Grade Appeal

If a student receives a final grade in a course that they believe is incorrect or unfair, they may appeal that grade by following this procedure. For clarity and legal reasons, all formal complaints and appeals described below must be in written, not oral, form:

• Student must contact the faculty member involved, in writing, within 30 calendar days of the posting of the disputed grade. The grade appeal request must outline the specific grievances about the grading procedure, grounds for appeal and attach relevant documentation (syllabus, guidelines for papers or presentations etc.).
• The instructor should provide a decision regarding the grade appeal review within 30 calendar days of the receiving the request from the student. However, based on the context and extent of the grade dispute, the instructor may take longer than 30 days to render a decision.
• If, after hearing the instructor’s explanation, the student still wishes to appeal the grade, she or he must present the grade appeal to the program director within 30 days of notification from the instructor. The program director must provide a decision regarding the grade appeal review within 30 calendar days of receiving the request from the student. However, based on the context and extend of the grade dispute, the program director may take longer than 30 days to render a decision.
• If the student is still not satisfied, they may make a final appeal to the dean of the Graduate School. In such cases, the dean must be contacted within 30 days of the notification of the program director.
• Should a student fail to follow the above timeline, their appeal will be dismissed. In each stage of the appeal process, the student will receive a letter stating the reviewer's determination.
• All parties to the grade appeal (student, instructor, program director and dean) are to maintain strict confidentiality until the matter is resolved.