Grade Appeal Process
Purpose
The purpose of this section is to describe the process by which a student may appeal the final grade given by an instructor for completion of a curriculum course. A student who wishes to appeal a grade given for assignments, rather than for the completion of a course, should see the appropriate instructor and/or Department Chair.
Procedure
A student has the right to appeal a course grade when he/she believes that his/her performance in a course has been incorrectly evaluated by the instructor. Any such appeal must be initiated no later than two business weeks following the completion of the course. A business week does not include periods in which faculty, department chairs, and deans are not on campus due to breaks/holidays.
The first level of appeal, in all cases, should be to the instructor involved. Only if the issue cannot be resolved between the instructor and student should further appeals be made.
In that case, a student should make his/her appeal, in writing, to the appropriate department chair and should clearly set forth the basis for the student’s belief that the evaluation is incorrect. The department chair will work with the instructor and, where appropriate, with the dean, to review the student’s appeal. The department chair, with the dean’s input, will make a written response to the student within one business week of the date of appeal, and will send a copy of the response to the AVP of Academic & Student Services.
If the student is not satisfied with the department chair and dean’s decisions, the student has the right to appeal that decision, in writing, to the Vice President of Academic and Student Services. The Vice President of Academic and Student Services may communicate with the instructor, department chair, and appropriate dean in order to fully understand the basis for appeal. The Vice President of Academic and Student Services may appoint a peer review committee of curriculum faculty to act in an advisory capacity.
At the completion of this review and within one business week of the student’s appeal, the Vice President of Academic and Student Services will make a decision and convey that decision in writing to the student, the instructor, department chair, dean, and AVP of Academic & Student Services. The decision of the Vice President of Academic and Student Services is final.