(July
1992)
Two
principles should be clearly understood as part of the context of
any grade grievance:
I. A grade
given by a faculty member may be changed only by that faculty
member (Faculty Code B 5.01). A grade given in a class taught by a
teaching assistant may be changed only by the faculty supervisor of
the course. Program grievance procedures are intended to issue in a
recommendation, for or against a change, to the appropriate faculty
member.
II. While the Program wishes to see demonstrably unfair grades
rectified, it will not automatically invoke the full procedure
described below for every grievance. For example, a grievance based
on the argument that one instructor's grading standards are
stricter than those of others will normally not be pursued.
When a
student believes a grade is unfair and wishes to invoke the
Program's grievance procedures, these steps are to be followed:
- The student
should first confer with his or her instructor (and with the course
supervisor, if there is one) to make sure that both are aware of
all the pertinent facts and to identify the issues that are in
dispute.
- If the
first step does not lead to a resolution, the student should then
write a letter detailing his or her objections and send it with all
work for the course to the Program's Director. The Director will
then select a film/video faculty member to act as the grade
grievance officer and submit to him or her the letter and
material.
- If the
grade grievance officer determines that the objections presented
point to possible unfairness, he or she will recommend to the
Program's Director that a hearing committee be appointed. Such a
committee normally will consist of the grade grievance officer, at
least one other film/video faculty member, and one undergraduate
concentrator in the Program. Within two weeks of its appointment,
this committee will arrange a hearing at which both parties to the
dispute will be urged to appear.
- Before the
hearing the committee will invite the instructor to reply in
writing to the objections of the student. Any such communication
will be made available to the student in advance of the
hearing.
- The purpose
of the hearing will be to allow the committee to inform itself as
fully as possible. No additional persons will be permitted at the
hearing without the advance approval of the committee, which, if it
agrees to such persons, will see to it that the same privileges are
extended to both sides.
- After the
hearing the committee will arrive at a recommendation, to be
delivered in writing to the instructor, suggesting what action (if
any) it feels should be taken. Copies will be sent to the student,
to the course supervisor (if there is one), and to the Program's
Director.
