Students have the right to know the components of their
final grade, to be graded fairly, and to understand why they were given a
particular grade. For an appeal of a course grade to be considered, it must be
based upon one or more of the following grounds: (1) arithmetic or clerical
error; (2) arbitrariness, possibly including discrimination, based upon race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status of the
student or violations of the university's policy on sexual orientation; (3) the
faculty member is alleged to have been capricious. Capricious grading
constitutes any of the following: (a) the assignment of a grade to a particular
student on some basis other than his or her performance in the course; (b) the
assignment of a grade to a particular student by resort to more exacting or
demanding standards than were applied to other students in that course. The Process
1. The student shall attempt to reconcile the conflict or
question in a face-to-face interaction with the involved faculty member(s) upon
receipt of grade, no later than five
(5) academic days after official notification of the grade by the
registrar.
2. If this attempt at resolution is not satisfactory, the
student may request mediation from the course leader/specialty director within five (5) academic days. The course
leader/specialty director will consult with both the faculty and the student
and attempt to resolve the conflict based on the merits of the grievance
(whether the grade appeal meets the criteria for a grievance). If a resolution is not
reached, the course leader/specialty director will advise both the student and
the faculty member of the process to initiate a formal grievance.In the case where there is (1) no course
leader; (2) the course leader/specialty director is the involved faculty; or (3)
for core theory courses in the graduate programs, the associate dean of the
appropriate program will assume the role of the grievance facilitator.
3. If the matter is not resolved, the student may initiate a
formal grade grievance with the Faculty and Student Matters Committee within five (5) academic days of meeting with the
course leader/specialty director/associate dean. The student obtains the
Student Grade Appeal form from the Office of Student Services. The form and all
accompanying documentation should be completed and returned to the Office of
Student Services within the five (5) academic
days.All hand delivered/faxed
materials should be dated and time stamped by the administrative assistant in
the Office of Student Services. Materials submitted by mail should be sent certified, return receipt
requested.
4. After the Student Grade Appeal form has been submitted,
the Grievance Subcommittee of the Faculty and Student Matters Committee
determines whether the student appeal will be processed further. If it is
determined that the appeal does not merit a full hearing, the student and
faculty member will be informed of the decision in writing within two (2) academic days.
5.If the
Grievance Subcommittee determines that a full hearing should be held, a hearing
will be scheduled within five (5) days of
the deadline for submission of evidence:
- The
subcommittee will review the Student Grade Appeal form, accompanying scholastic
materials, and supporting papers provided by the student, the course
leader/specialty director response, and the faculty response. Should there be
no response from the faculty member involved in the appeal; the committee will
process the appeal.
- The
following people may be in attendance at the hearing: the student/complainant
and the faculty member. In addition, a support person may accompany the
student/complainant to the hearing, but the support person may not participate
nor speak on behalf of the student/complainant. Faculty members on the
committee who have previously taught the student or are the course leader/
specialty director related to this hearing should recuse themselves.
6. Merits of
the evidence for the appeal will be discussed while the Grievance Subcommittee
is in session. Only the members of the committee (not in the presence of
the involved parties) will vote on the appeal.
7. The final
vote on the appeal must indicate one of the following:
-
the appeal has justification
- the
appeal does not have justification
8. The committee will inform the faculty of the vote in
writing. If the committee
determines that the appeal has justification, the Grievance Subcommittee will
make a recommendation as to the actions to be taken. The faculty will have two (2) academic days to notify the committee
of his or her decision to accept or reject the recommendations.Upon receipt of the faculty's response,
the committee will notify the student in writing.
9. The student or the faculty member may choose to continue
the appeal process by contacting the appropriate associate dean within two (2) academic days.The associate dean will review the
documents and the Grievance Committee's recommendations, and make a decision within two (2) academic days. The student/complainant,
faculty member, course leader/specialty director, and the chair of the Faculty
and Student Matters Committee will be notified in writing of the decision.
10. The student
or the faculty member may reject the decision of the associate dean and choose
to continue the appeal process by contacting the dean. The dean will review the documents and
make a decision. The decision of
the dean is final. There is no further appeal process.
