University Courses DivisionSeptember 1994Normally students accept an 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 that 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. GROUNDS FOR A GRADE CHANGEFor a change in grade to be recommended, a student must make the case that the grade originally given was unjustly awarded. Dissatisfaction with a grade alone is not sufficient for an appeal. Grade appeal procedures are available only for review of alleged capricious grading, and not for review of the judgment of an instructor in assessing the quality of a student's work. Capricious grading, as that term is used herein, constitute any of the following: (1) the assignment of a grade to a particular student on some basis other than performance in the course; (2) the assignment of a grade to a particular student by resorting to more exacting or demanding standards than were applied to other students in that course; (3) the assignment of a grade by a substantial departure from the instructor's previously announced standards. Correction of clerical errors does not require grade appeal procedures; the instructor simply fills out a Supplementary Grade Report. We recognize that an unjust grade should be changed, and that students need and deserve a means of redress. The establishment of a grade appeal procedure provides this means. On the other hand, the committee that is called upon to hear an appeal by a student must acknowledge that it cannot possibly share the instructor's familiarity with the subject matter of the course or with the specific material used in it. The committee must also acknowledge that there is an inevitable minimum of imprecision in grading, and that the difference between a C+ and a B-, for instance, is hardly one that can, or should, become a matter for detailed litigation. The committee, in judging a single case, cannot know the range of excellence of the students in the class, and it should be cautious about raising the grade of one individual. Otherwise, it may thereby diminish the apparent achievements of other student who may have done better and whose original grade may have been higher. A grievance based on the argument that one instructor's grading standards are stricter than those of others will not be pursued. For all these reasons, students contemplating appeals should be warned that the review committee will not, and must not, place their judgment over that of the instructor involved except in clear cases. The burden of proof in challenging a grade once given must rest on the student. In all cases of a reasonable doubt, the grade once given will be approved. The department's obligation to handle a grade complaint is limited to a maximum of one term after the course in question. GRADE APPEAL PROCEDURES FOR UNIVERSITY COURSES A. Meet with Instructor Within two weeks of receiving the grade, the student should seek an appointment with his/her professor in order to give the instructor a chance to explain the basis upon which the grade was conferred and to give the student an opportunity to point out any apparent errors or misjudgments. B. Appeal to Assistant Dean If setting up such an appointment is impossible due to off-campus activities of either the faculty member or the student, or if no change in grade results from this meeting, and if the student wishes to appeal the grade, the student should state the nature of his/her grievance in a letter to the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education. The Assistant Dean will send a copy of the student's appeal to the instructor and request from the instructor a description, in writing, of the procedure used to assign grades in the section to which the student belonged. If the Assistant Dean is a party to the grievance, the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education will assume his/her role. If the Assistant Dean concludes that there is no basis for a committee hearing, he/she will provide the student with a letter explaining the basis for that judgment. If the student is not satisfied with the explanation, he/she may still insist upon a committee hearing. C. Formal Appeals Hearing A committee consisting of the Assistant Dean or Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, or their representatives, a University Courses Division faculty member and a student representative (from the First-Year Seminar program or Curriculum Committee) will review the materials.
CONCLUSIONOnce the student has exhausted the grade appeal procedure outlined above,
there is no further appeal available in the College or in the University. Did
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