We studied heuristics and biases...

but I'm really just learning about the latter.

I just met with top administrators in the CU Evening MBA program regarding my options if things with my professor cannot be resolved. To back up, I am in a discussion with one of last semester's professors regardng my final exam grade, which was a D-. This caused my overall final grade to drop from an A to an A-. While it may not seem significant in the grand scheme of things, I don't believe my final exam warranted anything less than a B-.

Today the administrator said that if my professor is unwilling to change the grade, my one recourse is to file an official grievance. If I file, the Dean will convene a group of faculty to review my paper. They then vote on whether the grade should be changed or not.

The problem is, and this was made extremely clear today, no panelists will vote against the professor. Here's why:

1. My professor is one of their colleagues.
2. The subject matter is not in their area of expertise.
3. They don't want to tell someone else how to grade their classes.
   
4. Most importantly, if any of their own students file a grievance, my professor may have the chance to reciprocate.

The writing on the wall is clear. If we cannot reach an agreement whenever my professor actually decides to review my test (he requested that it be snail mailed to him in Australia), my "recourse" is extremely unlikely to go my way.