V. R. 1.
Student Appeal:
Grades
Most Academic Appeals
involve a grade issue; however, students can appeal most issues related to the
instructional process. Any grade appeal
should be started as soon as possible after the student is notified of the
final course grade to comply with the mid quarter deadline. Students may only appeal a final course
grade. Final grades of C or better are
not appealable.
Questions and concerns about grades are often the
result of misunderstandings about grading practices and expected standards.
Direct communication between the faculty member and the student usually
resolves these misunderstandings.
It is the purpose of the grade appeal procedure to
outline appropriate steps the student should take to clarify any questions
about grades or grading practices. These steps are as follows:
When there is any question about a final course grade
or the faculty member’s grading policy, the student should fill out a Student
Concern Form stating their question about the grade, and then make an
appointment with the appropriate faculty member. Examples of the questions that
may be discussed include the following:
1.
Clarification of
the overall grading plan for the course, including relative weights of exams,
etc.
2.
Correction of
errors made in grading
3.
Explanation of
specific grading questions such as the correct answer to an exam question or
the basis for a grade received on a report
The student seeking additional clarification or
information on matters related to grading should make an appointment with the
appropriate Department Chairperson and present the Student Concern Form.
Questions that may be answered include the following:
1.
Policy on
grading and grade appeals
2.
Differences in
interpretation of approved policies
3.
Faculty member’s
records and grading applications
Students seeking further recourse related to a grade
received should make an appointment with the appropriate Academic Dean and
present the Student Concern Form. The Dean will conduct an investigation in an effort
to resolve the appeal including discussing questions raised
with the faculty member and the Department Chairperson. The Dean will give the
student an interpretation of the grade.
Should the student choose to appeal the decision of
the Academic Dean, the process is as follows:
The student should submit the Student Concern Form to
the Vice President of Academic Affairs within three (3) business days of a
decision by the Academic Dean, stating the sequence of events leading to his or
her appeal and any personal interpretations related to the case. The Student
Concern Form must be submitted no later than the mid-term of the academic
quarter following the quarter in which the grade was received. The Vice
President notifies the faculty member that an appeal has been made and appoints
an Academic Appeals Committee to hear the student’s appeal. Membership of the
committee is as follows:
1.
Committee
chairperson appointed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs
2.
Dean of Student
Affairs
3.
Registrar
4.
A faculty member
from each of the departments not involved in the appeal
5.
A faculty member
selected by the student making the appeal
6.
A faculty member
selected by the faculty member whose grade is being appealed
7.
If needed to
insure a balanced representation, one additional faculty member may be
appointed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs
Recognizing that the hearing conducted by the Appeals
Committee is an in-house procedure and not a court of law, no legal counsel or
any other person may be present except the student, the faculty member, and
appointed members of the committee. Exceptions to this would be granted by the
Vice President of Academic Affairs and only for the following reasons:
1.
A disabled
student requiring some highly specialized extraordinary assistance that could
not be routinely provided by the chairperson or another member of the
committee.
2.
A foreign
student whose English is not sufficiently fluent so as
to allow him or her to represent himself/herself adequately at a committee
hearing.
In these cases, the appointment will be left to the
discretion of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
A meeting of the Appeals Committee is scheduled by
the Vice President of Academic Affairs within two weeks of receiving the Student
Concern Form. The committee examines the
evidence and discusses the case with the faculty member and the student. The
committee may call other witnesses as it deems necessary. The committee maintains informal minutes of
all proceedings that shall be available to the Vice President of Academic
Affairs and the President.
The committee arrives at a decision that is reported
to the Vice President of Academic Affairs who presents the findings and
recommendations to the student, faculty member, and President.
Reference:
V.
H. Academic Standards, Evaluations,
and Appeals, http://www.dtae.org/dtaepolicy/menu.html
DTC
Student Handbook, Student Grade Appeal, http://www.dekalbtech.edu/studentservices/publications.html
DTC Catalog,
Grade Appeal, http://www.dekalbtech.edu/catalog/grievance.html
Approved 07/99
Revised 02/01; 01/04; 08/07