r/USC • u/sptnkjun • 3d ago

Academic grade issue

so I received my final grade for a class a few days ago but I noticed it was nowhere near what I predicted my grade would be, especially considering how well I did on the final. When I checked Brightspace, I saw my professor gave me a 0 on an exam that I had done. At first I thought that maybe she didn’t use Brightspace grades to calculate final grades, however after calculating my grade myself using a grade calculator, I noticed that with the 0 on the exam, I got the exact grade that was shown on oasis, meaning she does use Brightspace grades.

Issue is I know for a fact that I did not get a 0 on this exam and this professor always confused me as another student in her class so I’m scared she messed up while inputting grades and very stressed as I’ve sent her 2 emails in the past 2 days and she has not replied to me. Will she be able to change my grade after tonight’s deadline or should I contact someone else and if so, who??

12 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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19

u/cottagecorecandy 3d ago edited 3d ago

everyone is on break till the 6th. i don’t expect you hearing back till then. let the break pass, contact her, then go to the dean of the school the class is in if that doesn’t work / there is no solution / consensus. but you just gotta give her time

11

u/USCgrad93 3d ago

Grades can be changed by the professor on the grade reporting system until Dec. 26. After that, the grades can be changed with a change of grade form submitted to the registrar. That can't be done until the offices open back up after Jan 1st sometime. Did you take the exam online or did you have a physical copy of your graded exam? But in any case, just know that the Brightspace gradebook is a little bit clunky and it can be easy for professors to make mistakes in it. If you have any evidence that you took the exam that might be helpful.

6

u/sptnkjun 3d ago

it was an in person oral exam meaning a grade of 0 would just mean that I basically didn’t show up to take the exam, even tho I did. The class is very small so there’s no way she doesn’t remember me showing up to take it. this is just so annoying considering this is 10% of my entire grade so I’ve already been knocked an entire letter grade down

11

u/SignificantSystem902 2d ago

Just contact the professor after January 3. Grades can be changed and sometimes people make mistakes.

5

u/The_Mad_Pantser 2d ago

likely an error, though could be a possible academic integrity violation issue. Keep your eyes peeled for any emails related to that and as others have said contact your professor asap after the break

3

u/bobthe1234567 2d ago

maybe also try emailing the TA if there is one?

4

u/SilverMuse1 2d ago

It is obviously an error- and grades can be changed after deadlines with the correct approvals, etc.

However……. Find out who oversees the department of your Professor. Email that individual and CC your Professor. Try to keep the email to a minimum length but with a maximum of clarity.

12

u/thanksforthegift 2d ago

Hard disagree. It’s rude to go over her head without starting with the prof herself. If you respectfully explain the situation, she should look into it and initiate a grade change. If she’s non responsive in the new year, give her a follow up email after two weeks. Only after that should you go to her dept chair.

1

u/SilverMuse1 12h ago

I am not entirely sure you read the original post in its entirety - nor my reply in ITS entirety.

1

u/thanksforthegift 10h ago

If this were January and she hadn’t responded to emails, sure. But it was right around Christmas and neither prof nor chair/administrator should be expected to reply. I don’t think OP should be going over her head.

-16

u/PotentialParking3468 2d ago

You must be Asian. lol