Appealing a Final Grade

If you believe that a final grade does not accurately reflect your coursework in a course, you must first contact your course instructor for possible resolution.

Only your final grade in a course or project may be appealed; appeals for individual assignments during an active course are not permitted. A grade appeal should be limited to specific charges of unfair action towards you and may not involve a challenge of your instructor’s grading standard. You have the right to expect thoughtful and clearly defined approaches to course grading, but you must recognize that varied standards and individual approaches to grading are valid. A grade appeal considers whether a grade was determined in a fair and appropriate manner; it does not attempt to grade or re-grade your individual assignments or projects.

In your appeal, you will need to substantiate your claim that your final grade represents unfair treatment compared to the standard applied to other students. In the absence of compelling reasons, such as clerical error, prejudice, or capriciousness, the grade assigned by your instructor is to be considered final. In a grade appeal, only arbitrariness, prejudice, and/or error will be considered as legitimate grounds for an appeal.

If you still wish to appeal your final grade, you may appeal your instructor's decision by requesting that an Academic Appeals Specialist open an official Grade Appeal. Your appeal must be submitted using the official campus appeal form and should include the written correspondence between you and your instructor regarding your initial request for a review of your grade. The Academic Appeals Specialist will send you a grade appeal questionnaire that must be completed before your grade appeal will be escalated to the Department Chair for review. All decisions regarding your grade appeal will be communicated via the Specialist to your email address on file. The form is located in the Academic Plan & Forms menu in the University Forms section.

• No grade appeals will be considered for individual assignments that will not impact your final grade.
• No grade appeals will be considered for courses whose final grade was posted more than 90 days ago.
• No grade appeals will be considered that are not submitted in writing, either by email or letter.
• No grade appeals will be considered for students whose degrees have been conferred.

Grade Appeal Process Walkthrough:

• Review your final grade with your instructor.
• Submit the Academic Appeal Request form in your ecampus.
• The Academic Appeals Specialist will contact you with additional information that may be needed to escalate your appeal.
• The appropriate Department Chair in your School will review the appeal and send a decision to an Academic Appeals Specialist within 30 days.

If your appeal is denied:

• Final Level of Appeal: You must resubmit your appeal to an Academic Appeals Specialist using the ecampus form and ask that your appeal be reviewed by your School Dean.
• Your School Dean will review the appeal and send a decision to an Academic Appeals Specialist within 30 days.
• The decision of your School Dean is considered final.

Questions regarding grade appeals may be directed to [email protected].