American Culture Program(October, 1986) When an undergraduate student receives a grade which he/she thinks is unfair, he/she should first have a conference with the instructor; then, if he/she is still unsatisfied, the student should write a letter to the Director of the Program detailing his/her objections to the grade and send with it all written materials at issue. In the case of a supervised course, the student should take his/her complaint to the course supervisor before involving the Director. If the Director is unable to resolve the dispute, he/she will appoint a committee which will attempt to do so. Such a committee normally would consist of the Program Director or his/her delegate, at least one other faculty member, and at least one undergraduate. Questions about the grievance procedure may be taken to the Director. The Grievance Committee will seek to arrange a hearing at which both parties to the dispute will be urged to appear, the time and place to be confirmed in writing. This should be scheduled no later than two weeks after the matter is referred to the Committee. Before the hearing the instructor will be invited to reply in writing to the objections of the student. Any such communication will be made available to the student in time for him/her to respond to it at the hearing. After examining the available evidence and talking with both parties the members of the Committee will make a written recommendation suggesting what action, if any, they feel should be taken. Copies will be sent to the student, the instructor, the college, and the Director of the Program. The Faculty Code (B 5.07) authorizes the LS&A Office of Student Academic Affairs to change grades that have been reported only "to correct clerical errors or in cases where a departmental review of a grade grievance has resulted in an instructor's changing a grade." It is finally up to a member of the faculty to decide whether or not to recommend to the LS&A Office of Academic Affairs that a reported grade be changed.
The time limit for a grade grievance shall be one year after the end of
the term in which the grade in dispute was posted. Under special circumstances,
a student may ask for an extension of the time limit. Once a student has
exhausted the Program's grade appeal procedure, there is no further appeal
available in the College or University. Did
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