S t u d e n t H a n d b o o k: C o m p l a i n t s , G r i e v a n c e s , G r a d e A p p e a l s & C o d e o f C o n d u c t
defined as brother, sister, son, daughter, mother, father) and cannot complete the semester, students are strongly encouraged to withdraw from the class and return the next term, unless the event takes place towards the end of the term. If the student has completed at least 75% of the course (at the time of the interruption), speak with the instructor about receiving an Incomplete grade. In such cases, speak to each instructor individually for assistance and guidance. Step 2: Chairperson (Level 2) — This step cannot be SKIPPED! Meet with the faculty member and the Department Chair. Provide your evidence and point out the standard of error made in awarding of the final grade.
If in disagreement with the decision reached under Step 2, move to Step 3.
Step 3: File an Official Grade Appeal Online (Level 3):
Grade Appeals MUST be filed online and can only be filed if the dispute in question has posed academic injury to the student. Meaning, the grade (due to the circumstances) was decreased by at least one letter grade. If in disagreement with the decision reached after meeting the Department Chair ( which was Step 2 ), you are now authorized to file an Official Grade Appeal Online at the college (which will now involve the instructional Deans). Grade Appeals are reviewed by Instructional Deans based on the evidence submitted. Meetings can be called, but they are typically not necessary in all cases to reach a decision unless the Dean has additional questions. What happens is that your rationale for the grade appeal will be reviewed along with your evidence and the faculty member will be asked to respond (in writing) providing their evidence as well. From there, the Instructional Dean will evaluate both packages of evidence (including the syllabus) and recalculate the grade to determine if any errors were made. In other words, they will test the theory the student puts forth. If more information is needed from either party, the Dean may call a meeting for further clarification or could simply call to address the matter over the phone. Following a review the evidence presented, a Dean’s Resolution is issued (by email) which formally closes the Grade Appeal petition. If in disagreement with the Dean’s Resolution reached, move to Step 4 ( the Grade Appeal Challenge), the final step in the Grade Appeal process.
Grade Appeals (Criteria)
In filing a Grade Appeal (online), students MUST provide evidence to support their claims that the final grade issued in a particular class was issued in error, was prejudiced or arbitrary. Simple disagreement with a grade is not enough to change an Instructor’s recorded grade for a college student. Thus, the student will have to demonstrate actual teacher error (i.e., the teacher did not properly apply the correct weight to the grade; the teacher singled you out and
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