Academic Standing - Grade Appeal

Students who can demonstrate their final grade in a course does not accurately reflect their academic performance may appeal the grade. If a student disputes the final grade he or she receives and wishes to appeal the grade, the following steps must be taken: 

• The student must discuss the facts of the case and basis of the dispute with the faculty member. Every effort must be made to resolve the dispute at this stage.
• If no satisfactory resolution is possible, the student submits a written petition describing the facts of the case and basis of the dispute to the faculty member’s supervising dean.   In programs with external accreditation requiring review by a program chair, the petition for a course with that program’s course code prefix (e.g. NUR) is first submitted to that program chair.  In the absence of a satisfactory resolution, it may then be similarly submitted to the faculty member’s supervising dean.
• This petition must be submitted no later than 10 business days after the beginning of the appropriate following session (see table below), unless otherwise specified by program accreditation standards. Petitions received after this deadline will not be considered. The chair/dean may ask for documentation to support the student’s claims. The chair/dean meets with the faculty member and others, as necessary, to investigate the dispute and makes a written determination with copies to the student, the faculty member, and the student’s academic advisor.

• If the student disputes the findings, the student may appeal to the Academic Vice President via a written petition describing the facts of the case and basis of the dispute, including all pertinent documentation. Students may request a meeting with the Academic Vice President at this time of the appeal process. Copies of the petition should be provided to the faculty member and the appropriate chair/dean. The Academic Vice President renders the final decision.  This decision is communicated to the student, the faculty member, the chair/dean, and the academic advisor.   
• The Academic Vice President reviews the student documentation and may consult with the appropriate members of the appeal process to review the facts of the investigation. If a conflict of interest among the parties to whom the appeal is addressed occurs, then additional steps may be enacted. These include:
• If the disputed grade was given by a faculty member who is also the dean, the faculty member, in consultation with the student, will select another faculty member from within the same school, to whom the student submits a written petition.
• All grade appeal documentation will be retained on file in under the direction of the Academic Vice President.