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Department of Near Eastern Studies

(Revised July 1992)

The Department of Near Eastern Studies' formal grade grievance procedure for undergraduate students is as follows:

  1. All grades are assigned by the faculty members only and may be changed only by that faculty member (Faculty Code B 5.01). Grades assigned by teaching assistants must be approved by the supervising faculty member, to whom the appeal shall be made if there is a student complaint. The student must discuss the grade with the faculty member as a first step. If the student and faculty member do not come to an agreement about the grade, the next step may be followed.
  2. The student must submit a statement with evidence to the Chairman of the Department within 4 weeks after the beginning of the next Fall and Winter term. The chairman will then discuss the complaint with the faculty member informally. If the faculty member agrees to a correction, the student will be notified in writing by the chairman. If the faculty member is firm about the grade, the chairman would inform the student of the faculty member's decision and provide the student with the following options:
  3. The Chairman will present the student's statement to the Department's Executive Committee and ask the faculty member to present a written statement, which will also be given to the Department's Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will then appoint an ad hoc committee of two faculty members and two (peer) students and will name one of the faculty members as the chairman. Each member of the committee will be given the statements and supporting evidence. A meeting date will be set within three weeks of the date of the receipt of the student's written statement of complaint, the student and the faculty member will be notified of the date, time, and place of the meeting and will be invited to present an oral statement in addition to the written statement. The student and faculty member will each be allowed one rebuttal after the total statement of the other is given. The committee shall examine the evidence without the presence of either the student or the faculty member, discuss it, and vote on it. If the majority feel the grade is just, the Executive Committee will be informed in writing immediately. The Executive Committee will then inform the student and the faculty member in writing. If the majority feel there is evidence of inequity, misjudgment, or unprofessional behavior, the committee should make corrective recommendations to the Executive Committee in writing immediately. The Executive Committee will then send their recommendation to the faculty member and student in writing.
  4. If the faculty member refuses to follow the recommendation of the Executive Committee, the Committee could direct a recommendation to the Assistant Dean of Student Academic Affairs, e.g.: 1) that the grade be changed to a "Pass/Fail"; 2) that the student be given a "retroactive drop" from the course. These recommendations should be made only if the student is agreeable.
  5. If the student feels proper procedures have not been followed or evidence was not properly presented, he/she may make one more appeal in writing to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall determine whether the appeal warrants further action. If the Executive Committee concludes that further action is appropriate, it may either reconvene the original ad hoc committee or select a new committee. Again, the student and faculty member will be informed of the decision in writing. The entire procedure should be handled within six weeks of the date of the original student's letter initiating the grade grievance unless there are extenuating circumstances (e.g., faculty members not reachable).

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College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Student Academic Affairs
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Phone:(734) 764-0332 Fax: (734) 764-2772

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