Final Grade Appeal

Grade Appeal Procedure

The grade appeal process should be used only when the student believes that the final course grade assigned is unfair.  It is not to be used to challenge grades on individual assignments or quizzes.  A grade appeal is not appropriate when a student simply disagrees with the faculty member’s judgment about the quality of the student’s work.  Grounds for a grade appeal are: 

• The grade has been assigned on the basis of something other than performance in the course.
•  Standards utilized in the determination of the student’s grade are more exacting or demanding than those applied to other students;
•  An error in calculating the grade;
•  The grade is based upon standards that are significant, unannounced and unreasonable departures from those articulated in the course description or syllabus distributed at the beginning of the course.  

The Department Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that the appeal is resolved in a timely manner.  The grade appeal should be finalized within Thirty (30) days from Step 1. 

It is the responsibility of the student to justify that a change of grade is an appropriate action.  Students must adhere to the timelines delineated in this policy.

Steps to Follow

STEP 1:

Within THREE days of the beginning of the following session, the student begins the grade appeal process by contacting the instructor in an attempt to resolve the grade dispute in an informal and cooperative atmosphere, utilizing the Grade Appeal Form [1]. (The instructor should document this meeting on Part 1 of the Appeal Form. The instructor will forward the completed Appeal form to the Department Coordinator) 

STEP 2: 

If the student and instructor are unable to reach a resolution, the student will submit a detailed written statement, with supporting documentation, to the Department Coordinator to begin the formal appeal process following the instructor’s response.  The Department Coordinator will facilitate a discussion with the instructor, the student, and the Director of Academic Services either face to face or via e-mail.  The student will be informed of the decision by the Director of Academic Services. Part 2 of the Appeal Form will be completed and returned to the student with the decision of the Director of Academic Services. 

STEP 3: 

If the issue is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction in Step 2, the student may submit a request to the Director of Academic Services to appeal to the Student Faculty Relations Committee (SFRC).  In order to advance the appeal to this third and final step, the student must provide information that has not previously been considered as a part of the appeal or additional documentation demonstrating why the decision reached by the Director of Academic Services was in error. The Director of Academic Services will establish an ad hoc (pro tem) review committee made up of a student, a faculty member, and a department coordinator.  The Director of Academic Services will forward all written documentation including the Appeal Form, to the SFRC.  The SFRC will provide a written decision.  The decision of the SFRC is final.