Is it Rude to Email a Professor About a Missing Grade? A Polite and Professional Approach

When seeking a missing grade from your professor, staying polite and professional is key to ensuring a positive and cooperative response. Sending a courteous email can help resolve the issue efficiently and maintain a good rapport with your instructor.

Why Request a Grade?

You paid tuition to earn a completed course, and receiving a grade is an essential part of that. Professors have the responsibility to provide grades accurately and in a timely manner. If a grade is missing, it is not only understandable but also necessary to inquire about it.

How to Approach the Email

Begin your email with a clear and concise subject line to catch your professor's attention. For example, use a subject line like:

Subject: Inquiry About Final Grade for [Course Name]

Avoid accusatory language and instead adopt a curious and solution-oriented tone. Beneficial to start with a positive and polite greeting:

Dear Professor [Name],

For example:

Can I get an update on the status of my grade for [Course Name]? Are you still working on it or is there an oversight?

Close the email by thanking your professor for their time and attention and offering to provide any additional information that may be helpful:

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide to assist you.

When to Contact Other Staff Members

If your professor does not respond or if the grade is still missing, consider reaching out to other staff members who may be able to provide assistance. This could include:

The professor's boss The archive office The Department Chairperson

A polite and non-accusatory sentence such as:

Dear Professor [Name], I have not received my grade for [Course Name] yet. Could you please provide me with an update? Thank you for your assistance.

It is also beneficial to check with the Registrar's office to confirm the deadline for grade submission. If the professor has exceeded this deadline, bring this to their attention:

If the professor does not provide an explanation and the Registrar confirms they have not received the grade, politely ask the Department Chairperson to get involved in resolving the issue.

Believe it or not, a professor was hired by you or your parents via tuition and taxes. This means they are expected to provide grades as part of their job responsibilities. It is not rude to inquire about a missing grade.

Example Email

A sample email could look like this:

Dear Professor Smith,

I have not yet received my grade for [Project Name] or [Test Name]. Could you please let me know what my grade is? Thank you.

Best regards,

Your Name

By treating this situation with courtesy and professionalism, you can ensure a positive and effective resolution to your missing grade issue.