Page 6
Procedures for Grade Appeal
Taken from the Faculty and Professional Personnel Handbook
pp. 250-253
1. Initiate Grade Appeal Process
a. Informal Resolution Phase. Prior to a grade appeal, the student must request a review of the grade by contacting (in person, by phone, or by letter) the faculty member, or in his or her absence the department chairperson, within ten (10) school days after the start of the next academic (fall, spring, or summer) semester following the semester or summer session in which the grade was given. The faculty member or in his or her absence the department chairperson, must respond to the student's request within ten (10) school days after receipt of the request.
b. If the matter cannot be resolved with the faculty member, the student must inform the department chairperson of the disagreement with the faculty member and present the student's side of the dispute. The department chairperson will then attempt to resolve the dispute. If the department chairperson cannot resolve the dispute to the student's satisfaction, the student may proceed with the appeals process.
c. Formal Resolution Phase. If the student chooses to initiate a grade appeal after completion of the informal resolution phase, the student must contact the Office of the Dean of Students, within ten (10) school days after the faculty member's response or the department chairperson's response is received. After consultation with the Dean of Students, the student if he or she decides to appeal, must submit a formal appeal of the grade in writing to the Office of the Dean of Students. The matter of referral to the University Review Board for a hearing will be the decision of the chairperson for the students (Vice President of Student Government Association) and the chairperson for the University faculty and administration (Dean of Students or designee). A decision on the referral will be made and communicated to the student and faculty member within (10) school days after receipt of written appeal in the Office of the Dean of Students. If the decision of the chairperson is not to forward the appeal to a hearing committee, the matter is concluded.
2. Notice of Hearing
If a hearing is to be held, the student and the faculty member who assigned the grade being appealed will be notified in writing of the date, time, and place of the hearing, and at least five (5) school days prior written notice of the hearing shall be given to the student and to the faculty member. In case of an absent instructor, the department chairperson, with consent of the absent instructor, shall appoint a faculty member from the department or himself or herself to be present to represent the instructor at the hearing. The Hearing Committee may delay judgement if neither the faculty member nor a representative is available for the hearing, if such a presence, in the opinion of the Hearing Committee, is necessary to the decision of the University Review Board.
3. Presentation of Case
The presentation of the case is the responsibility of the student. The instructor may attend the hearing and present evidence in support of the instructor's decision.
4. Access to Information
The Hearing Committee will have access to pertinent information in the case.
5. Multiple Appeals
If two or more members of a class appeal their grades, the Hearing Committee may elect to hear the appeals individually or collectively.
6. Disqualifications; Challenges
Any Hearing Committee member shall disqualify himself or herself if he or she has conflict of interest with the case or with the student or personal bias. The student may challenge a Hearing Committee member on grounds of conflict of interest personal bias. The decision regarding disqualifying a challenged member shall be made by a majority vote of the remaining members present. If challenge is upheld, the Dean of Students may, at his or her discretion, either appoint another personal to fill the vacancy or direct that the vacancy not be filled. In the latter case, a quorum shall thereafter consist of three-fourths (3/4) of all remaining members of the Hearing Committee.
7. Conduct of Hearing
The hearing shall be concluded in an informal manner and without references to rules applicable to a court of a law concerning the examination of witnesses and admissibility of evidence, but with a view toward providing the Hearing Committee with a complete understanding of the facts involved. Irrelevant, immaterial, and unduly repetitious evidence may be excluded. The hearing and deliberations of the committee shall be private. The student and the faculty member shall each have the right to have a person of his or her choice make an informal written record of the hearing.
8. Continuances
The Hearing Committee, by majority vote, may continue the hearing to a later time or times.
9. Additional Rules
Procedural rules not inconsistent with these procedures may be established by the Hearing Committee from time to time to fulfill its functions in an orderly manner.
10. Findings
Decisions of the Hearing Committee shall be made by majority vote. The Hearing Committee will prepare a written summary of the evidence presented, findings, and recommendation. A copy of the summary, findings, and recommendation shall be given to the student, the instructor, the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, the instructor's department chairperson, and the instructor's dean.
a. Recommendations. The Hearing Committee shall meet in one or more private sessions after the conclusion of the hearing and may recommend:
- That a grade which has been appealed be raised;
- That a grade which has been appealed remain the same.
b. The decision as to whether or not the grade shall be raised (changed) rests with the instructor. The instructor will notify the student, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean of Students, the instructor's chairperson, and the instructor's dean of his or her decision within five (5) school days of receipt of the Hearing Committee's summary, findings, and recommendation.
11. Appeal. Method of appeal for grade appeals cases:
a. In the event the instructor chooses not to follow the recommendation of the Hearing Committee within ten (10) school days of the Hearing Committee's recommendation, the entire University Review Board will convene (3/4 of membership equals quorum) and review the case.
b. Appellate Review. The review shall be chaired by a faculty member on the University Review Board. The student and faculty member who assigned the grade shall be present at the review to answer questions. The review will be based upon the information and materials in the case file, the Hearing Committee's summary of the evidence submitted, findings and recommendations, and questions and answers directed by the University Review Board to the student and faculty member.
Decision of the University Review Board. The decision of the University Review Board is final. The decision shall be communicated to both parties, the chairperson of the academic department of the faculty member, and the dean of the appropriate college within five (5) school days of the review. If the grade is to be changed, the University Review Board chairperson will direct the faculty member to initiate the process by filing a "grade change form." In the event the instructor chooses not to abide by the decision of the University Review Board within (10) days of the University Review Board's decision, the chairperson of the University Review Board will direct the registrar to change the grade at issue and also notify the faculty member, the appropriate department chairperson, and the appropriate dean. The following state shall be noted with the change of grade on the transcript of the student:
Original grade of _was overruled by University Review Board.
Faculty and Professional Personnel Handbook, pp. 250-253