How can you effectively handle student-teacher conflict? College is an important time for you to learn how to advocate for yourself.

By Norrell Edwards

College is an important time for you to learn how to advocate for yourself. I'd love to tell you that your teachers are all perfect humans who never make mistakes or fall pretty to personal biases or flawed thinking, and that would be a lie. Your teachers are imperfect. Sometimes, grades can be very subjective.

I will never forget failing my Anthropology midterm during my undergraduate freshman year. Concerned by my grade, I scheduled to talk with my professor and review the exam during office hours. I handed over the little blue booklet, and she re-read my essay answers. I had answered the first question very poorly; we talked through where I had gone wrong. When we got to the second essay question, something unexpected happened.

She confessed that she was so enraged by my wrong answer for the first essay question that she had taken off excessive points on the second essay question. She added back the points, and I no longer failed. I tried to hide my shock. If I had not sought her out to discuss my grade, I would have failed the exam, and that would have been that. I thanked her and left her office. I did not tell her that I found her grading biased and unfair. I did, however, keep that experience in my mind for the future.

You likely know, as the student, you are not in a position of power over your grade in a class. The professor holds that power. Your academic institution will likely support your professor over you regarding a grade dispute. However, as a student, you are well within your right to respectfully request a grade breakdown to understand how and why you received the grade you did. Usually, teachers appreciate when a student cares about their grades and the course. Most professors should be open to hearing a well-documented, evidence-based argument about why your grade should differ.

If you want to challenge a grade, it MUST be focused on the work you produced and whether it met the outlined requirements for the assignment and course. Challenging a grade should be focused on something other than your desire for a better grade. Everyone would like a better grade if they could get one. The question is: do you deserve a better grade based on the existing parameters of the class?

Challenging a grade can be a difficult pursuit. Unfortunately, it can ruffle some feathers and sour some relationships. It's worth pursuing only if you have been unfairly docked points or graded based on biases rather than your actual work product (assignments). You can take several steps before escalating to a formal grade change request at the end of the semester.

Meet with Your Professor

First, talk with professors throughout the semester to inquire about your overall grade, how you're doing in class, and any questions regarding assignments. I did not have to ask my anthropology professor to change my midterm grade. She did it of her own volition after going through the exam again. You can also ask your professor if there is any way to make up lost points. If they say no, you must respect their decision.

Break it Down

Second, if you have met with the professor but still feel something has gone wrong with your overall grade by the end of the course—ask for a grade breakdown explanation. Teachers make mistakes and sometimes enter wrong numbers or lose track of points. It doesn't hurt to double-check all your scores if you feel something is amiss.

File a Formal Complaint

Third, if you talk to your professor again after the cl ose of the semester and your grade still seems incorrect—you can consider a formal complaint. However, you should consult another party, like a trusted academic advisor, before moving forward. Remember, most grade change requests involve a formal review of your work and the assignments from the class. If the review is in your professor's favor, your grade will not be changed. This path is worthwhile if there is a severe discrepancy in your work and the final grade or a clear, provable technical error on the part of the professor. Keep all of this in mind when considering a grade appeal.

Norrell Edwards

Norrell Edwards is a scholar, educator, and communications consultant for non-profit organizations. Her employment experience and research interests place her work at the nexus of global Black identity, cultural memory, and social justice. Norrell graduated with a BA in English Literature from Hunter’s College followed by a PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park in 20th and 21st Century Black Diaspora Literature.

View all posts by Norrell Edwards

Articles & Advice

Featured Articles from The SAGE Scholars Benefit

Effective Study Habits While in College

While navigating the college experience, one of the more difficult challenges is understanding your study habits and how you learn. It can be easy to assume that your study habits will remain the same as in high school. However, college presents with different challenges that might throw you off about what you understand as studying. The key to effective studying is finding out how you learn and how you can make your learning process a reality. This can be a trial-and-error process as there is no way to know how you study best automatically. There are often several factors when it comes to how you learn: comfort, environment, noise levels, music, and time management.

Read More

Terrilynn’s Top 10 Tips for College Success: Finding Your Happy Place

Every year new students arrive at college. The similarities to high school end right after parents, siblings, mentors, and caretakers leave for home. If the media is to be believed, colleges will be enrolling students in despair. College has become a metaphor for lack of well-being, and many students have tuned out. Social challenges and upheavals aside, college is not high school. College is where you, the student, are put in charge of achieving academic and social results-and for many students, this total control of personal, academic, and social success happens for the first time.

Read More

Try Your Best but also Prepare for your Worst

If I could offer a younger me Sage advice, it would be to do my best but prepare for my worst.

Read More