Academic Grievance Procedures
Grade Appeals
Grade appeals may be raised only on FINAL grades. The University will not review appeals of individual assignment grades. A final grade can only be changed by persons other than the instructor of the course if there is (1) a mathematical error in calculating the grade or (2) if a grade was awarded in an arbitrary and capricious fashion.
"Arbitrary and capricious" means any or all of the following:
- The grading procedures used to award the grade were not those outlined in the course syllabus.
- The grade was awarded on a basis other than academic merit, such as blatant favoritism, discrimination or harassment of any type, or romantic or sexual relationships between students and faculty.
Before a student may appeal a final grade, the student must first raise any concerns about the grade to the instructor in writing, including any written statements by any persons the student deems relevant, within thirty (30) calendar days after the end of the course or after the grade was awarded, whichever is later. The University will not consider a grade appeal raised outside this timeframe. The instructor must respond to the student in writing within ten (10) business days after receiving notice of the student’s concern. The instructor’s response must include a detailed explanation of the grade calculation (with reference to the grading scale as stated in the course guide) and notice of the student’s right to appeal.
If the instructor’s response does not resolve the student’s concern or if the instructor does not respond within ten (10) business days after receiving notice of the student’s concern, then the student may appeal the final grade in writing to the Office of Student Affairs. The student must present the appeal in writing with supporting documentation, including any response received from the instructor. The Office of Student Affairs must respond to the appeal in writing within ten (10) business days. The response must include a detailed explanation of the grade calculation (with reference to the grading scale as stated in the course guide). The decision of the Office of Student Affairs is final.