Grade
Appeals
Rutgers University and the School of Nursing
recognizes that it is the faculty member's prerogative to determine a grade.
Faculty members are expected to set fair and consistent grading policies in
their courses. The responsibility for resolving grade disputes is shared among
the faculty member, the student, the program, and the school.
Students have the right to know the components of
their final grade, which is included in each course syllabi. If a student
perceives that their final course grade was based on anything other than
academic performance, an appeal may be filed. Rutgers University's policy
pertaining to discrimination and harassment may be found at the
Rutgers University
Policy Library.
While students have the right to file an appeal,
dissatisfaction with a grade or failure to notify the faculty of personal
circumstances which may have affected academic performance are not grounds for
a grade appeal. Mathematical errors do not require a grade appeal, but should
be brought to the attention of the faculty. In the case of a successful
grievance, the grade does not automatically change, rather the committee makes
recommendations as to appropriate student/faculty measures to be taken.
Grade Appeal Process
The student shall attempt to reconcile the
conflict or question by direct interaction (e.g., email, phone, or face-to-face
conversation) with the involved faculty member(s) upon receipt of the grade,
but no later than three (3) academic days (days on which the university
is open for business) after official posting of the grade in Banner or REGIS.
In the event the faculty member is not available, the student will contact the
course leader/specialty director, who will attempt to contact the faculty
member. If the faculty member or specialty director is unavailable to meet with
the student, the student will be referred to the appropriate academic associate
dean who will intercede on the student's behalf to contact the faculty.
When the grade results in a course failure and that
course is a prerequisite for following courses, the student may not progress to
those courses. For students who are scheduled to start a course before the
grievance process is completed, they may request special permission from the
appropriate academic associate dean to continue coursework until the appeal is
resolved. The student will be advised that if the grade is upheld on appeal
that they will be required to withdraw from the class.
Following
unsuccessful resolution with the faculty member, the student has three (3)
academic days to meet with the vice dean for administration and student
services or designee to discuss the nature of the appeal and for the initiation
of the formal grade appeal process if necessary. The student will be guided
through the process and submit all required material, including the grade
appeal form and all documentation to the Office of Student Services within five
(5) academic days. Documentation should include, but is not limited to, course
syllabus, any course material related to the appeal, email correspondence
between the student and the faculty member, and a student written statement
explaining why he or she feels the appeal meets the criteria for a grievance.
The student will receive confirmation from the Office of Student Services that
the material was received. The vice dean for administration and student
services will review the documents for completeness and send all documents to
the chair of the Grievance Committee.
The chair of the Grievance Committee will determine
the level of the student (undergraduate or graduate) and convene a
subcommittee. This subcommittee will consist of three faculty members from the
Grievance Committee who do not teach in the program the student is enrolled in.
Members of the subcommittee will review the appeal
material and determine, within three (3) academic days, whether (1) the
appeal has no merit (i.e., does not meet the criteria of a grievance) or (2) a
full hearing is necessary. The subcommittee may request additional information
from the faculty member or the student if that information is needed to make a
decision. If the appeal has no merit, the chair will notify the student and
faculty member, in writing, of the decision, and provide the rationale. This
will be done through the Office of Student Services. The student may reject
this decision and continue the appeal process. If a full hearing is necessary,
it will be scheduled as soon as possible, but no later than five (5)
academic days following the decision.
Ph.D. students must follow the
Graduate
School-Newark policy
for grade grievances.
Hearing Process
The chair and the subcommittee will meet with the student
and faculty for the purpose of gaining additional information that will help
them determine whether the appeal meets the criteria of a grievance. The
student may have a support person present, but that person will not participate
or speak on behalf of the student during the hearing.
Merits of the appeal evidence (both evidence submitted
previously and evidence gained during the hearing) will be discussed
immediately following the meeting with the student and faculty and the
subcommittee will make a decision. The decision will be either (1) the appeal
is justified (meets criteria for a grievance) or (2) the appeal is not
justified.
If it is determined that the appeal is not justified,
the chair will notify the student and faculty in writing within two (2) days
through the Office of Student Services. This letter will be sent by email along
with postal delivery using regular delivery and overnight or certified mail. If
it is determined that the appeal is justified, the subcommittee will make a
recommendation as to the appropriate student/faculty measures to be taken.
The student or the faculty may reject the decision of
the subcommittee and continue the appeal process by notification in writing to
the Office of Student Services. All materials and decisions submitted
previously will be sent to the appropriate academic associate dean by of
student services. The associate dean will review all material and may also
request additional material or request to see the student and/or faculty member
for the purpose of gaining additional information that will help him or her
render a decision. The associate dean may either (1) uphold the decision of the
subcommittee or (2) disagree with the subcommittee's decision. If the decision
is upheld, the student, faculty, and chair of the Grievance Committee will be
notified in writing. If the associate dean disagrees with the decision, the
chair of the Grievance Committee must be notified and provided with the reasons
the decision was not upheld. If necessary, recommendations as to actions to be
taken will be made by both the associate dean and the chair of the Grievance
Committee.
For grade grievances that do not result in dismissal
from the program, the decision of the associate dean is final. If the grade
appeal results in a subsequent program dismissal, the student may reject the
decision of the associate dean and continue the appeal process by contacting
the dean through the Office of Student Services. The same process will be
followed and the decision of the dean is final.
Student Grade Appeal Documentation and Submission
The following form and supporting documents must
be completed and emailed to Office of Student Services at
kyle.warren@rutgers.edu.
Information provided on this form will be made
available to the faculty member named in the appeal. In those cases not
resolved at the faculty or course leader level, the School of Nursing's Faculty
and Student Matters Committee will consider information provided on the form.
Student information:
-
Date
-
Student name
-
Address
-
Email
-
Phone
-
Course title and number
-
Semester
-
Grade received
-
Faculty
-
Date discussed the grade
appeal with the faculty
-
Date discussed the grade
appeal with the course leader/specialty director
-
Date provided appeal
form and supporting documents to the Office of Student Services
Please
provide a written statement outlining the basis of the grade appeal including
but not limited to:
-
Reasons you believe a
grade appeal is justified (be specific)
-
Special circumstances or
considerations, if any
-
Other pertinent
information or documentation
I have
read and understand the Grade Appeals Policy and have attached my written
appeal to this form.
(Student signature)
Academic Policies and Procedures 
