We certainly have the ability to sabotage your grade in the class we teach — but that would be wrong.

the exceptions to this are..

(1) they are the advisor for the major, college, department, etc. in which case they can access the grades of students.

(2) your school has a policy whenin profs can access the grades. but this is not common at all.

as for “sabotaging” your grade, it would be unprofessional. further, why would they need access to previous grades to do this? if a prof did want to harm your grade, he or she would simply do it in the class.

however, this is really rare. what is more common is that students perform poorly, get a poorer grade than they want, but assume the prof has a agenda. such profs exist, but they are the exceptions not the rule.

your best bet is to keep all your course work and if you think your final course grade is unfair, you can appeal. first talk with the prof and explain your situation. this is does not satisfy you, go to the department’s chair.

there are very clear and precise rules and procedures. if you follow them, you will usually get justice.

BTW, at the small midwestern university where I teach, we can look at any student’s transcript that is on the computer system we use for enrollment, etc. And, it’s just not the advisors who have that access.

I know it sucks, but all well. I like my privacy as well.