• The instructor did not inform the student of the basis for calculation of grades.
• The instructor did not calculate the student’s grade in accordance with the instructor’s stated policy for calculating grades.  Significant and unwarranted deviation from grading procedures and course outlines set at the beginning of the course (ordinarily during the first week of the course) or a grade assigned arbitrarily and capriciously on the basis of whim, impulse or caprice.
  *  A student may not claim arbitrariness and capriciousness if he/she disagrees with the subjective professional evaluation of the instructor.
• There is an error in the computation of the grade that was not corrected.
• The student, through no fault of his or her own, was not provided with the same opportunity to complete the requirements for the course in terms, for example, of time, access to materials, or access to the instructor as the other students.

The following steps must be followed in the appeals procedure:

1. The student must discuss the final course grade, grading practices and assignments with the instructor who gave the final grade. This discussion may eliminate any misunderstandings over the assignment of the grade as relates to the course syllabus. This discussion must occur no later than 10 days after the beginning of the semester (not summer) following the issuance of the final grade.

2. If the faculty member finds in the student’s favor, a grade change card is submitted with signatures and the appeal process is resolved.

The student must complete and submit the “student” portion of the Final Grade Appeal Form to the course instructor no later than 21 days after the beginning of the semester following the issuance of the final grade.  The summer term does not constitute a semester.

• The student must retain a copy of the Final Grade Appeal Form for his/her records and send a copy to the department chairperson (or substitute).  The chairperson of the department evaluation committee shall substitute for the department chairperson IF the department chairperson was the instructor of the course in which the grade is being appealed.

• The department chairperson (or substitute) is to confirm that the instructor is aware of the grade appeal and is to inquire as to the instructor’s planned response.

• If the instructor decides that the final grade is correct, he/she must complete the “instructor” portion of the Final Grade Appeal Form, and return it to the student and send a copy to the chairperson (or substitute) within 14 days of receipt of the student’s appeal.

• If an instructor fails to respond within the allotted time, the appeal shall move to step 2 below.

If a faculty member whose grade(s) are being appealed is no longer employed by the university or is unavailable due to a sabbatical, sick leave, or other reasons during the time period allotted for the appeal process, the appeal should be directed to the chair of the department’s evaluation committee for review.

Step Two – Department Chairperson
If the student wishes to appeal further, he/she must submit the original Final Grade Appeal Form (or copy if the instructor fails to respond as described in step 1 above) to the department chairperson (or substitute).  This appeal must be submitted within 14 days of the dated instructor’s response, or if the instructor does not respond, within 28 days after the appeal was originally filed with the instructor.  A copy of the Final Grade Appeal Form must be forwarded to the college dean.

• The department chairperson (or substitute) will review the appeal within 7 days.

• Before the department chairperson (or substitute) determines if the student’s complaint provides evidence that the instructor’s assignment of the grade was based on factors other than the academic judgment of the instructor he/she will review the appeal with the instructor. 

• If the department chairperson (or substitute) determines the student’s evidence does notmeet the criteria for a grade appeal, the chairperson (or substitute) will forward his/her decision on the grade appeal to the college dean.

• A copy of the Final Grade Appeal Form must be forwarded to the student and the instructor. 

• If the department chairperson (or substitute) determines the student’s evidence does meet the criteria for a grade appeal, he/she will recommend in writing to the instructor a course of action to amend the grade.

        *  The instructor must indicate on the Final Grade Appeal Formwhether he/she agrees or disagrees with the chairperson’s recommendation, signs and returns the Final Grade Appeal Form to the chairperson within 7 days.

• If the instructor amends the grade, a signed grade change card is submitted and the grade appeal is ended.

• If the instructor does not agree to amend the grade or fails to respond in the allotted time, the chairperson (or substitute) submits the Final Grade Appeal Form to the college dean with his/her recommendation within 7 days.  A copy of the recommendation must be forwarded to the student and the instructor.

• The chairperson (or substitute) may also conduct whatever informal investigation seems necessary and should attempt to achieve a negotiated settlement.

• If the dean, upon review of the chairperson’s recommendation, also determines the student’s

  evidence does not meet the criteria for a grade appeal, the dean will complete and return the Grade Appeal Form to the student with a copy to the instructor and chairperson (or substitute) within 7 days. The grade appeal process ends.

• If the dean, upon review of the chairperson’s recommendation, determines that the student’s evidence does meet

  the criteria for a grade appeal, the dean shall initiate a meeting with the faculty member. The dean shall review the appeal, can hear evidence by each side, and may collect further evidence as desirable. 

• If agreement cannot be reached, the dean will forward the Final

  Grade Appeal Form to the Provost within 7 days, with his/her recommendation that the grade appeal be referred to a Grade Appeal Board.  A copy of the Final Grade Appeal Form must be forwarded to the student, instructor, and chairperson.

• Three (3) faculty recommended by APSCUF. One from the academic department in which the course is taught. Not the instructor.
• Two (2) managers selected by the provost. One to be the dean of the college in which the course was taught.
• One (1) student recommended by Student Government Association. A senior major in the department in which the course is taught.
• Normally, each Grade Appeal Board will be appointed to hear one appeal.
• Those responsible for recommending board members should be sensitive to race and gender composition.
• The Provost will appoint each board and chairperson within the parameters above.

Each Grade Appeal Board is to determine its procedures for hearing the grade appeal. Normally, both the student and the instructor will be given an opportunity to state his/her case before the board.

Students who appeal a grade to a Grade Appeal Board are responsible for maintaining ALL written materials relevant to the appeal, such as papers, examinations, and completed assignments. Further, the appeals board must have access to appropriate documentation and academic records pertaining to the course grade in question.

After the appeals process is complete, the only record to be maintained will be the student’s final grade.

Each appeals board will make its recommendation to the university president, who may accept or reject the recommendation.

Since the university president has the power and duty to direct the activities of the institution, nothing in this policy should be construed as to diminish that authority in any way.