Grade Appeal Policy

Students have the right to ask instructors for an explanation of any grade received. Students may submit a formal grade appeal when they believe that a final grade is unfair, arbitrary, or capricious. However, the student bears the burden of proving that there are sufficient grounds for changing a grade. The grade appeal process will meet the usual criteria of due process for both students and faculty.

Criteria for Grade Appeals

A student may appeal a final course grade on the grounds that:

1. The methods or criteria for evaluating academic performance as stated in the course syllabus or communicated by the instructor at the beginning of the course were not actually applied in determining the final grade, and/or
2. The instructor applied grading criteria unfairly; the evaluation of academic performance so exceeded the reasonable limits of the instructor's discretion as not to be acceptable to the instructor's peers.

Grade Appeal Procedure

Informal Resolution

1. The student should discuss concerns about a final grade with his/her instructor. Most issues are resolved at this level.
2. The instructor is expected to discuss the grade with the student. Only if the instructor is no longer working at the college or is otherwise unavailable may the student proceed to appeal the grade without discussing the matter with the instructor.
3. After meeting with the student, the instructor may decide to change the disputed grade by submitting a change of grade form to Enrollment Services.

Formal Grade Appeal

1. Written Appeal to the Dean: If the matter is not resolved through discussions with the instructor, the student may initiate the formal grade appeal process by submitting a written request to the instructor's dean. A student choosing to initiate the formal grade appeal process must do so within the first month of the semester following the one for which the grade was issued: an appeal for a spring semester grade must be made within one month after the start of fall semester.
   
   The request should contain a statement of the problem, description of attempts to resolve the matter directly with the instructor, relevant information and documentation in support of the appeal, and the remedy sought. The student should retain a copy of all materials for his or her records. The dean will review the materials, confer with the instructor and student as needed, and attempt to resolve the matter. The dean will respond to the student in writing within ten class days, with a copy to the instructor.
   
   
2. Grade Appeal Committee:

a. The Grade Appeal Committee will be convened under the following circumstances: (1) the dean, after reviewing the materials submitted by the student and the instructor, refers the case to the committee; or (2) the student is dissatisfied with the outcome of the dean's review and requests a review by the committee. The student must request a review within ten class days of receipt of the dean's written response.

b. On an annual basis the Faculty Association will designate seven faculty members to comprise the "pool" of faculty to serve on the Grade Appeal Committee. In the event that the committee is convened, three faculty members will be selected from the pool to review the appeal. The instructor whose grade is being appealed cannot be selected as a member of the committee reviewing the case. The Vice President will convene the committee but will not participate in the proceedings.

c. The Grade Appeal Committee will review the case within ten class days after accepting the dean's referral or the student's written request. The committee will select a chair, follow due process in reviewing the appeal, and reach a decision through majority vote.

d. The Grade Appeal Committee will reach one of three decisions:
Appeal settled by consent. The committee reaches a resolution that is mutually acceptable to the student and the instructor who issued the grade. Should the acceptable conciliation involve a change of grade, the instructor will submit a change of grade form to Enrollment Services.
Appeal affirmed. The committee recommends a change of grade to the Vice President, who implements the recommendation and notifies the instructor and student of the decision.
Appeal denied; original grade stands. The committee notifies the Vice President, who communicates the decision to the instructor and the student in writing.

e. Decisions reached by the Grade Appeal Committee and implemented by the Vice President are final and binding on all parties.

Timelines

Under unusual circumstances, timelines for proceeding with the grade appeal process may be extended. If the college administrator fails to review or respond within the time limits provided, the student may proceed to the next step of the process. If the student fails to respond within the time limits provided, the appeal shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

These procedures will be reviewed every two years by the Vice President, Deans, and Faculty Association.

Date of implementation: January 2003