Grade Appeal Policy

Instructors are responsible for determining the grade a student earns for a course. Grade determination should be based on the course grading policy as detailed in the course syllabus. At times students may disagree with course grades as assigned by the instructor. In those cases, the student should follow the steps as outlined below:

1. The student should meet with the course instructor and discuss the grade. This meeting must take place within 30 calendar days of the initial assignment of the grade.
2. If the student and Instructor fail to reach a mutual agreement, the student must submit a written appeal to the department chair within five days of the initial meeting with the instructor. After confirming that an effort has been made between the student and instructor to reach an agreeable outcome regarding the grade in question, the department chair will do the following:
   1. Listen to the student’s explanation of why he or she thinks that the grade is in error.
   2. Talk with the instructor to confirm that the instructor can either demonstrate the grade was correctly assigned or to confirm that, upon reexamination, a grade change is in order.
   3. Communicate to the student the result of the discussion within five days of receiving the written appeal.
3. If the student is dissatisfied with the outcome of his/her meeting with the department chair, a meeting will be arranged to include the instructor, student, department chair, and dean in whose area the protested grade was awarded. The dean will determine whether or not an agreeable outcome can be reached within five days of the meeting with the instructor, student, and department chair.

   EXCEPTION: In a situation where the grade in question involves a dispute between a student and a department chair or dean, the appeal may move to the next step.

4. If the student remains dissatisfied with the outcome, he or she should state the reason(s) the grade is believed to be in error in a written appeal addressed to the Associate Vice President for Academic Services. This written appeal must be submitted within five calendar days after the meeting between the student, instructor, department chair and dean. Upon receipt of a written appeal, the Associate Vice President for Academic Services will convene the Grade Appeal Committee. The Grade Appeal Committee will be comprised of four faculty members appointed by the President. For each appeal, the committee will select one member to serve as a non-voting chair and recorder for the appeal.
5. The student and instructor will be given an opportunity to address the committee and to answer questions. After reviewing all relevant information presented, the committee will render a written decision reflecting the consensus it has reached. The committee will report its decision to the Associate Vice President for Academic Services who will notify the student and the instructor of the outcome within five days of convening the grade appeal committee.
6. The decision of the Grade Appeal Committee will be final.
7. The right to appeal a grade expires at the end of the semester following the one in which the grade was assigned.
8. When a student appeals a grade assigned by an instructor no longer employed at the college, step one does not apply.
9. As per procedure, should any portion of the process result in the need to change a grade, the instructor will submit a grade change form.