Grade Appeals

Please note that the University grade appeals process has changed effective Fall 2024. Please visit the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities website for full details. Some main points are copied below.

General

  1. The responsibility for assessing student achievement and assigning grades rests with instructors, and, except for unusual circumstances, the course grade given is final.
  2. The grade appeals system affords recourse to a student who has evidence or believes that evidence exists to show a grade has been assigned contrary to what has been outlined in the syllabus, or due to error or arbitrariness, such as a grade inconsistent with those assigned other students. A student may challenge the reduction of a grade for alleged violation of course policies related to academic integrity.
  3. The only University authorities empowered to change grades are the instructor, or in the case of teaching assistants, the faculty member in charge of the course in question, and the chair of the University Grade Appeals Committee. In addition, the department head and the chair of the University Grade Appeals Committee can change grades as a part of the grade appeal process.
  4. Informal attempts must be made to resolve grade grievances and appeals at the lowest possible level - through the course instructor.
  5. Graduate students who wish to appeal grades received in regular coursework may do so through the grade appeals system. Cases involving the decisions of graduate examination committees, the acceptance of graduate theses, and the application of professional standards relating to the retention of graduate students shall be handled by procedures authorized by the Graduate Council rather than the grade appeals system.
  6. When a student initiates a formal grade appeal, they should be prepared to state in what way their grade was inconsistent with the syllabus, arbitrary, in error, or assigned incorrectly due to alleged violation of course policies associated with academic integrity. At that time, they may seek assistance from the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR), their academic advisor, or another professional staff member.
  7. In appealing a grade, the burden of proof is on the student, except in the case of alleged violation of course policies associated with academic integrity, where the instructor must support the allegation.

School Head Formal Appeal

Department Heads (or their designee) will hear formal grade appeals that are not resolved informally between the student and the instructor. The Head (or their designee) has the authority to grant warranted time extension in the appeals process described subsequently.

A list of school heads is available here.

Initiating a Grade Appeal

Prior to initiating a grade appeal, the student is required to attempt to resolve the situation with the instructor.

Appeal Process

  1. If informal resolution with the instructor is not successful, a student who wishes to initiate a grade appeal must file a written statement of allegations, facts, and circumstances concerning the grade assigned with the Department Head (or their designee) in which the relevant course is taught. This must be done within 30 university business days after the posting of the grade for the course.
  2. After receipt of the student’s written statement, the Department Head (or their designee) will furnish a copy of the statement within 5 university business days to the instructor. The instructor will provide a written response within 5 university business days. (Instructors not currently in a period of employment will respond within 5 university business days following the beginning of their next period of employment.) The Department Head (or their designee) will then schedule a review meeting with both the instructor and the student to attempt to gather additional details and to attempt resolve the situation. This review meeting shall occur within 5 university business days of receipt of the instructor’s written response.
  3. The instructor will make all pertinent grading records available to the Department Head (or their designee) within 2 university business days of the review meeting. The Department Head (or their designee) may at their discretion make available to the student those records (or portions thereof) that they judge to be relevant in light of the student’s allegations.
  4. The Department Head (or their designee) will submit a decision regarding the appeal within 5 university business days after the review meeting. If a grade change is part of the decision, the Department Head (or their designee) will engage with the Office of the Registrar to initiate the grade change.

Appeal of the School Head Decision

  1. Either the student or the instructor may file a request for an appeal of the Department Head (or their designee) decision.
  2. The process may be initiated by filing out an appeal with OSRR within 5 university business days of after Department Head (or their designee) decision.
  3. The notice shall be accompanied by a statement of the alleged procedural irregularities or new evidence, or a substantial enumeration of why the appellant believes the Department Head (or their designee) decision is erroneous or unfair.
  4. Upon request, the respective Department Head (or their designee) will transmit any items of evidence to the chair of the University Grade Appeals Committee.