[Dani]

By this time of year I should be relieved and overjoyed because I have only one semester left until I graduate with a BA in social work. After receiving my final grades yesterday I am completely devastated. One class has ruined 3 1/2 years of hard work. I received a D- in one class, and in order to move on in the program I would have had to get a C- or higher. All of my other grades are all B's but this one class has destroyed my chance of finally finishing my degree. At this point, I am at a loss as to what to do. My professor seems to not care much since she said that the grade is based on the points I earned, even though I believe I EARNED a better grade. She also said that I failed to complete assignments and improve my work, which I completely disagree with, there was a small assignment that I missed but other than that I did all of the work. I am so upset right now because this has been my life for 3 1/2 years and now it's all over because of one class and one professor who I believe has had it in for me all semester.

[Maus5321]

I am so sorry to hear that! I wish i knew what to say to make it better or go away. But unfortunately i don't. They need to put a way in so that a persons hard work cannot be undone in once instance after a certain point of working towards there goal. Especially if they can see the finish line! Again i am sorry! that is a devastating blow!

[Nobodyandnothing]

Please check with the university to see if there is anyone higher you can talk to. Perhaps the head of the department of social work. If that also fails, can you add another course next semester or retake this one to get a better grade?

Good luck. You have worked hard. Don't give up now.

[Dani]

The director of the social work program and my professor met today and decided that I will not be able to continue in the program. I'm not sure who else I could contact since they are in charge of the program.

I would be able to go back next Fall to re-take this class, but that is the only time it is offered.

[DenisDonnacha]

I know the exact feeling you're going through, I couldn't continue into the 3rd year of my course because of one failed class, I should be finished my 1st semester of my 3rd year right now but instead am only going to be starting the class again in January.
It felt like the end of the world to me at first but it's not, I managed to get a part time job to keep myself busy and I've been looking at material for my 3rd year online to try and get a head start for next year.
At the end of the day you can still get your qualification, and a job you like, and that's what matters, it'll just take a little longer

Did the director and your professor discuss your situation with you or only among themselves? It sounds like they didn't include you in their meeting. You should be given an opportunity to defend yourself and explain why you deserve to stay in the program. I would gather all assignments you did for this class, along with any other documents that demonstrate that you have done a certain amount of work for the class and try to argue that you weren't graded fairly. If I was you I would contact the program director and ask for an appointment. If he says no I would get in touch with the University's director and complain about how this has been handled. I would also talk to a student counselor/advisor and see what other procedures are available at your University. Each school has its own administrative procedures and the ppl working there might be able to give you more helpful suggestions. Good luck!

[Vibe]

I would also talk with your adviser to discuss your options. I've seen people contest grades when there is a lot riding on it. That might be an option for you.

I'm glad you're not out of the program entirely. It sounds like you'll just have to wait quite awhile to retake the course. Heh, I had to wait about that long just to get into my program due to a wait list. It is a pain but don't let it deter you. Use the time to do something beneficial. I went on vacation and worked in volunteer and job positions that would look good on a resume. Life hands you difficulties, but they are what you make of them.

i'm sorry this happened..

do hope you figure something out

[Dani]

Originally Posted by DenisDonnacha

I know the exact feeling you're going through, I couldn't continue into the 3rd year of my course because of one failed class, I should be finished my 1st semester of my 3rd year right now but instead am only going to be starting the class again in January.
It felt like the end of the world to me at first but it's not, I managed to get a part time job to keep myself busy and I've been looking at material for my 3rd year online to try and get a head start for next year.
At the end of the day you can still get your qualification, and a job you like, and that's what matters, it'll just take a little longer

Thanks for your response. I am determined that I am going to still get this degree even if it takes longer than I had planned.

Originally Posted by laura8

Did the director and your professor discuss your situation with you or only among themselves? It sounds like they didn't include you in their meeting. You should be given an opportunity to defend yourself and explain why you deserve to stay in the program. I would gather all assignments you did for this class, along with any other documents that demonstrate that you have done a certain amount of work for the class and try to argue that you weren't graded fairly. If I was you I would contact the program director and ask for an appointment. If he says no I would get in touch with the University's director and complain about how this has been handled. I would also talk to a student counselor/advisor and see what other procedures are available at your University. Each school has its own administrative procedures and the ppl working there might be able to give you more helpful suggestions. Good luck!

Thanks, they did not include me in their meeting and I'm really disappointed about that, because I feel like I should have been given the opportunity to at least defend myself. I have spoken with the director of the social work program and have an appt with her on Jan. 3rd to discuss the appeals process. I also have emailed the student affairs office because I was just going to withdraw completely, but I explained the situation to them and am hoping that something can be done.

Originally Posted by Vibe

I would also talk with your adviser to discuss your options. I've seen people contest grades when there is a lot riding on it. That might be an option for you.

I'm glad you're not out of the program entirely. It sounds like you'll just have to wait quite awhile to retake the course. Heh, I had to wait about that long just to get into my program due to a wait list. It is a pain but don't let it deter you. Use the time to do something beneficial. I went on vacation and worked in volunteer and job positions that would look good on a resume. Life hands you difficulties, but they are what you make of them.

Thanks, I plan on appealing the grade because I definitely know this professor treated me unfairly all semester. She would tell me I did an excellent job and I would get my paper back and see that she gave me a low grade. It just doesn't make sense at all, I got all B's in all of my other classes.

Originally Posted by shattered sanity

i'm sorry this happened..

do hope you figure something out

Thanks, I hope so to. I am a nontraditional commuter student and I have worked way too hard over the past 3 1/2 years for it all to end now. My university is an hour away and I've driven over a hundred miles every single day to get to and from class. The only times I've missed were when I've been sick. Many of the students that live on campus don't even make it to all of their classes every day.

[Dani]

My prayers have been answered and I am overjoyed at this moment. I spoke with someone from student affairs this morning and he suggested that I switch my program so I can still graduate in 2013 with a bachelor's degree, but it will be in human services instead of social work. I have almost all of the classes that I need for the degree, except for 5 classes, so I will be taking them in the coming year so I can finish. I am so thankful that I've found another option because I honestly didn't know what I was going to do.

[OrangeMoira]

That's fantastic! Can I ask, though: if you were planning to get a master's in social work, will the other degree hinder you? Or hurt you for entry level jobs?

Or were you going to finish the social work as a second bachelors next school year? If you plan on that, please check with financial aid. Your eligibility for certain grants and loans changes once you get a bachelor's.

Great job continuing to figure this out after the huge setback. You rock!

[Dani]

Originally Posted by OrangeMoira

That's fantastic! Can I ask, though: if you were planning to get a master's in social work, will the other degree hinder you? Or hurt you for entry level jobs?

Or were you going to finish the social work as a second bachelors next school year? If you plan on that, please check with financial aid. Your eligibility for certain grants and loans changes once you get a bachelor's.

Great job continuing to figure this out after the huge setback. You rock!

Once I graduate, I plan on getting a job and I'm hoping it won't be to difficult because I've seen a lot of help wanted ads that say they want someone with a bachelor's in something related to human services, so I'm hoping that will suffice.

I want to gain more experience in the field before I apply to grad school. My advisor said that I can still get a Master's in social work if I want to continue my education.

[Vibe]

That is awesome!

Technically, couldn't you get this degree now, then finish the last few classes in social work this fall and end up with a double bachelors?

Originally Posted by Dani

My prayers have been answered and I am overjoyed at this moment. I spoke with someone from student affairs this morning and he suggested that I switch my program so I can still graduate in 2013 with a bachelor's degree, but it will be in human services instead of social work. I have almost all of the classes that I need for the degree, except for 5 classes, so I will be taking them in the coming year so I can finish. I am so thankful that I've found another option because I honestly didn't know what I was going to do.

wow that is awsome!

good for you..

congrats! really glad you found a solution!!

[angustios101]

Not to complicate matters but you should still meet with the sw porgram director on Jan 3rd to learn about the appeals process. Are you a registered student with a disability (psychiatric, learning, and or physical)? Have you been seeing a psychiatrist or tdoc regularly over the last year? These factors would greatly influence the outcome of your appeal process. Also, most schools have an incomplete option for grades. You could argue that since the Professors D- was predicated on you not completing assignments, you should have been notified of this prior to the semester ending so you could have taken an incomplete. An incomplete allows you to finish the work you are missing over a specified period of time usually negotiated between you and the professor or determined by the school's general academic policy.

There are always alternatives, it just depends on how much time and effort you are willing to dedicate to the issue. Good luck.

[Perna]

Originally Posted by Dani

I would be able to go back next Fall to re-take this class, but that is the only time it is offered.

I had that happen; flunked courses in my major in my junior year and had to do summer school, change majors, etc.

I would just make another 18-month plan and consolidate what you have, get in some good volunteer/work experience in between and some contacts for when you do graduate and try again with that course and continuing next Fall.

[OrangeMoira]

I'm glad this doesn't rule out a master's later on and that it will let you start working right away. Sounds like a great solution! Still hope the appeal works out so you can bump your gpa. Fingers crossed for you.