Student Complaints about Grades

Grade Appeals

Student complaints about course grades are handled within the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA). This policy applies only to recorded course grades, not to grades on individual assignments within a course, which are handled directly with the instructor. SPAA recognizes the unique skills and talents each faculty member brings to the table. Our faculty members are among the foremost experts in their fields, they are the persons most familiar with the syllabus they use to teach a class, and they are most familiar with an individual student's performance relative to the expectations developed in the classes they teach. For these reasons, the faculty member of record is also the most qualified to assess a student's performance in a class. Only in the rarest circumstance will a grade assigned by the instructor of record be reviewed or amended. A student's subjective belief that their work is of higher quality than the instructor's assessment of that work is NOT a valid basis for appeal. Typically, a grade will only be changed in the case of mathematical error or accidental entry. The process for grade appeal is as follows, and must be strictly followed:

1. As a first resort, the student should discuss the contested grade with the instructor of record within five business days of said grade being posted. The student should produce a formal written appeal (deliverable by email) of one to two pages that delineates:
• The student's name, contact information, and RUID number
• The date the appeal is being submitted.
• The name of the course, its section number, and the instructor's name and email address.
• A description of the error and the specific correction requested.
• A clear description of the basis for appeal, including any factual information or computation necessary to document the error.
• All requests must be addressed to the instructor of record, and must also copy the master of public administration (M.P.A.) director and the associate dean for student and academic services.
• The request should include the course syllabus as an attachment.


2. The instructor shall respond within 10 business days of receiving the complaint, and shall copy the M.P.A. director and associate dean for student and academic services on the electronic response.


3. The student may appeal the instructor's decision to the M.P.A. director, following the format of the initial appeal and including any new or additional documentation, including the instructor's formal response. The M.P.A. director must receive any further appeal (electronically) within five business days of the instructor's response. The M.P.A. director will then assess whether the student has established a valid basis for appeal and if the appeal has been received within the time limits established by this policy. If not, the student will be notified and the recorded grade will stand. If so, the M.P.A. director will solicit necessary information from the instructor to make a reasoned judgment on the petitioner's case within 10 business days of receiving the appeal.


4. As a result of the investigation, the student's grade may i) remain unchanged, ii) be amended to the requested grade, or iii) be amended to the correct grade in the event neither the recorded grade or the requested grade is accurate.


5. A student may appeal the M.P.A. director's decision to the dean of SPAA, following the format of the initial appeal and including any new or additional documentation, including the instructor's formal response as well as that of the M.P.A. director. The dean must receive any further appeal (electronically) within five business days of the M.P.A. director's response. The dean will then assess whether the student has established a valid basis for appeal and if the appeal has been received within the time limits established by this policy. If not, the student will be notified and the recorded grade will stand. If so, the dean will solicit necessary information from the instructor and the M.P.A. director to make a reasoned judgment on the petitioner's case within 10 business days of receiving the appeal. The dean will collect any additional evidence he or she considers appropriate. As a result of the investigation, the student's grade may i) remain unchanged, ii) be amended to the requested grade, or iii) be amended to the correct grade in the event neither the recorded grade or the requested grade is accurate.


6. Appeal to the dean constitutes the appeal of last resort. Decisions of the dean of SPAA are final; there are no appeals beyond the dean of SPAA.


7. All grade appeal requests and decisions will become part of the student's permanent record at SPAA.