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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Checking My Bed for a Horse’s Head


Arguing with students about grades isn’t pleasant for anyone. I’ve often wanted to point out to a student that if he took as much effort with doing his class work as he is currently taking with trying to get a late withdrawal, he would have passed the class.

I had a student in my office once who was trying to get a retroactive withdrawal from a course he failed over ten years ago. He assured me that he meant to withdraw from the class on the withdrawal deadline date and had mentioned it several times to his then girlfriend who was driving him to campus. He asked me if I would change the “F” to a “W” if he brought the girlfriend in to corroborate his story. I gave him kudos for still being good friends with his girlfriend of ten years ago and explained that in my generation, once you broke up with someone you hated them for the rest of your life and avoided all high school reunions or any other place they might possibly show up for decades after the break up. He was about as impressed with my journey into the past as I was with his.

I’ve also been called all kinds of unflattering names, been threatened, and, of course, had my decision complained about ‘all the way to the top’. It’s no wonder I hide in my office and never answer my phone.

Q: What can I do to avoid arguing with students after the deadline has passed?

A: If I were teaching a class (laugh if you want but it could happen in Bizarro World) I would do several things in class this week and next. First of all I would announce to students at the start of every class that they have until Friday, April 17 to turn in forms to withdraw or Saturday, April 18 to withdraw on line. I would advise them not to wait until the last minute. Secondly, I would then look at my class list and withdraw anyone who had not attended and thus would receive an “F” if not withdrawn. I would not wait until the last minute. Thirdly, having done the above, I would feel that I would have no problem explaining to a student why he received a failing grade from me and why withdrawal was his responsibility and not mine.

Q: If I withdraw a student can I then reinstate them and give them a final grade?

A: Yes, you can do that. It’s a cumbersome task from our end because Banner makes it very difficult to remove the “W” and open the record back up to receive another grade. Please don’t withdraw people with wild abandon with plans to reinstate them later. It’s allowed but not really in the spirit of the grading process.

Q: I teach a late start class. How do I know the withdrawal deadline for that?

A: Excellent question! The withdrawal deadlines for varied length/late start courses is posted on the MCC Website. Go to the A-Z index, choose “W” for withdrawal, then choose “When to Withdraw” and then choose the link “For late start or variable length classes, CLICK HERE”. Ta da! Once you have unearthed the withdrawal deadline for your late start course, please share it with your students during that beginning of the class announcement I suggested above.

P.S. Our 36th high school reunion is this July and I am already preparing my disguise just in case someone I still hate is there!

Estne tibi forte magna feles fulva et planissima?

Deborah Benjamin
Registration and Records
04/09/2009