+ R.I.P. It's really your fault... it's college, not real life... so a 0 for this paper sets you back, but you can still make up the loss. Think about it deeply: you could have sent the paper from the funeral, your uncle's home, the bus, just about anywhere with access, and explained it to your professor that you had finished it. You didn't. You knew when the assignment was due, you knew what was the punishment, and you are accepting it slipped your mind. Rules are rules and, although some can be bent, this one is really for you to admit. Next time, don't forget to turn in your assignments on time.
You're paying for too many kids that roll BS on their teachers. For every person like you, there are about 15-20 that try and pull crap. Bring some semblance of proof, bring the best work you could produce, don't go in feeling entitled. He's under no obligation to help you, though 95% of the teachers out there will. Even if he gives you an F, it'll be a lot better than taking a 0. 10% of your grade means you can't make an A. 5% (getting a 50) gives you a fighting chance.
Professors can definitely be harsh. I remember I had an English test my freshman year of college and unfortunately my grandmother's funeral was that same day during the time of the funeral procession. My professor didn't care and said that I can take the zero and still have a chance to bring my grade up. I offered the newspaper obituary, the flyer from the funeral and everything I could think of to show this professor I was not lying or just trying to get out of it but she was not having it. Then during my sophomore year, I became so ill that I had to be hospitalized for a week. Did my Botany professor give a rats ass? Nope, I still got zeros on all assignments that week too. I know college isn't like high school and we're expected to grow up a little but I think there still need to be policies in place to assist students during specific times so they are not penalized for things like that.
^ the policy was ALREADY there. "Turn in your assignments on time." Quotable material is quotable. Then, we're clear. You won't fight this anymore... will you?
Another vote for "go to the department head with proof." Also, science/math profs slant way more towards being a-holes than other profs. Keep that in mind next time and make sure you turn in their assignments first. Best to fly under the radar and get their classes done.
(1) You can definitely fight it, but I don't think it's a "right." Professors assign grades and (if you're lucky) have consistent policies. This guy, inflexible as he is, seems consistent. (2) Yeah, there will always be people "like this." It's not so much that professors at 'better schools' are more egotistical. They are all pretty much egotistical. But the ones at the better schools will have even more on their plates, more research expectations, so they'll give even less time to your issue. I totally sympathize with you, but I think you're transferring a bit of grief and frustration to this situation. Trust me, one grade will mean nothing to your life ten years from now. Nothing. Your priorities are totally correct. Family before school. But that doesn't mean the school stuff won't suffer for your correct choice. It's like when you have a career. If you want five kids -- no matter what anyone tells you -- this will affect your career. You won't be able to work a 65-hour week and be a good parent. It's a trade off, and I don't think it's someone's "right" to have area A of life account for area B. I'm a prof. I always tell my students "I grade your work -- not your life. You don't want me to grade your life." Because, truly, as others have said, you hear everything personal you could imagine that affects exams, papers, and so on. If you've got a big class, how can a prof really evaluate who's full of BS and who's not? I typically give a break when it's a student's own health or a death or serious illness (e.g. heart attack or hospitalization, etc) in the immediate family. I'm very lenient on those cases. That said, I would give you an opportunity to make up that zero if you showed me the obit or convinced me of your uncle's death. It sounds harsh, but I did have a student once who had three grandmothers die in one semester. I kind of asked him about it, in a nice way, and he turned beet red and admitted he made two of the deaths up. He lost count of his excuses -- oy.
I'm torn on this issue. On one hand, I totally understand the prof having a policy such as this. So many students try to pull crap with profs to bring their grade up, get extensions, etc. that I would imagine it gets tiring. Having a zero tolerance policy on stuff like this makes a lot of sense in that case. Its extremely tough, but if administered across the board, its also extremely fair. On the other hand, I feel for you. A lot of people are saying this is a life lesson, but I have yet to EVER work in a job to which leniency would not be granted due to a death in the family. I had JUST started my newest job last year and was a complete newbie in the corporation when I had two deaths in the family within about 4 months. As soon as I let my superiors know, all the work tasks and deadlines were suddenly fairly meaningless and I was able to attend to the family. So I can see two sides to the coin on this one. I agree that if there are official channels to protest, go ahead and try to use them. Even if you can get half credit, it may be worth it. One thing I would certainly do is treat it like "business" and take the personal feelings out of it. Be cordial and follow the proper channels and see how it falls out. Don't send nasty emails to anybody.
I was sick once on the last day of class when the prof changed the time and the location of the final. I missed it and he had no mercy. I told him I thought it was bull**** and I failed the course. Life sucks sometimes and then it goes on.....
Another point: how big is this class? If it's got more than 50 people, I can assure you someone is legitimately fighting something more heart-wrenching than your case... and that person turned in the paper. I guess I'm a scientist a-hole, but if you've got more than 50 people, one student will either have a parent on life-support or the student themselves will be quietly fighting leukemia, cancer or something. Totally the truth. So keep in mind the professor may be wanting to be fair to the person struggling with something even worse than your case but who completed the assignment, etc. Anyway, start with the department chair if you're going to appeal it. I would keep my expectations low though. If the department has any written policy about this type of situation, it will be restricted to immediate family. By the way, when I was 18, I was in the middle of my first fall semester of college when my favorite uncle passed away. So I do literally know how it sucks. (That was just a very different era, and I never would have told a prof about it. Times change, and that's fine.)
In some respects I agree, your professor is a dick, in others I think the blame may be on you. How long did you have to write the paper? If your uncle was sick even before the assignment was made you should have let your professor know before hand, if he wasn't then you had to have some time to write something. I remember once a professor told me that college is the worst thing ever invented, it kills so many grandmothers and grandfathers and aunts and uncles and so on and so forth. The problem is, when you let a professor in after the fact 9/10 times its too late. Now, if it s a major part of your grade, the guy is being a supreme dick. He shouldn't fail you or curse your GPA because of one assignment. No matter where you go there will be a professor with strict due dates and guidelines, if you deviate from them then you are risking your own grade. Even if your excuse is a good one or not you are still taking a risk by not following a professor's rule set.
Try to talk to the department head. Ive seen partiality from professors on more than one occasion, that is a part of college. A death of a close relative is indeed something that can cause stress and is a very valid reason for this paper slipping your mind. If I were you, I would go ahead and write the paper, and go talk to him again. Explain your situation, and even if he says no, hand him the paper, and email him the paper as well. Who knows, maybe at the end of the year his heart may soften.
Actually, in your case I find it more wrong on the professor's part. And I certainly haven't seen a professor reject such demands in similar situations. For tests, I've seen classmates take tests in advance in order to meet a certain obligation. As for homework, I've never seen a prof not give a damn if a student is incapable of completing it on time. But this is a paper. And unless I'm mistaken, it's the type that gets assigned weeks in advance. I know most college students procrastinate til the end, lord knows I do. But that doesn't change the fact that one should accept the risk of doing so. Whether it's a family emergency or even getting sick.
I think there are a segment of profs out there that get off on the power they have over students. I'm not saying this is one of them. But, I think some of them are full of themselves and will use whatever power they have in certain situations to hurt, rather than help, students. I've been taken for a ride before by both a high school teacher and college prof wielding their "power"...because they accused me of stuff I did not do. It wasn't a good time for me in either case.
Sorry about your loss Hamza...I'd try to get in touch with the head of the department, like many have said. Gotta at least try all options before taking the 0.
Or, drop the class and do it over if a 'B' is going to kill you? Or, is it too late to drop at this point?
<br> You're right, I am transferring frustration onto it. I've had quite a bit to deal with in the past week and then adding this on top of that was no fun. The class is fairly small. I think there's less than 30 people. Anyways, your points about trade-offs is valid. Believe me, I understand. My school stuff has constantly been suffering because of putting family first. That's alright, I understand that. I'm just talking about a death affecting 2-3 days max, as opposed to a long term choice that affects you because of your own doing. <br> Point is, I am going to do whatever I can to try and do something about this. I hold no ill will towards the professor. He is actually a decent enough teacher. It kind of bugs me that he took the whole week off to do his little Navy thing, but whatever. Like I said, ultimately I accept responsibility for whatever grade I receive. I was really just using clutchfans to voice some anger and frustration.
<br> Why is this quotable? The education at UH is sub par by most standards. I have yet to have a class where I have learned anything I did not previously learn at a high school level. That's a bit ridiculous. Actually, that's a lie. I have had two classes with professors who were in their first year at UH in which I learned quite a bit. Though, I think there's obvious reasons for that. I don't blame the professors for this. When half the class isn't capable of writing a coherent paper or doing basic algebra so we can do a calculus problem, it is pretty sad.
No offense, but this is bull****. (Not bull**** as in false, bull**** as in ridiculous.) In most of civilized society, people understand that your family and friends come first. I've had family matters come in the way of meeting deadlines at work, and some of them had major effects to project schedules, but co-workers, clients, everyone understands. Some professors have such a warped view of their self-importance that they think that what happens inside their ivory tower is more important than the suffering in the real world, and refuse to make accommodations. They need to get over themselves. (Not directing this at you, B-Bob. I'd think you'd be more understanding.)
