Procedures:
Students are responsible for meeting
the standards of academic performance established for each course in
which they are enrolled. The establishment of the criteria for grades
and the evaluation of student academic performance are responsibilities
of the instructor. This grade appeal procedure is primarily for the
review of allegedly capricious grading or incorrect recording of a
grade, and not for review of the instructor’s evaluation of the
student’s academic performance. Capricious grading, as that term is used
here, comprises any of the following:
- The assignment of a grade to a particular
student on some basis other than the performance in the course;
- The assignment of a grade to a particular
student according to more exacting or demanding standards than were
applied to other students in the course;
- The assignment of a grade by a substantial
departure from the instructor’s previously announced standards.
For instances concerning appeals not involving
capricious grading, other appeals processes may be initiated.
Appeal Steps:
Students should be encouraged to
resolve immediate grading questions when they occur and keep copies of
exams, projects, and other assignments at least until grade reports are
received following the completion of a course.
Step 1.
If the final course grade is in
question, the student should first discuss the grade fully with the
instructor of the course. This informal appeal may occur at any time
within the first six weeks of the next semester (Fall or Spring)
following the receipt of the grade, but it is strongly suggested that
this inquiry take place as soon as possible.
If an informal appeal does not resolve
the problem, the student may file a formal written appeal to the
instructor by October 1 (Fall semester) or March 1 (Spring semester).
Included in the written appeal should be the basis for the appeal and
copies of pertinent documents, which support the appeal. The letter
should include the full name of the student, the student’s social
security number, course number, course title, semester and year
enrolled, section number, and the name of the instructor. The instructor
of the course should respond in writing to this appeal request within 2
weeks of receiving the request and no later than October 15 (Fall) or
March 15 (Spring). If the instructor is no longer available on campus,
the Department Chair may try to contact the instructor or may act in
place of the instructor. The unavailability of the instructor may
necessitate a slight change in time frame, if so determined by the
Department Chair.
Step 2.
If the matter cannot be resolved by
interaction with the instructor for any reason, the student may file a
written appeal with the Department Chair within 2 weeks of receiving the
instructor’s response, or by November 1 (Fall) or April 1 (Spring). The
Department Chair may request a meeting with the student and the
instructor in order to mediate a possible settlement of the disagreement
and must respond to the appeal within 2 weeks, or by November 15 (Fall)
or April 15 (Spring). It is neither the right nor within the
responsibility of the Department Chair to change the grade, but rather
find whether any error may have been made and to counsel the faculty
member on this regard. If the instructor is no longer available on
campus, the Department Chair may try to contact the instructor or may
act in place of the instructor. The unavailability of the instructor may
necessitate a slight change in time frame, if so determined by the
Department Chair. In the event that the Department Chair is the
instructor whose grade is being questioned, the College Dean will
function as noted above. Should the Dean or other administrative officer
be the instructor whose grade is being questioned, the Chair of the
department to which the administrator is assigned will handle the appeal
process.
If the student still believes the grade
was issued in error, one further step may be taken.
Step 3.
If the matter is still not resolved
through mediation with the Department Chair, a 3 member committee shall
be appointed by the Chair to handle the final appeal. This committee
shall be made up of 3 full-time tenured or tenure track faculty members
(non-administrative), two of whom should be from outside the department
in which the appeal was initiated, and may be a regular standing
committee or a committee specially convened as circumstances warrant. A
written appeal, including supporting documentation, must be made by the
student to this committee. This appeal should be received in the
departmental office no more than 2 weeks following the Department
Chair’s recommendation. It is requested that the committee then
investigate the matter and render a decision within one month. This
committee may reject the student’s appeal, ask the faculty member to
change the grade to an appropriate level, or, as a last resort, change
the grade themselves. The decision of the faculty appeal committee
constitutes the final level of university appeal open to the student.
Under no circumstances may a grade
change be initiated more than 1 year after the grade has been issued.
