Request for Special Consideration
If you were sent to this page by me, you may have requested special consideration for your course grade. Or you may have requested a meeting to discuss your grade. In either case, you should read this page so you know my position:
Every term I get several requests from students asking for a special arrangement and/or an adjustment to their grade. This page explains my position. You may have at least one of the following justifications for your request:
Although I sympathize (with all except maybe the last reason) your grade cannot be adjusted for these reasons. Why not?
Regardless of how you feel about your level of effort, unearned grade adjustments devalue the degree that you seek. I urge you not to send these types of unprofessional requests to your instructors. They reflect poorly on you.
If you think you have grounds for an academic accommodation, please discuss them with your Program Director. Well-founded compassionate grounds can affect your academic standing (Clear/Probationary/Required to Withdraw). They do not normally change your grade in a course, which is knowledge-based.
Dr. D. Naylor
Last Updated: May 2023
Every term I get several requests from students asking for a special arrangement and/or an adjustment to their grade. This page explains my position. You may have at least one of the following justifications for your request:
- "Shocked" to have done poorly because you studied hard
- Not wanting to repeat the course; Inability to take another course due to the prerequisite; Lost internship, co-op placement, job opportunity or scholarship; Need to get the IEEQB minimum grade
- Financial difficulties, relationship/family difficulties, personal or family health/mental health issues
- Need to graduate and/or to get into graduate school
- The most annoying: My grade is ok but I need an unearned increase to reach the next letter grade.
Although I sympathize (with all except maybe the last reason) your grade cannot be adjusted for these reasons. Why not?
- It would be unfair. Grade adjustments, if any, will be done in a manner that is fair for the entire class. This is NOT something you can request and I will not discuss it.
- Grades must be earned. Knowledge must be demonstrated. This is critical in professional programs, like engineering. (Would you like to be under the care of a doctor who passed without demonstrating adequate knowledge?)
Regardless of how you feel about your level of effort, unearned grade adjustments devalue the degree that you seek. I urge you not to send these types of unprofessional requests to your instructors. They reflect poorly on you.
If you think you have grounds for an academic accommodation, please discuss them with your Program Director. Well-founded compassionate grounds can affect your academic standing (Clear/Probationary/Required to Withdraw). They do not normally change your grade in a course, which is knowledge-based.
Dr. D. Naylor
Last Updated: May 2023