Nadia Karichev seeking protection for students to make sure that administrative procedures at El Paso Community College do not hinder students' progress El Paso Texas

Dear Mr. Fernie Mata

Competency Based Education

Project Director at El Paso Community College

  I am writing to discuss a concern related to the grading policy in the "Fundamentals of Cybersecurity" course, led by Ms. Nadia Karichev at El Paso Community College. My intention is to ensure that the administrative processes in place do not adversely impact my final grade.

As per the course structure, failing to achieve a minimum of 70% in any one 'competency' results in not passing the course, regardless of previous accomplishments. Currently, I am awaiting the grade for the final 'competency'. According to the internal policy, grades are posted by the instructor within 48 hours of submission. Since I submitted my project yesterday, I anticipate receiving my grade by tomorrow, December 15th, coinciding with the semester's end.

My concern arises from the possibility of scoring below 70% on this final competency, which could lead to failing the entire course despite having a cumulative grade of 74% and passing all prior competencies. This situation seems particularly challenging, as a single component could negate an entire semester's effort.

To address this, I propose a solution that aligns with the spirit of fairness and educational encouragement: allowing students the opportunity to revise their final competency submission post-semester, if needed. This suggestion considers that the 48-hour grading policy effectively reduces the available time for students to respond to feedback within the semester's confines. Therefore, extending the revision period beyond the semester would compensate for this time constraint and uphold the integrity of the learning process.

I hope this letter prompts a reconsideration of the current grading policy, ensuring that it supports the success and progression of all students, rather than being hindered by administrative limitations. Another issue to consider is the fact that the class has no textbook assigned, and the teacher does not lecture.  The only class material are marketing videos from youtube.com. 

Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to a constructive resolution to this matter.

Sincerely,