Occasionally, students are unsatisfied with their assigned grade for a course. Students have up to one year to appeal a grade. If a student has a grade grievance, follow the department guidelines. Bases for Appeal: Grade appeals must be based on one or more of the following issues: Inaccurate Evaluation or Grade Calculation. Such appeals must demonstrate that the instructor inaccurately graded one or more assignments and/or made a clerical error in calculating the graded work. Discrimination. Appeals based on discrimination must demonstrate that the instructor treated a student differently in assigning grades than he/she treated other students in a similar circumstance. The different treatment must have resulted in the student being assigned a lower grade than would have been assigned if the student were treated similarly. Failure to Follow Course Policies. Such appeals must demonstrate that the instructor failed to follow written or orally communicated policies related to grading for his/her course. The student must demonstrate that the instructor’s failure to follow one or more course policies resulted in a lower grade than would have been assigned had policies been followed. Note that the vast majority of grade appeals arise from unclear policies regarding withdrawal and on what basis a WP or WF will be awarded. Failure to Follow Published University Policies. Such appeals must demonstrate that the instructor failed to follow published University policies related to instruction and/or grading and that the instructor’s failure adversely affected the student’s grade. The Appeals Process If a student believes they should receive a grade other than that awarded, the student must first attempt to resolve the grade dispute with the instructor. If the matter cannot be resolved with the instructor, the student should be directed to the teaching supervisor (if the instructor is a permanent member of the faculty, skip to step 3 below). The teaching supervisor will require a typewritten grade appeal that should include the following elements: Student's name and mailing address The class name, term class was completed, instructor's name Grad received The appeal should make an argument, based on one or more of the issues presented above (see Bases for Appeals) indicating why the grade received should be changed The appeal should request a specific remedy, i.e., indicate the grade the student believes to be appropriate If the student is still dissatisfied after review by the teaching supervisor OR if the instructor is a permanent member of the faculty, the student should forward their written appeal to the Department Head. The head will charge the Undergraduate Coordinator to construct a committee, for which the Undergraduate Coordinator will serve as chair (excepting a conflict of interest). The committee may request additional and/or documentation from the student and/or instructor or faculty member. If the student remains dissatisfied by the committee's decision, they may forward their appeal to the Academic Standards Committee of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. Appeal Your Grade
