Wrong Grade? Here Are Steps Your Student Can Take
For many new college students, adjusting to a new set of expectations when it comes to grades can be a challenge, especially when they are used to receiving straight A’s in high school. Aaron Brower, vice provost for teaching and learning, says that parents can play an important role in helping their student keep things in perspective. “The average grade first semester for new freshmen is a ‘B.’ The final grade point average [GPA] that a student graduates with will increase as much as a half of a grade point from their first semester,” Brower says. Grades have a different meaning in college than they did in high school, he adds. When students hit the job market, Brower argues, they may find that “GPA is less important to employers than what you’ve done as a whole with your time while you’re here.”
If your student believes he or she received an incorrect grade on an assignment or an exam, the first step is to determine the cause of the error, advises Christopher Lee, an assistant dean in the College of Letters and Science. If it was a calculation error, your student should speak with the instructor. If it is a matter of partial credit or more credit, he or she should review the question(s) and answer(s), focusing on what was asked. He or she should then determine whether or not the answer provided was complete and consider carefully any comments the grader made.
If your student still believes that the grade is incorrect, or if he or she wants to know how to improve answer(s), the next step is to speak with the instructor. If your student believes he or she received an incorrect grade for the semester, encourage him or her to review the grading policy in the course syllabus and recalculate the grade. Your student should next discuss the situation with the instructor. If your student believes that he or she was treated unfairly after speaking with the instructor, the next step is to contact the department chair.
“In all, going through this reflection process can be an extremely helpful, eye-opening experience for students,” says Becky Ryan, associate director of Cross-College Advising Service. “Most students at UW–Madison are good at everything in high school, however they’re not going to be good at everything in college. College is a time where students determine their strengths while gaining a sense of responsibility, knowledge of other cultures, and an appreciation for global perspectives.”