college of education

Student Grievance Policy

Procedures for Appeals of Undergraduate Student Academic Matters

The following procedures describe the process of pursuing academic appeals and grievances for students in the College of Education, including:

• Appeals relating to dismissal from the University for academic reasons;

• Appeals relating to the fulfillment of requirements for graduation;

• Appeals which question the grading practices of a professor.

It should be understood that appeals concerning academic matters generate tension for the parties involved. Throughout the appeal process, efforts will be made to minimize the tension by endeavoring to conduct matters efficiently and in ways that will respect the concerns of those involved.

Appeals relating to academic dismissal from the College or Program

Undergraduate appeals which relate to academic dismissal are made directly to the College of Education Dean’s Office. The Associate Dean responsible for Student Affairs will hear individual petitions for reconsideration on the basis of extenuating circumstances. Students seeking to enroll in classes prior to the end of the mandatory period away fromclasses following an academic dismissal will be asked to complete the Petition for Return From Dismissal form, which is available from Education Student Services.

The Associate Dean’s decision may be appealed to the Dean of the College, who has the final authority for admission of undergraduate students majoring in the College of Education.

In the enforcement of retention standards, it is accepted by the Office of the Dean as a working principle that the University standards for probation and retention are to be maintained in all but the most extraordinary cases.

Appeals relating to the fulfillment of requirements for graduation

Undergraduate appeals which relate to the requirements for graduation in degree programs or requirements in the teacher education program in the College of Education are made to Education Student Services. Students seeking a waiver of a requirement for their degree or licensure program must complete a Petition form, which is available in Education Student Services. All curriculum petitions must be approved by the chairperson of the department in which the student is majoring and, at times, by a departmental committee. Curriculum petitions concerning general education requirements normally will be reviewed by the Coordinator of the General Education Program as well.

Final appeal in modifying degree requirements is made to the Dean of the College, who has final authority to certify completion of requirements for graduation.

Because curricular requirements for degree programs are set by the faculty members of the University as an area within their primary authority, waivers or substitutions will be approved only for the most extraordinary reasons.

Appeals which question the grading practices of a professor

In any case in which a student questions the assigned grade in a course, she/he is encouraged to talk with the instructor about the grade and attempt to resolve the questions (an informal appeals process). Students may choose to speak with the department chairperson as well. The purpose of such conversations is to clarify possible misunderstandings or to remedy failures of communication. Such conversations constitute an informal appeal of the assigned grade.

Students who wish to file an formal appeal of an assigned grade must follow the steps outlined below.

Grounds for Formal Appeal of an Assigned Grade

A formal appeal may be filed by a student based on one or more of the following grounds only:

1. Miscalculation of a grade

2. More exacting/demanding standards than were applied to other students

3. Assignment of a grade on some basis other than performance in the course

4. Assignment of a grade that is a substantial departure from the instructor’s previously announced standards for that section of that course ⁱ

5. Assignment of a grade that is a substantial departure from the written departmentally approved standards for a course ⁱⁱ

STEP ONE – THE INFORMAL APPEAL PROCESS

Students must engage the informal appeal process for questioning grades prior to engaging the formal appeal. They are to, where possible, seek out the instructor for a face-to-face conversation. The instructor is encouraged to listen to the entirety of the student’s case and then to consider whether the current grade is appropriate. Should no resolution occur, the student is required to contact the department chairperson. The chairperson is required to meet with the student one-on-one, to seek a conversation with the instructor one-on-one, and then highly encouraged to meet with the two of them together. Students must initiate their informal appeal within 30 working days of the posting of the grade.Should no resolution occur, the student may choose to engage the formal appeal process.

STEP TWO – THE FORMAL APPEAL PROCESS

For grade appeals involving courses taught in the College of Education, students must complete the College of Education Grade Appeal Form and submit it to the College of Education Dean’s Office. Grade appeals for courses taught in other colleges must follow that college’s process. When filing an appeal, a student must specify the basis (bases) of the appeal and do so within 30 working days of the conclusion of the informal appeal. The student must indicate one of the following:

1. The instructor is unable or unwilling to communicate with the student on the appeal and the informal appeal could not proceed.

2. No resolution resulted from the informal appeal process.

The student should attach to the appeal form as much of the relevant physical and electronic record as is possible to collect. If the basis of differential standards is asserted, the student should provide a list of the names of other students and specific assignments so that a review of the relevant materials and appropriate comparisons can be made.

Step Three

The Dean, or her/his designee, will verify the appropriateness of the appeal by making at most 3 separate attempts to contact the instructor within 30 days of receiving the appeal. The last attempt is done in writing by registered letter to the last known address. If after 10 working days of receiving the registered letter receipt, the instructor refuses to discuss the grade appeal, the dean shall convene the College of Education Grade Appeal Committee.

The Dean, or her/his designee, will review the materials and discuss the matter with the student. The Dean may choose to discuss the matter with the instructor, the chairperson or both. If the Dean cannot create a resolution satisfactory to the instructor and student, the Dean shall convene the College of Education Grade Appeal Committee.

Step Four

The College of Education Grade Appeal Committee will consist of 5 faculty and 2 alternates appointed by the College of Education Congress. Only tenured faculty may serve on the committee. Members of the department may serve on the Grade Appeal of a departmental colleague. When the instructor in question is a member of the committee, s/he is recused, and the alternate shall serve.

Without regard to the calendar, once a formal appeal has been submitted to the committee, that committee shall remain with the appeal until its conclusion. If 2 or more grade appeals are received regarding the same instructor and same course, the committee can determine to combine them into process if they committee determines the students’ right to appeal is not compromised.

Within 10 working days, the College of Education Grade Appeal Committee, by majority vote, shall recommend to the Dean one of the following:

1. That the original grade stands.

2. That any higher grade be substituted for the original grade

3. That an incomplete grade be granted. (If this recommendation is made, the chairperson shall be appointed the instructor of record for the course for this student. The conditions for completion, the default grade, and the expiration of the incomplete shall be specified.)

The Dean, or his/her designee, shall prepare a written summary of the recommendation and transmit the recommendation to the student and instructor, with copy to the Provost, department chairperson, and members of the College of Education Grade Appeals Committee. If a grade change is recommended, the Dean’s office will prepare a letter to the Registrar stating the new grade. The letter will carry the signature of the Dean and the members of the committee.

Grade Appeal form (Microsoft Word 2007)

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