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The purpose of the grade appeal policy is to, when needed, clarify course standards and the criteria used to determine a final grade. The purpose of a grade appeal is not to dispute the ultimate right of an instructor to make such evaluations. Below you will find the complete procedure with respect to specific actions required and the time frame to be completed.

Preamble

The College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters (CASL) adheres to the American Association of University Professors precept that places primary responsibility with the faculty"for such fundamental areas as curriculum, subject matter, and methods of instruction." The assessment of student academic performance, it follows, including the assignment of particular grades, is a faculty responsibility. Recognizing the authority of the instructor of record to evaluate the academic performance of students enrolled in a course they are teaching is a direct corollary of the instructor’s “freedom in the classroom.” The faculty member offering the course, it follows, should be responsible for the evaluation of student course work and, under normal circumstances, is the sole judge of the grades received by the students in that course. The academic community proceeds under the strong presumption that the instructor's evaluations are authoritative. At the same time, of course, situations do arise in which a student alleges that a grade they have received is wrong, and the joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students provides that “students should have protection through orderly procedures against prejudiced or capricious academic evaluation.” A suitable mechanism for appeal, one which respects both the prerogatives of instructors and the rights of students in this regard, should thus be available for reviewing allegations that inappropriate criteria were used in determining the grade or that the instructor did not adhere to stated procedures or grading standards.' Under no circumstances should administrative officers on their own authority substitute their judgment for that of the faculty concerning the assignment of a grade. The review of a student complaint over a grade should be by faculty, under procedures adopted by faculty, and any resulting change in a grade should be by faculty authorization. The CASL Dean’s Office shall thus insure that the College adopts a procedure for dealing with student complaints regarding alleged unfair or improper grading and/or classroom issues (not covered by the university’s Institutional Equity policies and shall insure that this procedure is followed in individual cases. Grade appeals will follow the procedure outlined below, and will be conducted at the department level and led by the Chair of the Department in question. 

Procedure Coverage

This procedure applies to all courses offered by the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters. Appeals will be handled within individual CASL departments.Specifically, those courses for which the course subject identifier is tied to a program housed in that department, regardless of whether or not the faculty member teaching the course has an academic appointment within the Department. This includes courses that are cross-listed with a specific department, when that department is the originating department of the course (i.e., the department that first approved the course through the college’s curriculum committee). Department chairs and/or program directors will work with faculty and students, as needed, to determine the course’s originating department. 

This procedure applies to appeals of final course grades or grades on assignments that have a tangible effect on the final course grade (i.e., those assignments for which a change in grade could realistically alter the final course grade). This procedure shall not apply to complaints that allege discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight or veteran’s status. Complaints that involve such allegations shall be handled through the University’s Office of Institutional Equity. This procedure shall not apply to grades that result from alleged violations of academic integrity. Such cases shall be handled in accordance with the campus’s Academic Code of Conduct (ACC) and any college-level policies enacted in accordance with the ACC. 

Grading Standards

Instructors in CASL are expected to set fair and consistent grading procedures for their respective courses and assignments, and to provide timely feedback on students’ completed work. Lack of feedback poses a problem to fairness in situations where the student is penalized for the same mistake across multiple assignments due to a lack of feedback.The impact of this lack of feedback would need to rise to the level of causing a change in the final grade - as indicated in the scope of the grade grievance procedure - to warrant a grade appeal.

If the grading rubric (i.e., coherent set of criteria used to evaluate student performance on an assignment, exam, or other form of learning assessment) is used consistently then the final grade for the assignment, exam, or other form of assessment is assumed to be the correct grade. If the final course grade is calculated in a manner that is consistent with the standards outlined on the syllabus, then the final course grade is assumed to be the correct grade. However, students can inquire about a grade and, subsequently, initiate a grade appeal when they believe one of these requirements has not been met. Where it can be proven that a clerical error, a procedural fault, or a biased appraisal has resulted in an unfair grade, the department will do all it can to correct the error.

Grade appeals are expected to occur rarely; thus, it would be extremely unlikely that a single student would have legitimate grade concerns across multiple faculty members. The student’s overall grades, performance in other courses, or career trajectory are not relevant to this process. 

Grade Appeal Procedure

The purpose of the grade appeal procedure is to, when needed, clarify course standards and the criteria used to determine a final grade. The purpose of a grade appeal is not to dispute the ultimate right of an instructor to make such evaluations.

1. Consultation with the Instructor

   The first step in inquiring about the accuracy of a grade is to communicate with the lead instructor of the course. This initial inquiry should take place by the end of the second week of the first term following the term in which the disputed grade was issued. For winter semester grades, the appeal procedure will occur during the summer term. In general, the student should communicate concerns to the instructor in writing and then meet with the instructor, if necessary. Some instructors spell out specific procedures for grade appeals in their syllabi, which should be followed as long as they do not conflict with this departmental procedure. Every effort should be made to gain agreement between the student and the faculty member without further intervention and within ten university business days of the initial communication from the student. During this step, department chairs may work with the faculty member and student in an informal way to promote communication between the two parties with the goal of resolving the issue informally. For example, they might assist students in scheduling appointments with faculty, in connecting with the student ombuds, and in understanding grading standards. In extraordinary cases, where the issues cannot be resolved in this manner, a student may initiate a formal grade appeal.

2. Formal Grade Appeal

   To start this process, the student(either graduate or undergraduate) must contact the Department Chair by the end of the fifth week of the first term following the term in which the disputed grade was issued. The student must convey in writing the basis for the complaint, with specific evidence in support of the argument that the grade either was given in error or was unfairly determined. Students must be able to explain the reasons why their grade should have been higher, and those reasons must relate to the expectations for the assignment/assessment and the grading standards applied. The student should also summarize the attempt to resolve the grade dispute with the instructor and the outcome of the initial inquiry, indicating what aspects are in dispute. Upon receipt of the written complaint, the Chair will ask the instructor to provide a written summary restating how the grade was determined and to respond to the specific claims made by the student. After receiving this information from both the student and the instructor, the Chair will determine if sufficient evidence exists to intervene. The chair should respond to the student’s formal appeal within ten university business days. If the Chair determines that there is insufficient evidence for the grade appeal, the matter is considered closed, and the original grade stands. The Chair shall communicate this decision in writing to the instructor and student. If, on the other hand, it is determined that the grade appeal should proceed, the Chair shall convene a Grade Appeal Board.

   Grade Appeal Board Membership. If a resolution that is deemed acceptable by the instructor and student is not reached, then the Chair shall convene the Department’s Grade Appeal Board and set a date for the group to meet and discuss the case. The appeal board shall be composed of 3 members of the department or program’s faculty and should meet within ten university business days of the chair’s decision to convene the appeal board. In a case involving a graduate student, attempts will be made to ensure that the appeal board includes faculty who teach graduate courses. The appeal board will not include the Chair or anyone else with a potential conflict of interest in the case. The Chair shall consider potential conflicts of interests when appointing members of the board 
   and be responsible for determining whether or not a potential conflict of interest exists when such claims are raised by others. 

   Grade Appeal Board Process. The Chair shall communicate in writing to the student and the instructor the decision to convene the appeal board. The written communication should identify the members of the appeal board and state the date of the board meeting. The Chair shall provide a copy of the student’s appeal request and the written response from the instructor to the appeal board. The Chair may invite the student and instructor to amend their documentation prior to submitting the materials to the Appeal Board. The Chair may also refer the student to the student ombuds for assistance and support. The Appeal board will review the written statements provided by the student and faculty member, deliberate, and determine the proper course of action. They may contact the faculty member or student for more information, and may make suggestions regarding what sort of materials or evidence that the student may need to supply, as well as campus resources that the student might find useful. 

   Decision and Communication. The Appeal Board will have ten University business days from the assigned meeting date to determine its recommendation and submit a written report to the Chair/Program Director. If the appeal board decides that a grade change is not warranted, the Chair will convey this in writing to the student and the instructor within two university business days of the decision. The original grade will stand, and the matter is considered closed. There is no further level of appeal. If the appeal board recommends that the instructor re-grade the assignment or change the grade, the Chair will communicate that decision directly to the instructor and the student in writing within two university business days of the decision. If actions taken by the instructor to implement the board’s recommendation result in a different grade for the course, the instructor will follow the administrative procedures necessary to ensure the grade is changed in the University’s records. The matter is considered closed. 

   End of Process. There is no grade appeal beyond the Department. If, however, the student or the Chair has concerns about the unfolding of the process itself, rather than the specific grade, these should be communicated to the Associate Dean who may refer the matter to the Department’s Executive Committee for a procedural review. 

3. Reporting Grade Appeals

   In instances where a student complaint escalates to a formal grade appeal (i.e., the chair is required to formally intervene and convene an appeal board), Department Chairs must report the incident. Chairs should at the end of the appeal process when a conclusion has been reached. Federal regulation and the Higher Learning Commission require the tracking of student complaints and grievances. 
    

*For grade concerns occurring within winter semester, the first term following that semester is summer semester.