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Department of Geological Sciences

(Revised: March 1975)
(Reaffirmed: September 1979)
(Revised: May 1992)

Preamble

Normally students accept the instructor's evaluation of their work. Nevertheless, there are instances when a student feels that his or her academic performance has been unfairly or improperly graded. Typical complaints include prejudice, capricious changes in the course requirements, and lack of uniformity in judgment applied. When these charges arise, discussion and arbitration can bring out the facts to ascertain if there is a wrong which should be righted. However, such hearings are not intended to dispute the instructor's right to make his or her own evaluation of a student's work.

The following procedures have been established by the Department of Geological Sciences (formerly Geology and Mineralogy) in compliance with Section A.2.05 of the Faculty Code in order to deal efficiently with student complaints regarding alleged unfair or improper grading.

Initiation of an Appeal.
  1. A student who seeks redress for an alleged unfair or improper grade must file a written complaint with the department chair immediately after the supposed abuse has been discovered, but no later than one month after grades for the term have been mailed by the Registrar's Office.
  2. Although initial arrangements regarding time and place of a screening or hearing may be made by telephone or in person, the department shall confirm the understandings in writing.
  3. The screening or hearing shall be held at a time convenient for all parties concerned.

Appeal Structure
  1. A student's complaint will be considered for departmental review only after the student and his or her instructor have discussed the matter together; this discussion must be acknowledged by both parties.
  2. At the discretion of the Chair of the departmental Review Committee on Grading Appeals (Department Chair or Associate Chair), an informal meeting may be held between a referee appointed by the Chair and the two concerned parties in order to resolve their differences of opinion. If the differences cannot be resolved in this manner, or if the Committee Chair believes the allegations are of a more serious nature, the Chair may proceed with a formal review by the whole Review Committee on Grading Appeals.
  3. The Departmental Review Committee on Grading Appeals will have the final responsibility for promptly initiating and conducting an adequate investigation of student complaints regarding alleged unfair or improper grading.

Membership of the Review Committee on Grading Appeals
This committee shall consist of at least three members. It shall be chaired by the Chair or Associate Chair of the Department of Geological Sciences. The remaining two members shall be named ad hoc for each case that arises; one shall be chosen from among the current members of the departmental Executive Committee, and the other shall be a peer representative. The peer representative shall be the undergraduate or the graduate student elected each year by the student body to serve on the departmental faculty meetings. If an elected representative is not available, the Chair will appoint an appropriate replacement.

Review Procedures
  1. All available course work should be available to student, instructor, and members of the Review Committee. The student is responsible for presenting work which was turned back to him or her.
  2. At any screening or hearing held before the Review Committee both the student complainant and the instructor shall appear at the same time, if either of those parties so insists; otherwise, it shall be left to the discretion of the Review Committee whether to hold simultaneous or separate hearings with the two parties.
  3. If the Review Committee finds that the Instructor has not acted fairly or properly, it should attempt to persuade the instructor to change the grade. Should this attempt prove unsuccessful, the committee may then determine if some alternative action is acceptable to both the instructor and student, e.g., allowing the student to drop the course, permitting the course to be expunged from the record, or consenting to award partial credit for the course. If all attempts fail and if the committee remains convinced that the student has been graded unfairly or improperly, the committee may at its discretion prepare a letter setting forth its view of the instructor's conduct and forward the letter as a matter of record to the department's Executive Committee. A letter may be prepared for the student, with a copy for the student's file.
  4. The Review Committee should notify the student and instructor promptly in writing of its decision.
  5. A report stating what procedures were followed and what decision reached should be sent to the Assistant Dean of Student Academic Affairs within a week after the conclusion of the hearing.

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