Student complaints about grades are handled, where possible, within the structure of the graduate-degree program.
In the first instance, the student confers informally with the instructor who recorded the grade in question. Such conference must take place within 10 school days of notification of the grade. If the matter is not resolved between the student and the instructor, the student must, within 10 school days, take the issue to the chairperson of the M.A. Scholastic Standing Committee of the School of Criminal Justice, for M.A. students, or to the graduate program director for the School of Criminal Justice for Ph.D. students, for review and mediation. The chairperson or graduate program director (as appropriate), within 10 school days after notification of the dispute, consults with all parties and proposes a resolution. If this is unsuccessful, the matter is referred to the full M.A. Scholastic Standing Committee or Ph.D. Committee (as appropriate). The appropriate committee will render a decision within 15 school days. In arriving at a decision, the committee may consult with whomever it chooses and may, in extraordinary cases, ask third parties from among the faculty to review the grade in question.
Appeal of an M.A. Scholastic Standing Committee decision may be made to the dean of the School of Criminal Justice. Appeal of the Ph.D. Committee decision may be made to the dean of the Graduate School-Newark. Such appeal must be in writing, must be made within 10 school days of the receipt of the committee's decision, and must state the grounds for appeal. The acceptable grounds for appeal are (1) technical error, (2) new information, and (3) extenuating circumstances. The appropriate dean, whose decision is final, will render a decision within 10 school days of receipt of the appeal.
For purposes of these procedures, "school day" is defined as any day classes are in session, excluding Summer Session.
