For cases in which a student feels they have been given an unjustifiably low grade, the following grievance procedure for grades has been established:
- Within 30 days following the date of issuance of the grade (the date on which grades are due at the registrar’s office or, in the case of incomplete, the date on which the “I” is removed), the student shall inform the professor of their dissatisfaction and arrange a meeting to discuss the grade in question. At this meeting, the professor will provide the student with their final examination paper if it is relevant to the question.
- If the grade decision is not satisfactorily resolved at this meeting, the student may seek the intervention of the professor’s department chair. The chair shall discuss the grievance with both the student and the professor (either individually or together) and shall make a recommendation to the student and the professor as to the disposition of the grade. If the department chair is the professor, the senior member of the department other than the course instructor shall hear the appeal.
- If the grievance has not been resolved in steps one or two above, the student may appeal to the appropriate dean. In this case, the student and the professor shall submit in writing their positions on the matter. The appropriate dean may request a written recommendation from the department chair. (These documents are not intended to preclude meetings between the academic dean and the student, the professor and/or the department chair.) The appropriate dean shall then forward a written recommendation to the student, the professor, and the department chair. Within 15 days, the professor shall give written notice to the student of the final disposition of the grade with copies to the appropriate dean and the department chair.
- The student may appeal the decision of step three (above) to the academic vice president.