Academic Catalog 2020-21 > Academic Policies and Procedures > Grading System > Grade Appeal Process

Grade Appeal Process

Grades represent the professional judgment about student performance in relation to the goals and requirements of a particular course. Although it is the sole responsibility of the instructor to assign grades, students should not be subjected to calculation errors or misapplication of course criteria for grading, nor to improper grading, such as the application of non-academic criteria, including race, politics, religion, or gender. All grades except 'I' (incomplete) and 'PR' (in progress) are considered final. Incomplete or In Progress grades that have reverted to 'F' are final. An instructor may change a grade when he/she has made a computational, procedural, or judgmental error.

If a student believes there has been a computational, procedural, or judgmental error in the calculation of a grade, the student must raise the question with the instructor, either in conversation or in writing, no later than February 15 in the case of Fall semester grades and October 15 regarding Spring semester and Summer session grades. If an instructor determines that there has been an error in grading, he/she obtains the official form for requesting the change from the Registrar's Office Forms web page or from the Registrar's Office. The instructor must submit the grade change form directly to the Registrar. Students may not submit the grade change form.

If a student believes they have been assigned a grade unfairly, based upon criteria other than those named above, they must first discuss the grade with the instructor. The student should begin by requesting the instructor to review with them:

1. The factors that were weighed in assigning the grade
2. The instructor's perceptions of where and how the student's performance fell short

If the student still thinks that the issue has not been resolved, the student must submit to the instructor, with a copy to the Department Chair, a full written statement of the case along with all graded course assignments. This statement must be made no later than March 15 for a Fall semester grade and by November 1 for a Spring semester or Summer session grade. The instructor must make their written response to the student, with a copy to the Chair, and set a meeting date with the student within 10 working days of receipt of the student’s written statement.

If, after the exchange of written statements and conversation, the student still thinks that the grade is unfair, they must formally appeal in writing to the Chair within 10 working days of the receipt of the instructor's response. The Chair will consider any additional material presented by either the faculty member or the student and then prepare a written response, with copies to the instructor, student, and Dean of the School, regarding their assessment. If, in the judgment of the Chair, the grade is unfair, the Chair will ask the instructor to re-evaluate the student's work. In every case the burden of proof remains with the student.

If the student wishes to appeal the decision of the Chair, he/she must file a formal complaint in writing to the Dean of the School within 10 working days of the Chair's decision. The written formal complaint should contain reasons why the Chair's decision should be reconsidered. The Dean will provide a formal response within 10 working days of receiving the formal complaint. The decision of the Dean is final.