Registrar's Office


Procedure for Appealing a Grade

It is an important part of the teaching responsibility of the faculty to provide careful evaluation and timely assignment of an appropriate grade to each enrolled student. There is a presumption that grades assigned are correct. It is the responsibility of the student appealing an assigned grade to demonstrate otherwise. In the absence of compelling reasons, such as instructor’s error or clerical error, etc., the grade determined by the instructor of record is to be considered final.

A student who believes based on evidence that is reviewable that an incorrect grade has been assigned may appeal by using the following procedure.

  1. The student should attempt to resolve the problem with the instructor who assigned the grade within thirty (30) calendar days after the end of the term in which the course was offered. If the instructor determines that an error was made in submitting the grade, a Grade Change Form, available in the office of the department head, must be initiated by the instructor immediately. Documentation to justify the change must be submitted with the form to the department head. The form must be approved by the department head and the dean of the college in which the course was offered. The form may be rejected with explanation at any stage in the approval process. If the grade change is approved by the college dean, the form and supporting documentation will be submitted by the dean to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for final approval. Once the Vice President for Academic Affairs approves the grade change the instructor will be notified by the Office of the Vice President. The instructor will pick up an approved request and submit it to the Registrar to complete the grade change process. The Vice President will return all rejected grade changes to the appropriate dean with written explanations. Explanations for rejection at any stage of the process will be shared by the party making the rejection with all persons involved in the process.
  2. If the student is not satisfied with the instructor’s decision, and has reviewable evidence to warrant a grade change, the student should submit a written appeal within 120 calendar days after the end of the term to the head of the department in which the course was offered.
  3. If the problem is not resolved at this level, the student should submit a written appeal to the college dean within ten (10) working days following receipt of the denial by the department head.
  4. If the problem is not resolved at the dean’s level, the student should submit a written appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs within ten (10) working days of receiving the denial from the dean. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will review all evidence and findings and inform the student, instructor, department head, college dean, registrar, and other appropriate University personnel of the decision. This decision is final and ends the appeal process.
  5. Candidates for degrees should immediately notify their academic advisors of decisions made in response to their respective appeals.