Each student has the right to appeal the final grade in a course in accordance with the procedure outlined below. A grade appeal must be initiated by the student before the end of the following semester (excluding summer) after the assignment of the grade in question.
A student who questions a final course grade must adhere to the following procedure in the order presented:
First level: Discuss the matter with his/her instructor. Clerical errors are usually handled in this manner, with the instructor signing the correction of official records. If the student believes the problem is not resolved, the student shall then go to the second level.
Second level: Visit with the appropriate division chair to discuss the issue. If the concern still remains unresolved, the student may continue to the third level.
Third level: Elect to file a written Grade Appeal. Appeal forms are available from the Area Vice President of Academic Affairs. The decision of the Grade Appeal Committee is final.
A Grade Appeal may not be filed until the first and second levels have been completed.
Once a Grade Appeal is filed with the Area Vice President of Academic Affairs the following procedure takes effect:
- The Grade Appeal Committee consisting of a Division Chair (outside of the division in which the course grade is in question), the Area Vice President of Academic Affairs, two faculty members from within the division, one from another division, and the Dean of Student Life (or representative) will meet to consider the appeal.
- At the meeting of the Grade Appeal Committee:
- The instructor shall be given the opportunity to personally explain the evaluation of the student’s performance and its relation to the final grade.
- The student shall be given the opportunity to personally present the evaluation of his or her performance and its relation to the final grade, and any other extenuating circumstances.
- The chair of the division in which the grade appeal is occurring may also be present to provide any relevant information.
- The committee shall thereafter confer privately to reach a decision which shall be either to uphold the original course grade, to assign a new course grade, or to allow the student to withdraw from the course in question, if the committee feels that the student lacked information upon which to base a withdraw earlier, or if the committee feels there are other appropriate reasons for the withdraw.
- The decision of the Grade Appeal Committee is final.