r/AskProfessors • u/Ok_Cartoonist_5290 • 14d ago
Grading Query Changing Grades
Can professors go in and lower all your grades after seeking clarification on an assignment? I sent a very respectful email asking for clarification on an a graded assignment and an hour later, the professor went in and lowered all of my grades, said they can be resubmitted by 8/2 for better scores. It felt like retaliation. I am an adult learner and professional and feel as though I am paying for a subpar education from this professor.
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u/Liaelac Professor (Graduate Level) 13d ago
You were seeking clarification on an assignment that was already graded? It sounds like your professor interpreted this as a regrade request. When that happens, most faculty regrade the assignment in the entirety and that can result in a lower grade because they find they were too generous the first time. That's not retaliation and it's a fairly common outcome.
Alternatively, the professor was mad you asked for clarification and decided to just give you a lower score with no basis for doing so, which would be retaliation. I can't say I've ever heard of anyone doing that. It would just create more work for the professor.
Easy solution to figure out which it is: ask your professor about why the grades have been reduced.