Student Handbook: Student Grade Appeal

Student Grade Appeal

Most Academic Appeals involve a grade issue; however, students can appeal most issues related to the instructional process. Students may only appeal a final course grade. Final grades of C or better are not appealable. 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 (see section D).

Exceptions exist in certain academic departments/programs which may have developed specific policies regarding grade appeal and status of students awaiting disposition of a grade appeal. Please refer to program specific policies regarding these exceptions.

Questions and concerns about grades are often the result of misunderstandings about grading practices and expected standards. Direct communication between the instructor 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.

When a final grade is questioned, the following grade appeal procedure should be implemented:
A. The student will fill out a Student Grade Concern Form stating their question about the grade, and then make an appointment with the appropriate instructor where the following may be discussed:

Clarification of the overall grading plan.
Correction of errors made in grading.
Explanation of specific grading questions such as the correct answer to an exam question or the basis for a grade received on a report.

B. If the grade appeal is unresolved, the student should make an appointment with the department chairperson and present the Student Grade Concern Form where the following may be discussed:

Department policy on grading and grade appeals.
Differences in interpretation of approved policies.
Instructor's records and grading applications.

C. If the grade appeal is still unresolved, the student should make an appointment with the Dean of Academic Support and present the Student Grade Concern Form. The Dean will conduct an investigation in efforts to resolve the appeal

D. If the Dean fails to resolve the appeal, the student should submit the Student Grade Concern Form to the Vice President of Academic Affairs within 3 business days of a decision by the Dean, stating the sequence of events leading to his or her appeal and any personal interpretations related to the case. This formal appeal must be made no later than the mid-term of the academic quarter following the quarter for which the grade was received.

E. The Vice President of Academic Affairs will notify the instructor that an appeal has been made and appoint an Academic Appeals Committee to hear the student’s appeal.

F. A meeting of the Academic Appeals Committee is scheduled by the Vice President of Academic Affairs within two (2) weeks of receiving the Student Grade Concern Form.

G. Since the Academic Appeal Hearing 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 instructor, and appointed members of the Committee. Exceptions to this can be granted by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and only for the following persons:

A student with a disability requiring some highly specialized, extraordinary assistance that could not be routinely provided by the Department Chairperson or another member of the committee.
A foreign student whose English is not sufficiently fluent to provide adequate representation at the committee meeting.

H. The committee examines the evidence and discusses the case with the instructor and the student. The committee may call other witnesses as it deems necessary.

I. The committee maintains informal minutes of all proceedings that shall be available to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the President

J. The committee arrives at a decision that is reported to the Vice President of Academic Affairs who then presents the findings and recommendations to the student, faculty member, and President. The decision will be implemented unless appealed to the President.

Academic Suspension Appeal Procedure
An appeal of academic suspension may be made and must be initiated as soon as possible but no later than the first day preceding the new quarter. Should the student choose to appeal, the process is as follows:

An Appeal of Academic Suspension Form should be obtained from the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs. The student should give extensive explanation for the justification of the appeal. The completed form and a copy of the student's grade report must be returned to the Vice President of Student Affairs before the first day of class at which time the appeal process officially begins.
The Vice President of Student Affairs will then notify the Academic Dean and the Appeals Committee chairperson.
The appeal form and a copy of the student's grade report are routed to the Chairperson of the Admissions Appeal Committee and a meeting of the Committee is held. In the event that the Committee believes that the information received is not sufficient to make a decision, it may request the presence of the student and/or school representative to further clarify the situation. After review, the appeal is either "Denied" or "Approved" with recommendations or conditions as appropriate. The decision of the Committee is the final step in the appeal procedure.
The student will be notified of the decision by certified mail from the office of the Vice President of Student Affairs. The student will also be notified of the decision via phone or email by the Vice President of Student Affairs or designee Dean of Student Affairs. The decision of the Academic Appeals Committee is final.

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Students may only appeal a final course grade. Final grades of C or better are not appealable. 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 (see section D). Exceptions exist in certain academic departments/programs which may have developed specific policies regarding grade appeal and status of students awaiting disposition of a grade appeal. Please refer to program specific policies regarding these exceptions. Questions and concerns about grades are often the result of misunderstandings about grading practices and expected standards. Direct communication between the instructor 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. When a final grade is questioned, the following grade appeal procedure should be implemented: A. The student will fill out a Student Grade Concern Form stating their question about the grade, and then make an appointment with the appropriate instructor where the following may be discussed: Clarification of the overall grading plan. Correction of errors made in grading. Explanation of specific grading questions such as the correct answer to an exam question or the basis for a grade received on a report. B. If the grade appeal is unresolved, the student should make an appointment with the department chairperson and present the Student Grade Concern Form where the following may be discussed: Department policy on grading and grade appeals. Differences in interpretation of approved policies. Instructor's records and grading applications. C. If the grade appeal is still unresolved, the student should make an appointment with the Dean of Academic Support and present the Student Grade Concern Form. The Dean will conduct an investigation in efforts to resolve the appeal D. If the Dean fails to resolve the appeal, the student should submit the Student Grade Concern Form to the Vice President of Academic Affairs within 3 business days of a decision by the Dean, stating the sequence of events leading to his or her appeal and any personal interpretations related to the case. This formal appeal must be made no later than the mid-term of the academic quarter following the quarter for which the grade was received. E. The Vice President of Academic Affairs will notify the instructor that an appeal has been made and appoint an Academic Appeals Committee to hear the student’s appeal. F. A meeting of the Academic Appeals Committee is scheduled by the Vice President of Academic Affairs within two (2) weeks of receiving the Student Grade Concern Form. G. Since the Academic Appeal Hearing 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 instructor, and appointed members of the Committee. Exceptions to this can be granted by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and only for the following persons: A student with a disability requiring some highly specialized, extraordinary assistance that could not be routinely provided by the Department Chairperson or another member of the committee. A foreign student whose English is not sufficiently fluent to provide adequate representation at the committee meeting. H. The committee examines the evidence and discusses the case with the instructor and the student. The committee may call other witnesses as it deems necessary. I. The committee maintains informal minutes of all proceedings that shall be available to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the President J. The committee arrives at a decision that is reported to the Vice President of Academic Affairs who then presents the findings and recommendations to the student, faculty member, and President. The decision will be implemented unless appealed to the President. Academic Suspension Appeal Procedure An appeal of academic suspension may be made and must be initiated as soon as possible but no later than the first day preceding the new quarter. Should the student choose to appeal, the process is as follows: An Appeal of Academic Suspension Form should be obtained from the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs. The student should give extensive explanation for the justification of the appeal. The completed form and a copy of the student's grade report must be returned to the Vice President of Student Affairs before the first day of class at which time the appeal process officially begins. The Vice President of Student Affairs will then notify the Academic Dean and the Appeals Committee chairperson. The appeal form and a copy of the student's grade report are routed to the Chairperson of the Admissions Appeal Committee and a meeting of the Committee is held. In the event that the Committee believes that the information received is not sufficient to make a decision, it may request the presence of the student and/or school representative to further clarify the situation. After review, the appeal is either "Denied" or "Approved" with recommendations or conditions as appropriate. The decision of the Committee is the final step in the appeal procedure. The student will be notified of the decision by certified mail from the office of the Vice President of Student Affairs. The student will also be notified of the decision via phone or email by the Vice President of Student Affairs or designee Dean of Student Affairs. The decision of the Academic Appeals Committee is final.