Academic or Instructional Grievance and Grade Appeal Process
Grade Appeal
A student who believes an error has been made in the assignment of a grade must follow the process outlined below to appeal their grade. Students have 45 days from the issuance of the grade to begin the appeal process.
Initiation of a Grade Appeal
- Step One: Contact the Instructor. A student must present a grade appeal to their instructor using the Instructional Grievance Form available online. If the instructor's answer is not given within 5 business days of receiving the Instructional Grievance Form, or if the answer is not satisfactory to the appealing student, then the student should proceed to the next step:
- Students enrolled in a Health Professions degree program should proceed to Step Two.
- All other students should proceed directly to Step Three.
- Step Two: Contact the Program Director (Health Professions Only). Students enrolled in a Health Professions degree program may present an appeal to their program director. The program director will review the material provided by the student and may gather any additional information that will be helpful to a decision, whether in writing or through meeting with the student or other persons involved. The program director shall make a decision, in writing, within 10 business days after receiving the student’s grievance, or as soon as possible thereafter. If the decision is not satisfactory to the appealing student, then the student may proceed to Step Three.
- Step Three: Contact the Dean. The student may present an appeal to the instructor’s dean. The dean will review the material provided by the student and may gather any additional information that will be helpful to a decision, whether in writing or through meeting with the student or other persons involved. The dean shall make a decision, in writing, within 10 working days after receiving the student’s grievance, or as soon as possible thereafter. If the decision is not satisfactory to the appealing student, then the student may proceed to step four.
- Step Four: Contact the Vice President of Instruction (VPI). The student may present a written appeal to the vice president of instruction. The vice president shall respond within 5 business days after receipt of the written appeal. The vice president shall form an impartial ad hoc committee of two instructors and two staff members to hear and read the appeal and to advise the vice president on a resolution. The vice president shall have 10 business days from receipt of the appeal to provide the appealing student with a decision, or as soon as possible thereafter. The decision of the vice president is final.
Instructional Grievances
Instructional grievances for concerns other than a grade, including issues related to curriculum or programmatic policies and practices, will follow the same process outlined above. Students must file the grievance within 45 days of notification of the decision or action that the student seeks to have reviewed.
Non-Instructional Grievances
Non-instructional grievances concerning an instructor should follow the Student Grievances and Appeals Procedure.
View the online Academic/Instructional Grievance or Grade Appeal form here.