College Success Tip # 51 - Wait!! Don't Throw it Away Yet.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word, I hope;
Psalm 130:5
As a college student, it is very important that you don’t rely on your professors to keep track of your grades. Although your professor is responsible to document the grades for each student enrolled in their course, it is always a great idea to take the initiative to create a list/spreadsheet of your course assignments, grades and the percentage of how each grade will be calculated as it relates to obtaining your overall grade for each course. Keep a copy of your syllabus because each teacher calculates their grades differently.
The reason I am informing all college students to keep their grades until their final grades are posted on their transcript is because things happen and you need to have all evidence and documentation as it relates to your performance in a course.
For example:
* Your instructor could have possibly entered the wrong grade in the academic grading portal and refuses to change it because You, the student don’t have proof that you received the grade you are disputing.
* Something happens during the semester with your instructor, whether they leave for a temporary amount of time or permanently and a new instructor comes in to fill the spot, remember your documented grades will show what you’ve done and how you are going by the syllabus, despite the situation that occurred.
* Just in case you have to have a academic conference with a dean, department chair or academic authority regarding a grade dispute.
Keep your paperwork!
Although it is a relief that the course is over, don’t throw anything away until the semester ends and you physically see with your own eyes the grade that posts on your transcript for the course. If the grade matches your documented grades and performance GREAT! If not, then you have your documentation & syllabus and you can begin the process of disputing your grade with the instructor, department chair, dean, etc.
As a professor, I’ve made mistakes and accidently imputed the wrong grade for students. Once I was made aware of the error on my own or from a student, I was able to change it. But I have always documented students grades properly as the semester progressed, so grade disputes among students was never an issue for me.
College students be encouraged, take initiative and responsibly keep track of your grades for every course. Wait! Don't throw it away yet!
Peace & God Bless.
Aiming Towards the Target,
Dr. Bryant
