Undergraduate students may appeal a final grade they feel was capriciously or prejudicially assigned. Students must contact the instructor in writing within 30 calendar days of the final course grade posting. The student shall indicate the reason they feel the final grade was capriciously or prejudicially assigned, the resolution they deem warranted, and the impact on the final grade in the course.
If the matter is not resolved, the student must meet with the department/school chair/director. If a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached the student must appeal, in writing, to the department/school curriculum committee. The appeal must be made in writing within 10 calendar days of meeting with the department/school chair/director. The student shall indicate the reason they feel the final grade was capriciously or prejudicially assigned, the resolution they deem warranted, and the impact on the final grade in the course.
If a satisfactory agreement cannot be reached with the department/school, the student may submit a written appeal to the Dean of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service within 10 calendar days of the exhaustion of the departmental procedures. The student shall indicate the reason they feel the final grade was capriciously or prejudicially assigned, the resolution they deem warranted, and the impact on the final grade in the course.
Appeals to the Dean’s office should include the following:
- an account of the facts surrounding the awarding of the disputed grade;
- a complete account of steps taken at the department or program level to resolve the dispute;
- copies of documents relevant to the grade appeal, including a copy of the course syllabus;
- an explanation of how the relevant grades were calculated/miscalculated and the impact on the final grade in the course.
The appeal will be reviewed by the CPACS Appeal’s Committee to determine whether evaluation of a student has been prejudiced or capricious. The review will include a determination of whether grade appeal procedures have been followed during the prior appeal stages.
Effective March 2025