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Program in Film and Video Studies

(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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  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 Program's Director.

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