A Step-by-Step Look at the Grade Appeal Process

Students who believe they received an unfair grade may take the following sequential actions to appeal a grade:

1. The student must discuss the situation with the instructor involved in person or via Zoom
2. If the matter is not resolved at the instructor level, the student must meet in person or via Zoom with the chair or director of the department/school in which the instructor is assigned. View list of department chairs and school director. In situations where the instructor does not have a departmental home like BSAD and BLAW, the student must meet with associate dean for undergraduate programs and curriculum, to determine whether appropriate discussions have taken place with the instructor. If so, the student is advised of the grade appeal process. If not, the student is referred back to the instructor to seek resolution.
3. If the student chooses to pursue an appeal after meeting with the Department Chair, the student may file a written grade appeal with the Department Chair of the specific department or school in the college. The appeal must be filed within the first 20 class days of the academic semester following receipt of the course grade.
4. In making an appeal, the student must show evidence to support one of the following grounds for seeking an appeal:
   1. bias in grading,
   2. a departure from grading procedures as indicated by the instructor,
   3. or refusal to clarify the basis for a grade on the part of the instructor.
5. Within 15 class days of receipt of the student’s statement, the Departmental Grade Appeals Committee will inform both the instructor and the student when a hearing procedure is to be scheduled. At the hearing, the committee shall meet separately with the student and the instructor, and each may defend their position. The committee may also invite other individuals directly associated with the case to meet with the committee as needed to clarify pertinent facts of the case. At the request of either party or at the request of the committee, an additional hearing may be requested where both parties are present. All proceedings shall be closed, the discussions regarded as private, and the documents made available only to the involved parties and the committee members. At the conclusion of the process outlined above, the Department Grade Appeals Committee shall inform both parties of its findings and conclusions following a review of the merits of the appeal.
6. Upon notification of the result, if both parties agree in writing to accept the decision, the matter is closed.
7. Within 10 class days of notification of the decision by the Departmental Grade Appeals Committee, either party may file an appeal with the College Grade Appeals Committee in accordance with the procedures below (see paragraph 8). If neither party files an appeal with the College Grade Appeals Committee within 10 class days, the matter is closed.
8. If either party does not accept the result in writing, they may file an appeal with the College Grade Appeals Committee. To receive a Second Review by the College Grade Appeals Committee, the student must establish a Basis for Second Review. To establish a Basis for Second Review, the student must produce evidence to support one of the following allegations:
   1. there is evidence of procedural error in the first review conducted by the Department Grade Appeals Committee, or;
   2. the student is introducing newly discovered evidence that was not considered by the Department Grade Appeals Committee, or;
   3. there is evidence of bias, or substantial conflict of interest with one or more of the reviewing faculty on the Department Grade Appeals Committee
9. Within 15 class days of receipt of the appeal, the College Grade Appeals Committee will inform both the instructor and the student of the actions required to complete a Second Review of the matter. The scope of the review will be narrowly tailored and limited to reviewing only those allegations supported by evidence, which establish the Basis for Second Review (outlined in paragraph 8 (a-c), above).
   1. Except in rare circumstances, the College Grade Appeals Committee will not reconsider the entire case presented to the Department Grade Appeals Committee.
   2. If required, the College Grade Appeals Committee will conduct proceedings similar to those outlined for the Department Grade Appeals Committee in paragraph 5, above.
   3. All evidence (electronic and otherwise), documents, findings, conclusions, and recommendations from the first review conducted by the Department Grade Appeals Committee shall be forwarded to the College Grade Appeals Committee.
10. At the conclusion of the Second Review, the College Grade Appeals Committee will inform both parties of its Findings. The findings, conclusions and recommendations of the College Grade Appeals Committee are final.