For any grade review or grade appeal related in whole or in part to an alleged violation of the academic integrity policy, follow the appeal policy under Appeal of Academic Sanctions. For all other appeals of final course grades or changes of grade, follow the processes outlined below. If a dismissal involves a grade appeal, then both the grade appeal and the dismissal appeal must be filed no later than 30 days after the close of the semester.
Grade Review
Any student who has reason to question the accuracy of a final course grade should request in writing a grade review with the instructor, stating the grounds upon which the review is being sought. The student must request a review of the grade no later than 10 business days after the beginning of the subsequent fall semester for summer courses or spring semester for fall courses, and no later than 10 business days after final grades are due for spring semester courses. The instructor reports to the student and department chair (or program director), in writing, the result of the grade review (whether the grade is changed or not), ordinarily no later than 10 business days after the receipt of the student's request. The report must include an explanation of the reasoning behind the result. (If the instructor is the department chair or program director, the report is submitted to the appropriate Dean. The appropriate Dean is the Dean of the school of the University in which the course of the contested grade is housed.)
If a grade change is made by the instructor, the instructor submits a Change of Grade Form stating the reason for the grade change, along with a copy of the student's written request, to the department chair or program director for approval. (In the case where the department chair is also the instructor, the instructor will submit the materials to the appropriate Dean who will appoint a senior member of the department to review the grade.)
In reviewing a grade change, if the chair or program director (or senior member) is satisfied that established procedures were followed and that the grade was not changed in an arbitrary or capricious manner or for inappropriate reasons, the chair or program director (or senior member) communicates this to the faculty member and the student in writing and submits the Change of Grade Form to the Records Office. If, however, the chair or program director (or senior member) is not satisfied that established procedures were followed, or believes the grade was changed in an arbitrary or capricious manner or for other inappropriate reasons, the chair or program director (or senior member) communicates this in writing to the faculty member and the student and no change of grade occurs. If either the student or instructor is not satisfied with the outcome of the department chair's or program director's grade review, a grade appeal may be filed.
Grade Appeal
A grade appeal may not be filed until a grade review has been completed. No grades may be appealed after a student graduates.
If the instructor or chair or program director (or senior member) does not change a grade, and the student is not satisfied with the grade review, the student may file a grade appeal. This grade appeal must include an explanation of why the student thinks the result of the grade review is in error. The grade appeal must be submitted in writing to the department chair no later than 10 business days after the instructor submits the written grade review to the student and department chair. (In the case where the department chair or program director is also the instructor, a senior member of the department or program chosen by the appropriate dean will review the grade appeal.) No grades may be appealed after a student graduates.
In considering a grade appeal, the department chair or program director (or senior department member) should ensure that established procedures were followed and that the grade was not determined in an arbitrary or capricious manner or for inappropriate reasons. The chair or program director (or senior member) should confer with the student and instructor, individually. Other parties, including parents, spouses, or attorneys are not permitted to attend the grade appeal conference. The chair or program director (or senior member) should report the result of this review, in writing, to the instructor, the student, and the appropriate dean, ordinarily no later than 10 business days after receiving the appeal. This report must include an explanation for the reasoning behind the decision. If the chair or program director (or senior member) determines that established procedures were not followed or that a grade was given in an arbitrary or capricious manner or based on inappropriate reasons, the chair or program director (or senior member) fills out a Change of Grade Form and submits it to the Records Office.
If either the student and/or instructor is not satisfied with the outcome of the department chair's or program director's (or senior department member's) review of a grade appeal, the student and/or the instructor may appeal to the appropriate dean by submitting all pertinent documents for further review. The grade appeal must be submitted by the student and/or instructor in writing to the dean no later than 10 business days after the student and/or instructor receives the written grade review from the department chair. The dean or his or her designee will review the record and confer with the chair or program director (or senior member) and the student and instructor. Other parties, including parents, spouses, and attorneys, are not permitted to attend this conference.
The dean reports the outcome of the grade appeal review to the instructor, student, chair or program director, and Records Office, normally no later than 20 business days after the receipt of the grade appeal. The dean's review of all grade changes and grade appeals is final.
If a dismissal involves a grade appeal, then both the appeal of the dismissal and the grade appeal must be filed no later than 30 days after the close of the semester. Students are allowed to remain enrolled in current (e.g. accelerated courses or 1-2 credit courses) courses while appealing grades that will result in dismissal; however, they will not be allowed to enroll for subsequent semesters until the appeal is resolved. If a student's registration for a subsequent semester was processed prior to filing an academic dismissal appeal, the registration will be cancelled, financial aid awards designated for that semester will be cancelled, and tuition paid for that semester will be refunded. Students dismissed from an academic program may not reapply to the same program.
A W cannot be the result of a grade appeal. A W on an academic transcript indicates that a student has successfully withdrawn from a course(s), following the approved course withdrawal process (described below), including published deadlines.