Disputed Grades

Occasionally, a student feels that an assigned grade is unfair and contrary to University Policy. Each department should have a standard procedure for reviewing such a disputed grade. The procedure usually involves a meeting between the student and faculty member assigning the grade. If this does not result in a satisfactory resolution, then the departmental Chair, a designated departmental committee, or the executive committee might provide the review and final disposition. The L&S Office of Student Academic Affairs only becomes involved if there are allegations that the standard procedure at the departmental level was inappropriate or insufficient.

Keep in mind:

• A student with concerns about a grade should always be referred first to the instructor who assigned the grade.
• A process should be available at the departmental level for a student who is not satisfied with the results of an appeal to the instructor.
• While an appeal may be either written or oral, it is often helpful to have a student focus the complaint and the issues by putting the appeal in writing.

Grade Changes

According to faculty policy and in an effort to maintain both equity and consistency, final semester grades can be changed only because of "clerical error." Students cannot, for example, petition to improve a course grade by offering to rewrite a paper, turn in additional work, or retake a final exam. This is unless such options: (1) are available to all students in a given course, and (2) are stated explicitly in the course syllabus.

If a grade change is in order, the following items are important for the efficient and accurate processing of grade changes:

• The Department Chair is responsible for the safekeeping of grade change forms. They should be given only to the instructor and not to a student requesting the change in grade. Grade change forms are used only when the grade change cannot be done online/electronically.
• All information must be provided on the grade change form. Incomplete forms will be returned to the department.
• All Letters & Science forms should be sent to the Office of Student Academic Affairs, 70 Bascom.

 

Electronic Grade Changes

Professors can initiate grade changes online. The change is then processed by 70 Bascom and then updated in the student's record after 12:01am the next day.

When Electronic Grading Might Not Work:

"P" grades or when a student is added to a class roster very late in the term, such as after the 14th week.

* It is always important to remember that if a student needs to change their registration (such as add a class, change credits, drop honors, etc., that should happen first and be completed before the grade change is submitted.

Students Called to Active Duty

Upon presentation of their active duty papers, students have several options:

• Withdrawal: a student called to active duty may withdraw from school by filing a withdrawal from in their dean's office. The student will receive full refund of tuition.
• Selective Drops: a student may drop one or more courses and elect to complete remaining course work according to option 3 or 4. A full refund of dropped courses will be honored.
• Incompletes: Students who have successfully completed the majority of work for a course(s) can be awarded a grade of "I" at the discretion of their instructor(s). Students may be granted an extension(s) on the incompletes because they may be gone an extended period of time.
• Final Grades: this option becomes available if the following requirements are met:
  • The instructor determines that a sufficient amount of the course has been completed, and
  • Sufficient information regarding the student's performance in the course has been obtained.
  Students must consult with their instructor to determine whether they se two requirements have been met in order for a final grade to be awarded.

The intention of this policy is to permit students to select whichever option fits their particular circumstance.