Is it fair for a professor to only give extra credit opportunity to certain students and not others?

Question

I'm in a very difficult Exercise Physiology course and my (and most of my peers) grades are just alright (B range). As we near the end of the semester, my professor has emailed the class asking for a mere 5 volunteers (out of 80 total students) for a certain task at a certain time. He only took the first 5 responses and upon helping him, gave them extra credit.

The time he posted didn't work for my schedule, so I was literally unable to help, thus unable to get extra credit. He has provided no extra credit opportunities for the rest of the class..

I want to bring this up to him, my classmates and I are confused how he can do this. I'm wondering if this acceptable behavior from my professor or not, and if I should ask him about it or not.

I'd do extra credit if I could! 
Thanks guys

Anonymous · Answer

I'd say this is somewhat unfair, though only if it's likely to change a grade significantly.

However, the professor didn't pick out specific students, he asked for volunteers.  And he obviously didn't have a project in which everyone could participate, he needed just a few students.  In that sense, taking the first to volunteer was probably the best -- indeed the only -- way to handle the situation.

You can express your dissatisfaction -- that's fair -- but I'm not sure that it is really realistic to have expected him to offer extra credit to everyone.  However, perhaps he'll rethink this.

Donald B · Answer

It is acceptable behavior.

Anonymous · Answer

clearly that is not proper behavior

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Is it fair for a professor to only give extra credit opportunity to certain students and not others?

3 Answers