Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Attendance in this course does not help nor hinder memorizing a stack of flash cards with which to study. Attendance should not be factored into course grade, at all. This course could and should be taught online, as it would save the University money and the students time as well as money.
We, the undersigned, demand to have our final grades awarded based on our exam performance and not our ability to sit through restricted slide lectures.
Please note anonymous course and professor reviews: http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=945188
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A new professor to be appointed to CIS*3110
Scott Klemmer CSE170/Cogs120 Grading Policy Reform
Updates
January 8, 2014
The feedback I have received from many of you confirms that the frustration regarding our grading structure is widespread across the department. I am currently working to document these specific instances of arbitrary point deductions so that we have a clear record when we present our concerns to the faculty board. Your experiences demonstrate that attendance policies should reflect learning outcomes rather than mere physical presence.
January 8, 2014
Reaching this level of engagement confirms that many of you feel the same frustration regarding how our academic efforts are measured. It is clear that the current grading policy overlooks our actual grasp of the material in favor of mere physical presence. We are gathering momentum to show the department that our performance deserves to be the primary metric for success.
11 Comments
I attended nearly every class, missing only 2 due to illness and work. It was honestly a waste of time actually coming to class as I could have just as easily studied the material at home. I earned an A- but due to this teacher's arbitrary rule taking, I received a B+. It's unfair to drop my grade that much for missing 2 days.
I agree with the other comments, the instructor even told us that we shouldn't take notes, because it is all online. So then why is our grade negatively impacted for not attending a lecture that the instructor basically told us is unnecessary to attend. I wish this class was offered online, or taught by another instructor.
I would definitely look forward to this change.
I agree
2 absences doesn't seem very fair. I don't think my grade should be affected by two absences, but I loved the class it's not because I don't like the teacher.
Thank you, Susan! I wholly agree.
This is the explanation for the arbitrary attendance tally weighted against exam performance: "Example: 262 out of 300+ points total 2 tests = B+, then, as announced on syllabus & in class, Participation, based on Attendance, factored in. 2 or 3 (known) absences lowered your final grade in course 1 notch, e.g. B+ to B; 4 absences lowered grade yet another notch, e.g. B+ to B- for final grade. 5 absences lowered your grade a whole letter grade, from B+ to C+. 6 absences, 4 notches, from B+ to C." The course had 137 students enrolled, how was the professor able to keep track of "known" absences each week? She didn't. She unfairly utilized six "surprise" roll calls, which added up to less than half of the total classes scheduled, and weighted them against a student's grade by as much as 60%! For example, a student with a 92% (approximately an A-) earned grade based on performance would be given a C+ if they missed all six random rolls, yet if a student is able to score so highly on exams without attending class, why is attendance weighted so heavily against the final course grade? Perhaps I just answered my own question.
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Attendance in this course does not help nor hinder memorizing a stack of flash cards with which to study. Attendance should not be factored into course grade, at all. This course could and should be taught online, as it would save the University money and the students time as well as money.
We, the undersigned, demand to have our final grades awarded based on our exam performance and not our ability to sit through restricted slide lectures.
Please note anonymous course and professor reviews: http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=945188
Updates
January 8, 2014
The feedback I have received from many of you confirms that the frustration regarding our grading structure is widespread across the department. I am currently working to document these specific instances of arbitrary point deductions so that we have a clear record when we present our concerns to the faculty board. Your experiences demonstrate that attendance policies should reflect learning outcomes rather than mere physical presence.
January 8, 2014
Reaching this level of engagement confirms that many of you feel the same frustration regarding how our academic efforts are measured. It is clear that the current grading policy overlooks our actual grasp of the material in favor of mere physical presence. We are gathering momentum to show the department that our performance deserves to be the primary metric for success.
11 Comments
As a student whose grade wasn't impacted by this rule, I am adding my signature based on the unfairness of this grading system. In the Art department's course guidelines the minimum missed classes before your grade is effected is 4. For a class that discourages participation in the classroom, the absent policy stated is ridiculous.
I attended nearly every class, missing only 2 due to illness and work. It was honestly a waste of time actually coming to class as I could have just as easily studied the material at home. I earned an A- but due to this teacher's arbitrary rule taking, I received a B+. It's unfair to drop my grade that much for missing 2 days.
I agree with the other comments, the instructor even told us that we shouldn't take notes, because it is all online. So then why is our grade negatively impacted for not attending a lecture that the instructor basically told us is unnecessary to attend. I wish this class was offered online, or taught by another instructor.
I would definitely look forward to this change.
I agree
2 absences doesn't seem very fair. I don't think my grade should be affected by two absences, but I loved the class it's not because I don't like the teacher.
Thank you, Susan! I wholly agree.
This is the explanation for the arbitrary attendance tally weighted against exam performance: "Example: 262 out of 300+ points total 2 tests = B+, then, as announced on syllabus & in class, Participation, based on Attendance, factored in. 2 or 3 (known) absences lowered your final grade in course 1 notch, e.g. B+ to B; 4 absences lowered grade yet another notch, e.g. B+ to B- for final grade. 5 absences lowered your grade a whole letter grade, from B+ to C+. 6 absences, 4 notches, from B+ to C." The course had 137 students enrolled, how was the professor able to keep track of "known" absences each week? She didn't. She unfairly utilized six "surprise" roll calls, which added up to less than half of the total classes scheduled, and weighted them against a student's grade by as much as 60%! For example, a student with a 92% (approximately an A-) earned grade based on performance would be given a C+ if they missed all six random rolls, yet if a student is able to score so highly on exams without attending class, why is attendance weighted so heavily against the final course grade? Perhaps I just answered my own question.
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As a student whose grade wasn't impacted by this rule, I am adding my signature based on the unfairness of this grading system. In the Art department's course guidelines the minimum missed classes before your grade is effected is 4. For a class that discourages participation in the classroom, the absent policy stated is ridiculous.