/Institutions/Cumberland-University/json/2016/2016-Undergraduate-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Cumberland-University/json/2016/2016-Undergraduate-Catalog.json

2016 Undergraduate Catalog > Academic Affairs > Academic Appeals > Grade Appeal

Grade Appeal

To maintain due process in all areas of the University, any student is afforded the opportunity to appeal grades that the student alleges to be capricious or miscalculated. While it is the right of the student to appeal, University policies, procedures and guidelines will be followed without deviation. This appeal process is to be used only if the student has been unsuccessful in informally resolving a grade appeal with the course instructor. The Grade Appeal Form, along with written reasons stating why the student is appealing the grade, must be submitted in advance of meeting with the School Dean (or designee). Appeals should be initiated by submitting the completed appeal form within ten (10) business days of the grade’s release (this includes individual assignments through final course grades). Note that Grade Appeal Forms can be obtained from the Office of Academic Affairs. The appeal form delineates the time line for administrative review and consideration of grade appeals. The student may appeal the decision to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The decision of the Vice President of Academic Affairs is final.

Step 1 – Any student believing that his/her grade was assigned capriciously/miscalculated should first meet with the instructor of the course responsible for assigning the grade to inform the faculty of questions concerning the grade and to ask for clarification and explanation of the procedures used to calculate and assign the grade. The purpose of this consultation is to reach mutual understanding about the procedures used in calculating and assigning the grade. If there are mutually recognized grading errors, this can be rectified by the faculty member at this time. If, for any reason, the course instructor cannot be contacted, the Dean (or designee) of the School housing the course should be contacted to directly address the grading concerns.

Step 2 – If, after consultation with the faculty (or designee), the student believes that a grade is capricious/miscalculated, the student shall request to begin the Grade Appeal process. Forms can be obtained from the Office of Academic Affairs. Upon completion of Parts I and II of the Grade Appeal Form and its submission, the Dean of the School housing the course should review all evidence presented by both the student and the faculty responsible for assigning the grade under scrutiny and render a decision. Note that it is the responsibility of the student to provide the evidence that the grade was assigned capriciously or miscalculated. The decision of the School Dean on grades assigned on exams and course projects/assignments is final and will stand. No further appeals of these types of grades are allowed.

Step 3 – Only final course grades may be appealed beyond the Academic School. If the student has additional evidence to present and/or opposes the decision rendered by the School Dean, he/she may appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs following the guidelines outlined on the Grade Appeal Form. Note that the decision of the Vice President for Academic Affairs is final and will stand. No further appeals are allowed.

A. The Grade Appeal procedure is only available for review of alleged capricious/miscalculated grading and not for review of the judgment of faculty in assessing the quality of student work.

B. Capricious Grading as outlined by the University is recognized as:

• Assigning a grade to a student that was calculated in error;
• Assigning a grade to a student on some basis other than performance in the course;
• Assigning a grade to a student by more rigorous or stringent standards than were applied to other students in the same course section; and/or
• Assigning a grade in a substantial departure from the professor’s standards announced and provided in the syllabus and/or course instructions (procedural error).

C. The assessment of the quality of a student’s academic performance is a major professional responsibility of faculty and is solely and properly their responsibility.

D. It is necessary, however, that any course grade be based on evidence of the student’s performance in a course, that the student have access to the evidence, that the professor be willing to explain and interpret the evidence to the student, and that a grade be determined in accordance with published guidelines. These guidelines should be published on syllabi and made available within the first two weeks of the semester. Note that at times faculty may amend syllabi and thus, grading guidelines, but must inform students of these changes prior to implementation.

E. At any time, a student may seek the counsel of an advisor and/or Office of Academic Affairs personnel regarding the procedure for appealing alleged capricious grades or the merits of a particular case.