Policy VI-N Policy For Students Appealing A Final Grade
Guidelines and Procedures
A grade appeal is a formal request brought by a student to change a grade, or to challenge a penalty imposed for violation of standards of academic integrity such as plagiarism or cheating. A request to change a grade or to challenge a penalty must be made within 30 days into the next long semester after the grade has been awarded.
A grade appeal will be considered if there is evidence that one or more of the following conditions exist:
- Error in calculation of grade;
- Deviation from the syllabus or district policy;
- Academic disparate treatment of student for a protected reason;
- Inappropriate penalties imposed for an academic integrity violation. An appeal will not be considered because of general dissatisfaction with a grade, penalty, or outcome of course. Disagreement with the instructor's professional judgment of the quality of the student's work and performance is also not an admissible basis for an academic appeal.
The student must follow all steps in order:
- The student and instructor shall discuss in private a grade that the student believes is incorrect. Whenever possible, the matter should be resolved at this meeting. If it is not, the instructor shall give the student a Grade Appeal Form which both shall sign.
- The student shall then request a meeting with the department chair. This meeting shall include the student, the instructor, and the department chair.
The student has the burden of proof. The student must present clear evidence that the appeal meets the requirements of this policy. Under no circumstances shall the instructor's questions or individual test items be scrutinized. The student shall be given an opportunity to present his or her case. The instructor shall be given a chance for rebuttal. If the matter is not resolved at this meeting, the student, instructor, and department chair shall sign the Grade Appeal Form and the student may request a meeting with the *Associate Dean.
*If there is no Associate Dean in the administrative chain of command of the instructor and department on the campus, the student may request a meeting with the appropriate Dean (3). - The Associate Dean (or appropriate Dean in the absence of an Associate Dean) shall promptly schedule a meeting with the student and the instructor. The student shall be given an opportunity to present his or her case. The instructor shall be given a chance for rebuttal. If the matter is not resolved at this meeting, the student may contact the Vice President of Instruction to request a hearing before an Academic Appeals Committee.
- An Academic Appeals Committee, consisting of three full-time faculty, one member to be named by the student, one member to be named by the instructor, and one member to be named by the Vice President of Instruction shall be formed. The Vice President of Instruction shall set the time, date, and place of the closed hearing. Both the student and the instructor may present written evidence relevant to the grade appeal and may be advised at the hearing by one or more persons of their own choice.
- The Academic Appeals Committee shall rule that
a. A grade change is justified and shall be made, or,
b. A grade change is not justified and shall not be made.
Committee members shall indicate the decision on the Grade Appeal Form and give copies to the student, the instructor, and the Vice President of Instruction. If the decision of the Academic Appeals Committee is to change the grade, the Vice President of Instruction shall be responsible for ensuring the grade change is made. The decision of the Academic Appeals Committee shall be final.
Grade appeal matters that involve instructors who are not accessible or no longer employed by San Jacinto College shall be resolved by the same appeals process excluding the step involving the initial conference with the instructor.
(See Guidelines and Procedures, Section 6-8)