+ in this class. At this point this class might as well be an online. I've taught myself the material and have gotten little from the Dr. R. A grad student could have just read the power point to us and given the prepared tests and quizzes. The Biology Department needs to make the decision on what if anything may be done. The petition suggested will not be considered as presented.
I guess I'm confused here. Grades are earned, not given. Although our professor goes more in depth then needed, which can be confusing, and his quizzes are really in depth, it's ultimately our responsibility to study the information in the book and on the slides. The exams were written ahead of time and are straight forward, by Utz. If anything, he just needs to realize that he needs to stick with the basics when lecturing. Technically speaking his quizzes are fair game because the quizzes comes straight from the text. I'm all for having a higher grade, I just don't see the biology department just raising our grades.
I think the point of this petition is to give the biology students a curve. I personally have never taken a biology class where all the tests count (normally one test is dropped) and that by itself could serve as a "curve."
I am in Biol 224 and we all have the same problem. Oh and by the way if anyone is interested in knowing a little more about our teacher feel free to search him on the web. Why UNLV would hire anyone with a history such as his is a mystery to me... http://statecasefiles.justia.com/documents/wisconsin/court-of-appeals/2002AP000168-%282002-10-08%29.pdf
I own every opinion that I have. I never said that the only exception IS the quizzes, or that it should be the main focus because of MY grades. And I do take responsibility for my quiz grades. I do believe that they could be a little more general, but they are fair game. The exams weren't even written by Rankin so regardless if you had Utz or Rankin they would be the same.
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Dear Dr. Rankin,
We are contacting you in regards to Biology 223 test exam scores. With the replacement of Dr. Utz, the Spring 2014 semester has been frustrating to say the least. We strongly believe that we have been placed at a severe disadvantage in progressing towards our respective careers goals.
Therefore, the students of Biology 223 are humbly requesting that you take into consideration the following statistical trends which validate our request to raise our grades: current average exam scores compared to previous semesters, instructor evaluations, course drop rate, syllabus deviations resulting in incomplete quiz scores.
We are confident that the faculty, staff and students of Biology 223 can come to an agreeable resolution which shows the level of education that the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has promised to its students. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. We look forward to hearing from you.
Very respectfully,
CHRISTINA O'GARA
Dual Pre-Nursing, Kinesiology
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Biology 223 Spokesperson
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
May 12, 2014
13 Comments
I also think this should include BIOL 224. They have the same professor and are having the same problem as us.
I feel it is an issue, because some of us didn't sign up to be instructed by Dr. Rankin. Some of us learn differently, not all can just be self taught. I believe grades are well earned, but I don't think its fair for all students. In regards to those students who learn from others instructing with actively explaining, instead of just reading off the powerpoint. I feel that this petition is worth a shot.
Hello Biology 223, First of all I want to thank you for participating and keeping these discussions respectful and productive. I would like to add that Ariana does make a good point in the fact that we earn our grade. I believe that to be true. However, grades have always been an indicator of the level of understanding that one has of course material. If our grades drop when we switch professors then that is the indicator. As students, there is a certain level of excellence that we should expect in the quality of education that we pay for. I feel as though I am not getting my moneys worth. This is an opportunity to give UNLV the chance to correct the discrepancy as any other institution or business would.
I don't think its reasonable to ask for grade hikes. I agree with Ariana, the issue is content delivery. If you don't attend the lecture your penalized, when you do attend (at least me) I feel as though the content presented confuses the priority of what to understand and the depth intended. I am at a B+ in this class. At this point this class might as well be an online. I've taught myself the material and have gotten little from the Dr. R. A grad student could have just read the power point to us and given the prepared tests and quizzes. The Biology Department needs to make the decision on what if anything may be done. The petition suggested will not be considered as presented.
I guess I'm confused here. Grades are earned, not given. Although our professor goes more in depth then needed, which can be confusing, and his quizzes are really in depth, it's ultimately our responsibility to study the information in the book and on the slides. The exams were written ahead of time and are straight forward, by Utz. If anything, he just needs to realize that he needs to stick with the basics when lecturing. Technically speaking his quizzes are fair game because the quizzes comes straight from the text. I'm all for having a higher grade, I just don't see the biology department just raising our grades.
I think the point of this petition is to give the biology students a curve. I personally have never taken a biology class where all the tests count (normally one test is dropped) and that by itself could serve as a "curve."
I am in Biol 224 and we all have the same problem. Oh and by the way if anyone is interested in knowing a little more about our teacher feel free to search him on the web. Why UNLV would hire anyone with a history such as his is a mystery to me... http://statecasefiles.justia.com/documents/wisconsin/court-of-appeals/2002AP000168-%282002-10-08%29.pdf
I own every opinion that I have. I never said that the only exception IS the quizzes, or that it should be the main focus because of MY grades. And I do take responsibility for my quiz grades. I do believe that they could be a little more general, but they are fair game. The exams weren't even written by Rankin so regardless if you had Utz or Rankin they would be the same.
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I also think this should include BIOL 224. They have the same professor and are having the same problem as us.