Grade Appeal Procedure
Effective December 2004
- Grade Appeal Procedure
- Careful, criterion-based, and timely assessment of individual student
performance and the assignment of an appropriate grade are a part of faculty's
teaching responsibilities. It is presumed that the assigned grade is based
solely on the student's performance in the course and that the instructor's
professional judgment is valid.
- Students who believe that the instructor's evaluation was unfair
or done in error may appeal the matter according to the provisions of
this procedure. Students must exhaust the informal grade appeal process
before a formal appeal can be started. A grade appeal is inappropriate
solely because a student disagrees with the instructor's judgment
about the quality of his or her work. Raising questions about fairness
in this context is not to be understood as questioning the high standards
that are expected, but rather as arbitrariness or capriciousness in evaluation
and assigning a grade. The burden of proving arbitrariness or capriciousness
rests on the student who wishes to appeal the grade. The following types
of situations constitute grounds for the charge of arbitrariness or capriciousness:
- The grade assignment was influenced by factors that were irrelevant
to student performance in the course.
- Different standards than those utilized to evaluate other students were
applied to determine this particular student's grade.
- Stated grading standards in the syllabus were not followed or were altered
significantly after the course was underway and without prior, written,
and sufficient notice.
- Informal Grade Appeal
- Students who wish to appeal a grade are strongly encouraged to negotiate
the matter with their instructor informally within thirty (30) calendar
days subsequent to posting of grades in an attempt to resolve the matter.
The instructor should correct the grade if an error was made or work
with the students to understand their concern and explain the rationale
for the grade.
- Exception: If the instructor is unavailable because of death, prolonged
illness or absence or no longer employed with the University, the Program
Director or designee shall handle the situation in place of the faculty.
In such a situation, the Program Director or designee may correct an
obvious error or in consultation with a colleague who is knowledgeable
in the discipline make a grade adjustment if it is warranted.
- Formal Grade Appeal
- Step 1
- If the problem is not resolved informally with the instructor,
the student has the option of appealing the grade informally to
the appropriate Graduate Program Director. The formal grade appeal
request must be made in writing, using the Grade Appeal Form (see
Appendix D), and submitted within forty-five (45) calendar days
subsequent to the posting of grades in an attempt to resolve the
matter. Except in extraordinary circumstances that include medical
emergency and military service, failure to appeal the grade within
the deadline constitutes waiver of the right to appeal. The appeal
should clearly state what informal effort has been made to resolve
the problem, reasons for the appeal, relevant documents such as
a copy of the course syllabus, copies of exams, quizzes, assignments,
etc. which the student believes are necessary to support the appeal.
The appeal may also include a statement as to what the student feels
should be the appropriate grade. If the Program Director was the
instructor of the course, the student proceeds to Step 3.
- Step 2
- Within ten (10) class days of the receipt of the appeal, the Program
Director or designee shall make a recommendation for or against
the grade change, with justification in writing, and send the recommendation
to the Dean of the Graduate School.
- Step 3
- Within ten (10) class days of receiving the recommendation, the
Dean shall either accept the Program Director's recommendation
and inform the student of the final decision or shall appoint a
Grade Appeal Committee, consisting of two graduate faculty members
from the School in which the student is enrolled, excluding the
instructor and the Program Director, and a third graduate faculty
member from another School. The Dean will call a meeting of the
Hearing Committee, explain the grade appeal procedure, and charge
it with the task of considering the appeal.
- The Committee will then elect a Chair who shall formally notify
the student and the instructor of a date for the hearing. The hearing
will occur within ten (10) business days of receiving the formal
charge from the Dean. During the hearing, both the student and the
instructor will be given an opportunity to present their case to
the Hearing Committee. Neither the student nor the instructor has
the right to be represented by a legal counsel at this hearing.
However, the student may choose another student, faculty member
or staff to be present at the hearing for advice. The Advisor may
not address the committee members or witnesses. Based on the committee's
recommendation, which must be forwarded in writing to the Graduate
Dean within five (5) business days of completing the hearing, the
Dean resolves the case either by affirming the Hearing Committee's
recommendation, or by modifying it if felt necessary. The Dean will
inform the student in writing of the final decision within five
(5) business days of receiving the Hearing Committee's recommendation.
Contact for Interpretation: Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies
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