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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Candidates for degrees should immediately notify their academic advisors of decisions
made in response to their respective appeals.
