Hello everyone:

Okay, you’ve worked hard all semester but you are up against an unforgivable deadline at the end of the semester and your work isn’t done. What can you do now?

Understand that the professor has deadlines as well. We have a certain date by which we must post our grades. If we are well-organized, we are ready to post before the last day of class or thereabouts.

Your request for more time might not be met with rejoicing, especially if we have to hold up all of our grades for you. But perhaps there is a tiny bit of wiggle room there. Ask. You have nothing to lose.

I had a couple of students this past term who had met with disasters during the very end of the semester. I knew they were probably being truthful because of the work ethic they displayed all semester long (a lesser student woudl not receive the grace I am preparing to tell you about).

One student had a major catastrophe due to weather and the other had his car broken into and his computer was stolen (he sent me a copy of the police report and he was an outstanding student).

I gave both of these fellows a one-day extension, which was just enough time for both of them to successfully complete the final report and get it submitted. I was still working on my final grades, so I had a little leeway.

The lesson here is: be a good student, document your trials, and throw your situation on the mercy of the professor. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Best,

Dr. Sheri

P.S. But don’t even ask if you are a certified member of the “Excuse of the Week Club.”