grading practice in nursing school?

caliotter3 · Mar 30, 2010

Not if everyone else received the same document, or the document was placed into their folders. I do not see where the existence of the document in and of itself, is an act of discrimination. To the contrary, the document would explain in detail why you received the grade given. I received documents like this in more than one nursing class. And the time that I was near failing in clinical, that instructor had it filled out to the hilt, obscure sentences, but filled out nonetheless.

mimi225 · Mar 30, 2010

I was the only one got this document because the instructor failed to do an evaluation during the course and she was just doing it now because of the appeal.

caliotter3 · Mar 30, 2010

I still believe that the document itself is not to blame. She is using it to put her side of the story into writing for a formal process, based upon your request. It would be necessary if you continue with your appeal. The paperwork trail, so to speak. You need to take your copy and address each and every specific criticism that she makes. If one of your arguments for appeal is that you were not given specific weaknesses to improve, then state that. You will need to put your appeal or rebuttal in writing and give it to the next person in the chain of command. It could be the course chairperson or the Director of the program. Meanwhile, you might want to consider seeing the ombudsman or student grievance committee in case you are not satisfied with what comes from the nursing department. Good luck with this.

mimi225 · Mar 30, 2010

I wrote a comprehensive document in response to the instructor's criticism. I also stated that providing a graded document as part of my evaluation is not required in the course. thank you for your input.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 30, 2010

your school catalog should have the grading policy.

juliaann · Mar 30, 2010

I'm sorry I'm finding this a little unclear, maybe you can clarify a little - and if my comment is totally beside the point, ignore me.

Is your instructor saying this document is a part of your grade, and you were unaware of it? Or is the document a summary of your grades and why you got them?

If it's a summary, I don't see the problem - your instructor is just "proving" why they gave you the marks they did.

If it's a graded thing that you didn't know was getting graded and it was never in the syllabus/announced to the class, you may have a point. But even then, for it to be grade discrimination, it would have had to have been something your instructor graded only for you, not the other students in your class.

Instructors are allowed to make changes to the syllabus/their grading schematic and requirements even during the middle of the class, as long as the students are all treated in the same way.

Maybe you didn't know this document was being graded, but as long as all students were treated the same way and held to the same standard, I think you're going to have a hard time proving grade discrimination.

You say in a comment that the instructor failed to do an evaluation of you. Did he/she evaluate the other students? Are you sure he/she didn't do the evaluation at the time and you just didn't know about it?

If you're worried about grades being unfair, you can always bring this up with the instructor's department head or dean - but be prepared to defend yourself with real proof.

mimi225 · Mar 31, 2010

I'm sorry I'm finding this a little unclear, maybe you can clarify a little - and if my comment is totally beside the point, ignore me.
Is your instructor saying this document is a part of your grade, and you were unaware of it? Or is the document a summary of your grades and why you got them?
If it's a summary, I don't see the problem - your instructor is just "proving" why they gave you the marks they did.
If it's a graded thing that you didn't know was getting graded and it was never in the syllabus/announced to the class, you may have a point. But even then, for it to be grade discrimination, it would have had to have been something your instructor graded only for you, not the other students in your class.
Instructors are allowed to make changes to the syllabus/their grading schematic and requirements even during the middle of the class, as long as the students are all treated in the same way.
Maybe you didn't know this document was being graded, but as long as all students were treated the same way and held to the same standard, I think you're going to have a hard time proving grade discrimination.
You say in a comment that the instructor failed to do an evaluation of you. Did he/she evaluate the other students? Are you sure he/she didn't do the evaluation at the time and you just didn't know about it?
If you're worried about grades being unfair, you can always bring this up with the instructor's department head or dean - but be prepared to defend yourself with real proof.

exactly, the document is part of my grade and no one in the class has that kind of document but me. I have a midterm evaluation however,some part of the midterm evaluation is not met then a remediation should be provided.so then she made up an evaluation document but it is not stated in the syllabus. I knew it was not part of the course because some classmates told me they dont have that kind of graded document.

caliotter3 · Mar 31, 2010

Your subsequent post seems to clarify the "document" reference a little, a paper was graded and included in your grade. Instructors often give extra assignments to students who are failing, to give them a chance to bring their grade up to passing. If anything, the extra chances are reverse discrimination and unfair to those who make the grade on the regular coursework. This practice happened in my nursing courses, particularly in clinical courses, i.e., care plans. Two, or even three chances to do an acceptable assignment.

mimi225 · Mar 31, 2010

that document is a graded evaluation not a paper or any kind of extra work. that graded evaluation is not a requirement for that course. She made it up. we are not allowed to have extra work to boost our grade up. n