Go directly to the Dean of Faculty.

I lost my shot at being valedictorian because I refused to dissect in biology - my teacher gave me a B for that even though I made up all of the work using online simulations.  The good news is that she realized how serious and passionate I was about the topic LATER, and ended up supporting the "Right To Choose" policy that I created with my best friend through our environmental club.  Our school now has a policy that says students must be given the right to choose an adequate alternative to dissection without having their grade suffer.  Check out peta2.com - they have some great information on this! 

GOOD FOR YOU! Dissection is pretty unnecessary until you get into professional level training (nursing, premed, certain biologies) and then it is training to save more lives than you are taking to do the dissection...(although it still makes me sad) I don't like science classes that do it just to "enrich the learning experience" when the people who are being enriched are going to become computer programmers, secretaries, English teachers, artists, etc....

That is quite admirable EarthGuard, good job.  :)

Those animals you will be dissecting are already dead. They'll order the same amount regardless of whether you do or you do not participate. They're "package deals." So, in terms of impact, if you don't participate ... it won't be lessened at all.

I did biology in undergrad and for my masters. So, I'm more than familiar with this situation. In theory, computer models should be available. In practice, it's not always so and it's not always possible to do anything about it beyond taking a lower grade. Professors who get ten year are not really phased by administration or their rules. 

I had professors who would come into class and, literally, tell us that using a computer model would automatically result in a full lower grade. We had a vegan/vegetarian club who would come protest. We had the whole set up, too - alternative computer models, lessons, etc. But, some professors will not go for that. And, as I said, if they're a value to the university - nothing will change their stance.

So, I did the opposite of earthguard - I chose to graduate number one in my class, and got a full scholarship to grad school, plus stipend, as a result. Graduated at the top of my class there too. I ate a vegetarian diet the whole time, and became a vegan in my last year.

Since my not participating would have made no impact ... I decided to go ahead with it, and learn as much as I could. But, I always think in logical, economic terms, i.e. will my actions impact the industry? Is my money going to the industry? (It already wa in tuition - no choice about that).

Do you know where those animals are coming from? When we had cats or dogs it was from shelters, who put animals to sleep anyway. So, some of the animals weren't killed specifically for our uses.

Do you know this professors "status" at your school? For instance, is he full time and ten year? Does he bring in a lot of grants? Is he famous for any research?

If all of the above are true ... you're pretty much screwed. At my university, the professors who qualified for all the above were never touched by administration. And, because, on my campus there was an animal rights club/organization who would often focus on such professors ... they were annoyed had NO sympathy for vegans. So, such emails would result in an automatic lowering to a C grade, with no hope of higher.

If the professors is part time, has no real publications out, is not responsible for grants, etc. ... then administration can influence his decision, and force him to be partial in grading you.

Are you majoring in biology? It's tough to be a biology major, while leading a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. Do your research on the professors prior to signing up for their classes ... this way, for next time, you'll know what you're up against. But, unfortunately, the best professors from whom you will learn the most ... are usually the ones with great publications, grants, ten year, etc.

Also...I do not want to turn this into a debate, but just to show the other side of the story (opposite of Ecstatic):
I graduated in the top of my class because I took as many advanced placement and honors classes as my school offered.  I currently attend a highly competitive liberal arts college on a four-year, full scholarship.  I also do not have the guilt of chopping up innocent animals hanging over my head.  But that's my choice and I respect the choices that other make, regardless of whether they match mine.