THE STUDENT GRIEVANCE PROCESS

 

BACKGROUND 

This information is designed to provide you with details about the student grievance and incomplete grade processes. Adherence to the requirements of these processes will help address your grievances whether they concern appealing a grade, or filing a complaint about other matters, including non-grade appeal related academic matters, and other issues that you determine may negatively affect either your academic success or safety, or incomplete grades. In addition, please observe the steps that are outlined in the various sections of the grievance process, as well as for incomplete grades. For example, the first step is not to file a complaint with either the Office of the Provost or the Office of the President. Instead, the steps to be followed sequentially must be fully observed, so that your concerns can be addressed. 

 

GRADE APPEAL 

Step 1: If you are dissatisfied with your Final Grade in a course, contact and discuss the matter with the Instructor. 

Step 2: If the matter is not resolved to your satisfaction, complete a Grade Appeal Form (available on the website of the Office of the Registrar under forms, or contact the academic department where the course is housed). Submit the completed form to the Chair of the appropriate department. 

Step 3: Once the Department Chair receives your Grade Appeal form, she or he will appoint a Grade Appeal Committee to hear your case. Thereafter, the committee will make a decision. 

Step 4: If you are not satisfied with the Departmental Grade Appeal Committee’s decision, you may then appeal to the dean. The dean will review your appeal and make a decision.

Step 5: If you are not satisfied with the dean’s decision, you may then appeal to the Provost. 

 

OTHER MATTERS 

Step 1: If you have a complaint about a non-grade matter such as an instructor not meeting office hours or responding to your communication, you must first contact the instructor. Step 2: If you are not satisfied with the instructor’s response, you may then complete the “Student Complaint Form” (the form is available on the website of the Office of the 4 Registrar under forms), and submit it to the appropriate department chair. In turn, the department chair will investigate your complaint, and make a decision. 
Step 3: If you are not satisfied with the department chair’s decision, you may appeal to the dean. The dean will investigate your complaint and make a decision. 
Step 4: If you are dissatisfied with the dean’s decision, you may appeal to the Provost. NOTE: All non-academic complaints must be filed with the appropriate office. 

 

INCOMPLETE GRADES 

1. Only the instructor of record can assign an incomplete grade, provided the student has completed a minimum of 75% of the coursework with a passing grade. 
2. When an instructor agrees to issue a grade of “I,” the Incomplete Grade form must be completed and signed by both the instructor and the student. Specifically, the form will state the remaining work that the student needs to complete, and the deadline for completing the said work. 
3. If the work is not completed, and the Grade of “I” is not changed to a regular letter grade within the period of one academic year, the grade of “I” will automatically be change to “F.”
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