Grade Appeal Procedure
A grade appeal is a situation where a grade received by a student for completion of a course is believed to be unjust or unfair by the student. Many grade appeals can be resolved simply through a discussion with the faculty member teaching the course. Therefore, students appealing a grade should begin the process by talking with the instructor of the course where the grade is in question. If after the discussion, the student believes he or she has received an arbitrary grade, not based upon the course syllabus, the student can then begin the formal grade appeal procedure.
GRADE APPEAL PROCEDURE SUMMARY
To hold all parties, faculty and students alike, accountable and accurate to their statements, a written Grade Appeal Form is completed. This form is a formal written request initiated by the student asking the faculty member to reconsider the grade decision based upon the argument provided in writing on the Grade Appeal Form by the student.
The grade appeal procedure must be followed and the Grade Appeal Form received by the Administrative Faculty, Program Chair, or Campus Director no later than thirty days into the term following the receipt of the grade. Grade appeals submitted later than the thirty days as stated above cannot be appealed and will remain as originally recorded.
FORMAL GRADE APPEAL PROCEDURE
The formal grade appeal procedure follows the local campus academic chain of command. At each level of grade appeal review, if the student continues to believe the grade is unjust or unfair the student can appeal to the next level. Generally, the sequence is:
- Appeal to the faculty member.
- Appeal to the Program Chair for classes taken at a ground campus or Administrative Faculty Member for classes taken online.
- Appeal to the Campus Director for classes taken at a ground campus or the University Dean for classes taken online (this is the final grade appeal level).
A local Grade Appeal Form must be completed in order to file a formal grade appeal. The Grade Appeal Form may be obtained from the Program Chair’s Office. Students from the online (main) campus may obtain the form from a Student Advisor.
The form should be completed and submitted according to the instructions provided on the form. The faculty member at a ground campus or designee of the University Dean at the online campus will respond in writing on the form or via email within 15 days. If after 15 days the Grade Appeal Form is not returned with a decision or request for additional information, the student may move the Grade Appeal to the second level. At the second level, a decision or request for additional information will be sent within 10 days. After a decision is rendered at the first level or the second level, the student has 30 days from the date of that decision to appeal it. If the Grade Appeal is moved to the third level, the University Dean or Campus Director will render a decision within 10 days and the decision is final.