Policy Number: 45

 

GRADE APPEALS

 

The Grade Appeals Policy is based on the premise that only the instructor who gave a grade can change that grade.  The appeal of a grade must follow the procedure outlined below.

 

Bases for Grade Appeals

 

The bases for an appeal of a suspected error in grading are:

  1. An obvious error in the calculation of the grade.

  2. The assignment of a grade to a particular student by application of more exacting or demanding standards than were applied to other students in the course.

  3. The assignment of a grade to a particular student on some basis other than performance in the course.

  4. The assignment of a grade by a substantial departure from the instructor's previously announced standards.

The appeal procedure is not to be used for a review of the judgment of an instructor in assessing the quality of a student's work.

 

Procedure for Grade Appeals

  1. All aspects of the grade appeals procedure shall be conducted with confidentiality to protect both student and faculty member.

  2. The student must initiate the appeal process by contacting and conferring with the faculty member who gave the contested grade within the first four weeks of the next semester or term in which the student is enrolled.  If the student no longer is enrolled at the University, he/she has one calendar year in which to initiate appeal of the contested grade.  If the faculty member is not available, the student shall contact and confer with the Department Chair.

  3. If the student and the faculty member cannot arrive at a mutually agreeable solution or if the faculty member fails to respond to the student inquiry within two weeks, the student may confer with the Department Chair.  In consultation with the faculty member, the Department Chair will attempt to arrive at a solution.  If this informal consultation is not able to solve the dispute, then a more formal procedure can be undertaken by the student, as described in the next section.

  4. If the above conference does not result in a solution that is agreeable to the student and faculty member or if six weeks have elapsed since the student initiated the appeal, the student may file a written appeal to the Department Grade Appeals Committee (DGAC)1 setting forth the basis for the appeal and supplying supporting evidence.  Copies of the appeal shall be sent to the faculty member and the Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Student Body.  The written appeal must be filed within ten weeks after the appeal was initiated.  The appeal will be reviewed by DGAC, with the Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Student Body2 serving in an advisory capacity.  If previously outlined procedures have been followed, the DGAC, with the Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Student Body2 serving in an advisory capacity will (1) confer with the student and faculty member and (2) hold a fact-finding session.  Both the student and faculty member shall be entitled to be present during such a session and present evidence themselves.  This session shall not be open to the public; it shall be restricted to the student, faculty member, DGAC, and the Vice President of Academic Affairs of the Student Body2.

    As a result of this session it might be necessary to solicit additional information and hold another fact-finding session.  The student, the faculty member, or the DGAC has the right to request additional information or to invite other persons to present evidence in their behalf.  Such party must, however, inform the others, in writing, at least one week in advance of the second session, of participants other than him or herself, and such participation must be restricted to a reasonable number of persons.  This second fact-finding session shall not be open to the public.

    After the fact-finding session(s), the student and faculty member, even if he or she is a member of the DGAC, shall be excluded from the deliberations.  The DGAC, with the Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Student Body2 serving in an advisory capacity, will deliberate privately and render one of the following recommendations to the faculty member:

    1. grade should not be changed, appeal not approved
    2. grade should be changed

    The Department Chair shall notify the student of the Committee's recommendation.

    If Step 4 is reached, copies of the minutes (or summaries of minutes that do not include portions deemed confidential by the Committee) of the DGAC meetings held to resolve the issue will be sent to the Department Chairperson and the appropriate Academic Dean.

  5. In the event that DGAC's recommendations are unsuccessful in resolving the problem, the materials, statements, and DGAC minutes shall be forwarded by the Department Chair to the Vice President for Academic Affairs of the University.  The Vice President for Academic Affairs of the University shall consult with the Chairperson, Dean, and anyone else deemed appropriate and make a final determination of appropriate action.

1 To ensure that there is no conflict of interest, the Department Grade Appeals Committee shall include a student selected by the student VPAA and the Department Chair.  In no case may the faculty member whose grade is being appealed serve on the DGAC.

2 If the Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Student Body cannot be present, the President of the Student Body shall serve in this capacity.

Approved:
Council on Academic Affairs
January 16, 2003


Approved:
President
February 21, 2003

 

Monitor: Vice President for Academic Affairs