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I gave a Student a B because after several times of explaining how important it is to submit work on time the Student still continued to submit it late. I deducted 10 points from the final grade. The Student was upset and said so you just decided to give me a B and ruin my 4.0 average. The student is angry and thinks its my fault. How do you handle something like that?

Roxsie,
The way you've described it is the best, firm but fair. If your syllabus doesn't state late assignments will be downgraded, or subject to a downgrade, it ought to. That way, on day one when you're explaining how to be successful and get the best grades, the topic of late assignments can be addressed, and their importance reinforced. There is nothing better than lots of prior documentation to refer to when students have complaints like this. And your expectations are not unrealistic. A final touch, if those times you had discussion with this student are documented, discussing these with the student could be helpful (in term of justifying your actions). The student will probably forever be angry. The only spin I could suggest is to relate it to work expectations as a graduate. Employers expect assignments completed on time. That might help. If not, so be it. (BTW, the earned their "B", not you "deciding to give it".).

Barry Westling

Students really have to understand how important time management is. Unless there is a documented excuse for the late work then they get a 0. This is clearly understood by my students. When my students ask why I make such a big deal about them being late, I always ask them the same question. The question is when you work in a doctor’s office and patient appointments start at 8, and you arrive at 815 is everything and everyone supposed to wait until you are there? Nine times out of ten the answer is no. I think sometimes students take advantage of knowing they can turn in assignments late and still get partial credit. Through some of the classes I have taken, if our assignment was late I automatically lost 50 % of the points. I think what you did was correct, and hopefully she understands that things must be due on time now.

ROBBYN,
In work, specific assignments are expected to be done on time. There usually is no "grace period", or partial credit for being late. Part of the instructional process is learning accountability. Unfortunately, some students have to learn the hard way.

Barry Westling

I had a similar situation this past semester. A "4.0" student in one of her final semesters decided to miss 6 out of 20 classes and only turn in 2 out of the 3 assignments for the term. She assumed the As on her exams and quizzes would carry her through. I was able to show her at the end of the semester (after she ran to the Director of Education to complain that I hated her and I intentionally ruined her perfect GPA) that the syllabus clearly shows that those exam and quiz scores only account for 50% of her final grade. The other 50% is made up with attendance, participation, homework, and assigned project scores. I give students a spreadsheet at the beginning of the semester so they can track their overall grades on their own without having to ask. The trick to it is to have everything documented thoroughly WITH justifications so students are completely aware of the requirements for grades and attendance from the beginning and to remind them of those processes and justifications throughout the semester. In my case, the documentation was there for the DOE to stand firmly behind my grading system and to be able to impress on the student how her actions and choices affected her overall grade.

Edith,
Some students feel very entitled, like they can have things their way without a consequence. Having a thorough syllabus, with expectations clearly stated is one way to try to get students to conform to their own successfulness. Unfortunately that apparently doesn't happen in all cases.

Barry Westling

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