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Department of English Language and Literature

(November 1974)
Revised: 1978)
(Reaffirmed: 1978)

Two principles should be clearly understood as part of the context of any grade grievance:

  1. 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. Departmental grievance procedures are intended to issue in a recommendation, for or against a change, to the appropriate faculty member.
  2. While the Department 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 departmental grievance procedure, these steps are to be followed:
  1. The student should first confer with his 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.
  2. If the first step does not lead to a resolution, he/she should then write a letter detailing his/her objections and send it with all his/her written work for the course to the department grade grievance chairman.
  3. If the grade grievance chairman determines that the objections presented point to possible unfairness, he will recommend to the department chairman that a hearing committee be appointed. Such a committee normally will consist of the grade grievance chairman, at least one other faculty member, and at least one undergraduate. Within two weeks of its appointment this committee will arrange a hearing at which both parties to the dispute will be urged to appear.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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 department chairman.
  7. If the department declines to appoint a hearing committee, or if a hearing committee's decision goes against the student, any further appeal the student may wish to make should be directed to the departmental Executive Committee.

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College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Student Academic Affairs
1255 Angell Hall, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1003
Phone:(734) 764-0332 Fax: (734) 764-2772

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