Student Complaints about Grades

When possible, the Graduate School-Newark tries to handle all student complaints about grades within the graduate degree program.

First, a student with a complaint should confer informally with the instructor who recorded the grade in question. This conference shall take place within 10 school days of official notification of the grade. If the instructor and student are unable to reach a resolution regarding the dispute, the matter will be considered closed unless the student initiates further action within 10 school days after meeting with the instructor. A student wishing to pursue a grade complaint must request in writing, within that 10-day period, that the director or a designate review the complaint or attempt to mediate the issue. The director or the designate has 10 school days from receiving the student's written request to consult with all parties and propose a resolution.

If this is unsuccessful, the matter shall be referred to a faculty committee, as designated in the bylaws of the program. This committee shall render a decision within 15 school days. In arriving at a decision, the committee may consult with anyone it chooses. In extraordinary cases, it may ask third parties chosen from among the faculty to review the grade in question.

Any appeal by the student from the program faculty's decision must be made by the student in writing to the dean of the Graduate School-Newark. The student has 10 days from receiving the program faculty's decision to submit an appeal and lay out the grounds for this action. The grounds for appeal are (1) technical error, (2) new information, or (3) extenuating circumstances. The dean will render a decision within 10 school days of the receipt of the appeal.

For purposes of these procedures, a school day is any day classes are in session, excluding Summer Session. The decision of the dean is final.