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Grade Appeal Process

Resolving a grade dispute not related to Academic Integrity

  1. A student who disagrees with a professor over a grade should speak to the professor.
  2. If a student comes to the Vice President of Academic Affairs' office without having discussed the issue with the professor, the student will be referred to the appropriate division chair and/or program director to do so.
  3. If the discussion between the student and the professor does not resolve the issue, the student should next meet with the Division Chair.
  4. If the issue is still not resolved, the student meets with the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) to discuss next steps.
  5. The VPAA investigates the concerns with the student, the professor, and the Division Chair, and makes a decision regarding the grade dispute. 
  6. The review and ruling of the VPAA will constitute the final decision in the academic grade dispute.

Resolving a grade dispute related to Academic Integrity Allegations

(Academic Integrity Allegations include [but may not be limited to] cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, and misrepresentation of academic records.

  1. Where an individual student alleges with particularity that the actions of a faculty member have resulted in serious academic injury to the student, the matter shall (if requested by the student) be presented to the Academic Integrity Hearing Board for adjudication.
  2. Serious academic injury includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the awarding of a lower course grade than that which the student has earned or suspension from a class. This process is not intended to address normal grading decisions of faculty in exercising good-faith professional judgment in evaluating a student’s work. (See above instructions for appeals not related to academic integrity allegations.)
  3. It is the responsibility of the student, before seeking to have a grievance adjudicated, to attempt to resolve the matter by personal conference with the faculty member concerned, and, if such attempts are unavailing, to call the matter to the attention of the division chair for consideration and adjustment by informal means.
  4. If a matter remains unresolved after such efforts have been made, the following grievance procedures shall be employed:
    1. The aggrieved student will file a written statement of charges with the Vice President of Academic Affairs
    2. If the Vice President of Academic Affairs' designated Academic Integrity Administrative Officer determines that the charges are subject to adjudication under the terms of the Academic Integrity Guidelines, that person will transmit the charges to the faculty member, together with a copy of these regulations.
    3. The letter of transmittal to the faculty member, a copy of which shall also be sent to the student, will state the composition of a committee that has been named to meet with the involved parties to make an informal inquiry into the charge. The purpose of this committee is to provide a last effort at informal resolution of the matter between the student and the faculty member.
    4. The committee shall meet with the faculty member, the student, and others as appropriate, to review the nature of the problem in an attempt at reaching a settlement of the differences. This is not a formal hearing, and formal procedural rules do not apply. Upon completion of this meeting, if no mutually agreeable resolution results, the committee may produce its own recommendation for a solution to the conflict.
    5. Should the committee recommend that the faculty member take some corrective action on behalf of the student, its recommendations shall be provided to the faculty member. As promptly as reasonable and at least within five (5) working days after the faculty member receives the recommendations of the committee, the faculty member shall privately take that action which that person elects, and so advise the student and chair of the committee of that action.
    6. Should the committee conclude that the faculty member need not take corrective action on behalf of the student, this finding shall be forwarded to both the faculty member and the student.

Resolving a grade dispute related to Academic Integrity Allegations using the Formal Hearing Process

  1. If the student elects to pursue the matter further, either because the student is dissatisfied with the resulting action of the faculty member or the conclusion of the committee, the student should discuss this intent with the Chair of the Academic Integrity Hearing Board, who should review the procedures to be followed with the student. If the student wishes to proceed with a formal hearing, the Chair of the Academic Integrity Hearing Board will advise the VPAA that a formal hearing procedure will be initiated.
  2. The formal hearing should provide a fair inquiry into the truth or falsity of the charges, with the faculty member and the student afforded the right to cross-examine. At the level of the Academic Affairs Unit Academic Integrity Hearing Board, legal counsel shall not be permitted, but a representative from within the University community shall be permitted for both faculty and students.
  3. A suitable record (audio recording) shall be made of the proceedings, exclusive of deliberations to arrive at a decision.
  4. The proposed decision, which shall be written, shall include a determination of whether charges have been proven by clear and convincing evidence, together with findings with respect to the material facts. If any charges are established, the proposed decision shall state the particular remedial action to be taken.
  5. The proposed decision shall be submitted to the VPAA, who will make an independent review of the hearing proceedings. The VPAA may require that the charges be dismissed, or that the case be remanded for further proceedings whenever deemed necessary. The VPAA may limit the scope of any further proceedings or require that part or all the original proceedings be reconvened. Upon completion of such additional proceedings, if any, the VPAA shall issue a final decision.
  6. The VPAA may reject any findings made by the Academic Integrity Hearing Board, may dismiss the charges, or may reduce the extent of the remedial action to be taken. If the VPAA believes the remedial action to be taken may infringe upon the exercise of academic freedom, that person will seek an advisory opinion from the Senate Committee on Tenure and Academic Freedom (TAF) before issuing his or her own decision. The decision of the VPAA shall be in writing, shall set forth with particularity any new findings of fact or remedies, and shall include a statement of the reasons underlying such action.
  7. The VPAA shall then transmit to the faculty member and to the student copies of all actions affecting them taken by the hearing authority and the dean. Suitable records shall be maintained as confidential and retained in the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
  8. No action detrimental to the faculty member will be taken, except as in strict accordance with established University procedures. An adjustment hereunder in the student's behalf shall not be deemed a determination that the faculty member was in any way negligent or derelict.

Timeliness

It is the responsibility of all parties, including administrative officers, to take prompt action in order that grievances may be resolved quickly and fairly. While no explicit time limit could apply to all cases, failure to use diligence in seeking redress may constitute grounds for denial of a hearing or other relief, especially if prejudice results.