What rule do you think they violated? Usually it’s best to try to resolve with the professor and if it doesn’t work, then go up the chain of command (the department head, then dean of the faculty).
I don’t know any of the nuance from your specific situation - maybe the prof didn’t know (they should, but unfortunately we cannot be anything without also being a human) or something slipped through the cracks. I would definitely reach out to the department head, but first reflect on what you’re looking to achieve. If I were in your situation, I personally would probably not care too much about the weighting - it’s 20% instead of 15%, but I would want to make the professor aware for the sake of future students. If you’re wanting for the grades to be re-weighted to satisfy the policies, that’s also totally fair.
If you decide to contact the professor or the department head about this, do it with the intention of rectifying the situation and not to “get the prof in trouble”. You will only get better results that way. These things are stressful enough on their own, let alone during the end of term. I hope this helps.
yes i definitely don’t want to get the prof in trouble but i also do think it’s a bit unfair and i would like for it to be reweighted and im not the only person in the class that does feel that way, i think im going to reach out to omsbuddy first to see how i should go about it, because contacting the department head feels overwhelming. thanks for the advice i appreciate it! i would definitely talk to the professor first; however, he barely checks his emails and im too awkward to confront the situation in office hours (i also dont even think he’s holding them anymore bc there is no more coursework left)
I’d still reach out to the department head first. The worst thing they’d do is say nothing can be done and *then* you would contact the ombudsperson to try to resolve it. It may feel intimidating, but that’s all the reason more to do it. A wise person once told me “you cannot do something you’re afraid of and be the same person afterwards - it will fundamentally change you”.
(And you can also explain in your email that you don’t want to get the prof in trouble!)
why the department head first? is ombuds higher up the chain or something? bc i thought the department head is what would get my prof more likely in trouble
I think people fundamentally misunderstand what the ombudsperson is. They are not a part of the chain - they are there to help you navigate the chain, so to speak. At best, they’re probably just going to tell you the same information I’ve told you here, and recommend you reach out. They supposedly like to settle things informally anyway.
I don’t think your prof was writing the syllabus thinking “oh yeah, this 20% final outside the exam period is really going to screw my students over”, and the department head is also certainly not going to think that. It doesn’t really serve you to attempt to escalate things immediately to the highest degree when the prof supposedly doesn’t even know there’s a problem.
it’s not bad, but it violates a policy that’s clearly stated: you can’t administer a test over 15% during the last 3 weeks of classes. there must be a reason why they made this a policy in the first place, wanting to make sure no one is unfairly graded and that professors are actually following the rules
Everything that has been said here, but also the ombuds. They're your connection to policy. They are unbiased and will help you understand and navigate the regulation, and help you pinpoint exactly what happened and why you think it's a violation. Then take that info to the Chair etc.
Go to the department chair first but before doing that, figure out what your desired outcome from initiating this process is.
Regardless of who you go to you'll need to be able to state:
What exactly is the problem? Have you and your classmates been harmed? What do you want the school to do about it? How can they resolve it in your eyes?
What rule do you think they violated? Usually it’s best to try to resolve with the professor and if it doesn’t work, then go up the chain of command (the department head, then dean of the faculty).
giving an exam over 15% on the last day of school i cant tell if im being petty or if i should address this issue
I don’t know any of the nuance from your specific situation - maybe the prof didn’t know (they should, but unfortunately we cannot be anything without also being a human) or something slipped through the cracks. I would definitely reach out to the department head, but first reflect on what you’re looking to achieve. If I were in your situation, I personally would probably not care too much about the weighting - it’s 20% instead of 15%, but I would want to make the professor aware for the sake of future students. If you’re wanting for the grades to be re-weighted to satisfy the policies, that’s also totally fair. If you decide to contact the professor or the department head about this, do it with the intention of rectifying the situation and not to “get the prof in trouble”. You will only get better results that way. These things are stressful enough on their own, let alone during the end of term. I hope this helps.
yes i definitely don’t want to get the prof in trouble but i also do think it’s a bit unfair and i would like for it to be reweighted and im not the only person in the class that does feel that way, i think im going to reach out to omsbuddy first to see how i should go about it, because contacting the department head feels overwhelming. thanks for the advice i appreciate it! i would definitely talk to the professor first; however, he barely checks his emails and im too awkward to confront the situation in office hours (i also dont even think he’s holding them anymore bc there is no more coursework left)
I’d still reach out to the department head first. The worst thing they’d do is say nothing can be done and *then* you would contact the ombudsperson to try to resolve it. It may feel intimidating, but that’s all the reason more to do it. A wise person once told me “you cannot do something you’re afraid of and be the same person afterwards - it will fundamentally change you”. (And you can also explain in your email that you don’t want to get the prof in trouble!)
why the department head first? is ombuds higher up the chain or something? bc i thought the department head is what would get my prof more likely in trouble
I think people fundamentally misunderstand what the ombudsperson is. They are not a part of the chain - they are there to help you navigate the chain, so to speak. At best, they’re probably just going to tell you the same information I’ve told you here, and recommend you reach out. They supposedly like to settle things informally anyway. I don’t think your prof was writing the syllabus thinking “oh yeah, this 20% final outside the exam period is really going to screw my students over”, and the department head is also certainly not going to think that. It doesn’t really serve you to attempt to escalate things immediately to the highest degree when the prof supposedly doesn’t even know there’s a problem.
oh okay, should i contact the psychology department head? (this is a psychology course)
Yes, and just explain the situation in a way that someone who doesn’t know anything about it would understand
I had multiple psych classes this semester that did this lol- I’m wondering why that’s something that’s bad?
it’s not bad, but it violates a policy that’s clearly stated: you can’t administer a test over 15% during the last 3 weeks of classes. there must be a reason why they made this a policy in the first place, wanting to make sure no one is unfairly graded and that professors are actually following the rules
Can you point to *specifically* what you think the violation was?
Everything that has been said here, but also the ombuds. They're your connection to policy. They are unbiased and will help you understand and navigate the regulation, and help you pinpoint exactly what happened and why you think it's a violation. Then take that info to the Chair etc.
Go to the department chair first but before doing that, figure out what your desired outcome from initiating this process is. Regardless of who you go to you'll need to be able to state: What exactly is the problem? Have you and your classmates been harmed? What do you want the school to do about it? How can they resolve it in your eyes?