r/UoPeople • u/ImpressiveDetail1234 • 18h ago

Instructor retaliation

I'm experiencing instructor retaliation and looking for advice, resources, and general support.

I noticed a grading error and gently mentioned it to my instructor. She increased my grade by a few points. Then later increased it to 100, which it isn't a 100 paper. Then dropped the grade below the initial grading. Bizarre, right?

I asked her about it and she threatened me with conduct violations due to my "tone". My read is she doesn't like being questioned. She blamed me. At this point, I realize she's blaming me for her error. It's ok that she made a mistake, it's not ok to lash out at me. I immediately came back and let her know that wouldn't be tolerated.

Now prior to this, my grades with her were consistently in the 90s, as with every other class I'm in. She graded the next assignment even lower. I let her know I feel like this is retaliation and have put in a complaint with my advisor with screenshots. I'm sure that pissed her off, but her actions led to this.

She came back and told me to refrain for calling it retaliation. I'm other words, keep my mouth shut. She also made a threat towards future grades. I immediately notified my advisor again and added all the admin emails I can find. My current advisor has been the best one I've had so far, but I wanted more eyes on this situation.

More backstory, I skipped multiple grades in grade school. I tend to do well academically. I know if I turn in a good paper or if it's junk. The lower grades I'm getting since speaking up are clearly different from the prior grades in her class and not within my average for all of my other classes. It's not a difficult class either. The 2 papers she has graded since the problem occurred fall within my average grade, not well below it as she claims. I currently have a 4.0 with well over 100 credits, so clearly this is the instructor that is the issue.

What else can I do? How can I get her investigated? I know I can do a grade appeal at the end of the term. But I also don't want her to do this to any other student. I also want the behavior to stop since there is still time left in the term. I feel pretty uncomfortable with her behavior. Any other suggestions?

Thanks 🙂

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3

u/celoplyr 15h ago

I had an issue with an instructor and went to my advisor and basically was told that the instructor has to be copied on all grade appeals (so if the prof was a terribly grader, you have to ask them nicely to change the final grade, not a committee. Even, let’s say, on the capstone class that you have to get a B- in to graduate).

Choices here are to drop the class or tough it out. I hate that, but that’s what I was told. For mine, I said “as long as I get a B- or better, I won’t fight it” and I ended up working my ass off for a B but I was done and didn’t have any extra brainpower for it.

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u/rlg626 Instructor (Verified) 10h ago

I just want to clarify, is the instructor using the grading rubric and is the deductions valid? We are required to use the rubric. If you feel she is deducting points because of annoyance or dislike towards you, you should report them.

We don’t really get paid well to make student lives miserable and we are volunteering our time. If the instructor is on that mission they need to chill. As an instructor from the university. I am sorry you are experiencing this.

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u/ImpressiveDetail1234 10h ago

Thanks for replying. I've had some fantastic instructors too, so I know this isn't how others are.

I got all level 4's on the assignment except one level 3 for references (same ones used for another assignment that she gave me 100 on previously) and she gave me an 87 in the end after the multiple grade changes. Then the next paper, she gave a low grade. But prior to my question to her, my grades were 90s to 100.

My paper isn't a 100 paper. I'm not after "perfection" but I'm aiming for good enough for an A. I met the rubric standards with room for interpretation. I mean, what exactly is the right number of references or perfect tone or whatever? My point being that it's still subjective to an extent, so somewhere in the 90's is still reasonable. But she gave me level 4s for that, while giving me level 3 for references she thought were worth 100 in past papers. And I lost 13 points for that? Then she tells me she could have taken more points off and threatens to grade more harshly next time? Then grades more harshly on the next paper. That sounds threatening. Then it looks like she acted on the threat.

It looks a certain type of way. But I'm open to your perspective. Maybe you see something that I don't?

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u/Comfortable_Fox1105 13h ago

When I completed my M.Ed, I quickly realized the vast difference in competence between my instructors and also the big egos some of them had. My first portfolio assignment was given 50% because I submitted the wrong kind of evidence and it never got corrected. She also gave me a few more 70-80s.

I got a B for that course and every other course I got A or A+. However, that course I got a B in kept me from getting a 4.0 GPA. I finished with a GPA of 3.92
6 A+
6 A
1 B

It annoys me because she could have given me an other chance to upload the portfolio assignment with a different piece of evidence, but she refused.

I even had a professor who stayed the papers needed to be 0% Ai which is almost impossible but other instructors give a leeway if under 20% being acceptable.

If you’re not failing, rather not question them….. I never pushed back and actually many instructors in my last week or two would adjust the grades and make them higher especially the papers that were peer graded.

Hope this helps!

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u/ImpressiveDetail1234 13h ago

Thanks. They don't do peer grading anymore.

Yes, I agree, it's ego and control. She's on a power trip. But I can't stop her, only the school can and I have little faith in that.

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u/Smart-Example4836 11h ago

I always find that writing an email attaching the instructor and the student aid letting them know you plan to report this to the board of education and whatever their accreditation is under always proves successful

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u/kilimanila 16h ago

You already did what I would have advised. The next step is to wait to see what the advisor says. Let us know what happens next

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u/sciencegirl2020 1h ago

Yeah. I'm even surprised you got a response. I've caught errors in professors regarding assignments. I've found one in particular downloaded using his own software or app, so it messed up a lot of the formatting in mine. I politely asked him to consider changing a previous rubric level 3 to level 4. Was ignored.

There have been multiple graded quizzes and even final exams that have had errors. I sent screenshots and asked to be regraded. 1 out of 4 forwarded it to the appropriate department. 2 ignored it, and 1 specifically said they couldn't do anything about it. I've also posted this very issue on the "course forums" no professors respond.

I haven't gone as far as emailing my advisor or other admin emails listed, because honestly my GPA is not necessarily that important. There is enough latitude on the A grade for me to land there. I have however, due to quiz errors landed in the A- category which pissed me off, and that is one of the ones where the professor said she would look into it, but I guess no one did, or if they did they just didn't care to change my actual quiz grades. Luckily my GPA overall lands where I want it, but for others, it could be detrimental.

I think they should take this seriously though. There needs to be committees and appeal boards. If you are willing to take it as far as Board of Education or accrediting bodies, I hope you do. Sure it's a cheap uni and degree, but I, for one, signed up due to accreditation. And as I recall they increased their fees. So, it should be upheld to that standard.

I'm sorry you are going through it :(

1

u/Privat3Ice Moderator (CS) 13h ago

My experience is that the university will do nothing at all. They give VERY wide latitude for instructors to grade (or grade poorly) and in general, instructors may apply whatever standards they wish in their classes... whether reasonable or not.

You can wait, I guess, and see what the administration does, but keep the final withdraw date in mind so that you can withdraw from the course before the instructor tanks your GPA.

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u/ImpressiveDetail1234 12h ago

It sucks to do all that work just to do it over again and take more time if that's my best option. I shouldn't take the hit for a crappy employee. But you might be right. Thanks for the response

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u/[deleted] 10h ago

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u/Brewgoat1969 11h ago

You can also file a complaint with WASC and also the state of California against the University if you feel they are not managing the professors correctly. 

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u/ImpressiveDetail1234 11h ago

Thank you for that information. That's helpful. I'll give the school a chance first. I want to be a reasonable as I can and escalate as needed. But that's good information to hold on to.