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Shippensburg University Graduate Grade Appeals Procedure

I. Introduction – A graduate student contemplating filing a grade appeal understands that consistent with the

practice of academic freedom faculty bear responsibility for assigning course grades in accordance with

professionally acceptable standards which have previously been communicated to students verbally or in

writing. At the same time, students have the right to ensure that grades are calculated accurately and

consistently, fairly and equitably, and without discrimination.

Note: Any grade appeals or grade change requests initiated on the basis of alleged academic dishonesty shall

be handled under the procedures set forth for academic dishonesty discussed later in this chapter.

II. Basis for Appealing a Final Course Grade – Graduate students may appeal a final course grade assigned to

them by an instructor based on one of four conditions:

A. The course instructor miscalculated the final course grade.

B. The course instructor committed an oversight in calculating the final course grade.

C. The course instructor acted in an arbitrary and/or capricious manner in assigning grades to the student,

including the final course grade to the student.

For an instructor to act in an arbitrary and/or capricious manner in assigning grades is defined as follows:

1. The instructor assigned a course grade to a student on some basis other than performance in the course;

2. The instructor assigned a course grade to a student by resorting to unreasonable standards different

from those which were applied to other students in that course; or

3. The instructor assigned a course grade to a student in a manner that represented a substantial,

unreasonable and unannounced departure from the instructor's previously articulated standards.

D. In assigning grades in the course to the student, the course instructor engaged in discrimination based on

factors that include but are not limited to: race, color, religion, creed, lifestyle, sexual orientation,

ancestry, national origin, age, union membership, gender, disability or political affiliation. This policy

extends to all military veterans as well.

III. Selection and Composition of the Academic Appeals Committee

1. Composition of the Academic Appeals Committee

– The Academic Appeals Committee of the

department or program shall consist of a minimum of three regular tenure track faculty members in the

department or program (excluding the Department Chairperson or Program Director) and an equal

number of students who are majors in the program, with a faculty member and student serving as co-

chairs. In the event that a faculty or student member of the Academic Appeals Committee is a party in

a grade appeal an alternate previously selected shall serve in his or her place.

2. Selection of Academic Appeals Committee Members

-- Within the first week of the Fall semester,

each academic department or program shall elect at least three faculty members and one faculty

member alternate to serve on the Academic Appeals Committee for the academic year and designate

three graduate students and one graduate alternate enrolled in the academic program to serve on the

Academic Appeals Committee. Each academic department or program shall develop a standard

process for selecting student members for the Academic Appeals Committee. By the end of the first

full week of the Fall semester, the names of the faculty and student members of the Academic Appeals

Committee and alternates selected for each academic year shall then be forwarded to the graduate

dean’s office by the end of the first full week of the Fall semester. In the event that a program lacks

sufficient faculty to staff the Academic Appeals Committee and provide a faculty alternate member it

shall notify the Dean of the College in which the Program is located. The Dean’s office shall provide

assistance in identifying a suitable pool of faculty from the College to staff the Academic Appeals

Committee and provide an alternate member for the Committee if the need should arise.

IV. Timetable and Procedures for the Grade Appeal Process – Compliance with all timelines set forth in this

policy is required.

A student may initiate a grade appeal any time after receiving a final grade in a course. Grade appeals

however cannot be initiated after thirty (30) calendar days following the onset of the next regular (fall or

spring) academic semester. Should the deadline for completing a step in the grade appeal process set forth

below fall on a day that the University is not open for business that deadline shall be moved to the next date

the University is open for business.

In the event that a faculty member, Department Chairperson or Program Director (or Chair of the

Department’s Professional Affairs Committee if necessary) fails to comply with the timelines or procedures

set forth in this policy the student shall have the right to appeal to the Dean of the College in which the

appeal has arisen. If the Dean shall determine that the student’s rights under this policy have been violated

he or she shall direct the Department to schedule the Formal Grade Appeal Hearing in a timely fashion

consistent with the intent of the policy.

A. Meeting with the Faculty Member Assigning the Final Course Grade – Following notification of a

final grade assigned in a course a student disagreeing with a final course grade shall meet informally

with the course instructor in an effort to resolve the matter prior to resorting to the formal appeal

process *. This informal meeting between the student and the faculty member assigning the disputed

grade shall occur no later than thirty (30) calendar days following the beginning of the next regular (fall

or spring) academic semester **. If the faculty member finds in the student’s favor, a grade change will

be sent to the Registrar’s Office after the program chair has signed the grade change form. A copy will

be sent to the student. However, if the faculty member decides the grade as given was correct, the

student will be notified in writing within seven (7) calendar days. Students who are not satisfied with

the results may initiate a formal appeal of the final grade assigned in the course, as outlined below.

*In the event that the faculty member assigning the final grade in the course is no longer an

employee of Shippensburg University the student desiring to appeal a course grade shall meet

with the Department Chairperson or Program Director to establish procedures consistent with

this policy and past practice for entertaining the desired grade appeal.

** Note: Shippensburg University Policy permits faculty members to change grades if there has been a

miscalculation or oversight in grading, but not on the basis of additional student work or revision of

previously accepted work.

B. Initiating a Formal Grade Appeal – Students wishing to formally appeal a final course grade based on

the factors listed in Section II. Basis for Appealing a Final Course Grade, must file a written appeal

with the Department Chairperson or Program Director of the academic program home to the course

whose grade they are seeking to appeal no later than thirty (30) calendar days from the first full day that

classes meet of the semester following the semester in which the final course grade was assigned.

Appeals may not be filed electronically. Failure to meet the deadline for formally filing a grade appeal

shall result in the forfeiture of a student’s appeal rights ***. A student wishing to pursue a grade appeal

shall by this date submit to the Department Chairperson or Program Director (or Chair of the

Department’s Professional Affairs Committee in the event that the student is appealing a grade assigned

by the Department Chairperson or Program Director) the completed grade appeal form, signed and

dated and supporting documentation which shall set forth the basis for the appeal and the desired

resolution. Appeals from the Spring semester and Summer terms shall be filed no later than thirty (30)

calendar days from the first day of the Fall semester. An undergraduate grade appeal form may be

obtained in the Department office of the major/program where the appeal is filed or from the graduate

dean’s office. Formal Grade Appeals may not be filed electronically.

***Note: Both the informal attempt at resolving the disputed grade with the faculty member

assigning such grade and the formal initiation of a formal grade appeal must be completed no

later than thirty (30) calendar days from the first full day that classes meet of the semester

following the semester in which the final course grade was assigned.

C. Meeting with Department Chairperson or Program Director – Within ten (10) calendar days of

receiving a completed grade appeal form, the Program Chairperson shall meet individually and/or

jointly, if useful, with the student and the faculty member to discuss the disputed grade in an effort to

mediate an amicable resolution to disagreement over the final grade assigned. Such meeting(s) may

occur in person or via conference call if necessary. The mediated result must be given in writing to

both the student and faculty member. The Department Chairperson or Program Director will notify the

faculty member that a formal appeal has been filed.

D. Formal Program Grade Appeal Hearing – If the student finds that the mediated effort fails to address

his or her concerns or achieve the desired results, he or she must notify the Department Chairperson or

Program Director in writing within fourteen (14) calendar days of the meeting with the Program

Chairperson (or designee) of his or her desire to continue on to the formal grade appeal hearing before the

Academic Appeals Committee of the program. Failure to meet this fourteen (14) day deadline for

proceeding with the formal grade appeal shall result in the forfeiture of a student’s appeal rights, except

as noted in Paragraph IV.

1. Scheduling of the Academic Appeals Hearing -- Upon notification by the student of his or her desire

to continue with the appeal, the Academic Appeals Committee shall have ten (10) calendar days to

conduct a hearing on the matter and to issue its findings and recommendations.

2. An equal number of students and faculty, but in no case fewer that four members, shall be present at an

Appeals Hearing.

3. Conduct of the Academic Appeals Hearing

-- The Chairpersons of the Academic Appeals

Committee shall have sole responsibility for the conduct of the hearing. Prior to the hearing the

student shall submit to the committee a written statement setting forth the issue(s) in the dispute and

the desired resolution. Only the student and the faculty member in the dispute have the right to attend

the hearing. Both the student and faculty member involved in the grade appeal shall have the right to

be present during the grade appeal hearing itself. Both the student and the faculty member have the

right to introduce materials into the hearing that are directly relevant to the assignment of the final

grade in the course, including such items as:

• Course Syllabi as given to the student

• Graded assignments such as, but not limited, to journals, research papers, group projects,

examinations

• Other material relevant to the determination of the student’s final course grade

E. Decision of the Academic Appeals Committee -- Only the actual members of the graduate Academic

Appeals Committee shall be present during the discussion and deliberations on the outcome of the

student’s grade appeal. The Academic Appeals Committee’s deliberations shall be viewed as confidential

and no transcripts, notes or records shall be made regarding their discussion other than a record of their

final decision. The committee has the power to decide the outcome of the final grade dispute by simple

majority vote taken by secret ballot. A tie vote upholds the faculty member’s decision in the case. If the

committee sustains the appeal (i.e., rules in favor of the student) a grade change form will be sent to the

Registrar’s Office after being signed by the program chair. With the exception of the grade, no part of

these proceedings will become part of the student’s official academic record. In addition, no part of these

proceedings will become part of the faculty member’s record or file. The evidence, proceedings, and the

final decision of the Academic Appeals Committee shall remain confidential.

V. Request for Reconsideration

-- A student whose grade appeal has been denied may file a written request

for reconsideration within seven (7) calendar days with the appropriate academic dean of the college in

which the academic program is housed upon the following grounds:

A. A demonstration of substantial procedural irregularities or inequities in the conduct of the hearing.

B. The student provides substantial new evidence that was not available at the time of the hearing that

would have had a bearing on the outcome of the appeal.

C. The student is able to demonstrate that the Academic Appeals Committee’s decision was erroneous or

unfair.

In the absence of a written request for reconsideration of the Committee’s decision filed with the appropriate

academic Dean in the college wherein the appeal arose within the specified seven (7) day period, the

committee’s initial findings and action on the Appeal filed shall be final.

VI. Reconsideration of the Academic Appeals Committee Determination

–Within seven (7) calendar days

of the request for reconsideration, the dean shall determine whether a compelling reason has been

presented for setting aside the initial decision of the Academic Appeals Committee. If the dean finds that a

compelling reason exists to take such action he or she may direct the Committee to reconsider their

findings and determination or take other appropriate action consistent with the guidelines.

Upon direction from the Academic Dean of the College in which the grade appeal arose, the Academic

Appeals committee shall have ten (10) calendar days to reconvene and reconsider their initial decision on

the grade appeal. The Committee in undertaking such review and reconsideration shall examine and take

into account the concerns raised by the Dean.

Following review and reconsideration by the grade appeals committee, the decision of the grade

appeals committee shall be final.

Approved by University Forum 11-16-2004

Approved by President’s Cabinet 3-14-2005

Shippensburg University

Graduate Grade Appeal Form

Grade Appeal form is not Valid Unless Completed in Full and Filed in a Timely Fashion

Student Information:

Student Name:_______________________________ Student ID No.: ___________________

Student’s Home College: ______________________ Major: ________________________

Last Day to File a Grade Appeal: _______________ Today’s Date: __________________

Postal Address(es) to which all university communication concerning this appeal will be directed:

______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

E-mail Address(es): _______________________________________________________________

Phone #(s): ______________________________________________________________________

II. Course for Which Appeal in Being Filed:

I Hereby Register a Formal Grade Appeal Against: _____________________ (name of the instructor)

in Course Name: ____________________________, Course Number _______, Section: ____, taken

during the Spring ___ Fall ____ Summer Term ____ 20___.

III. Basis for the Appeal (Check Appropriate Line(s)):

____The Course Instructor Miscalculated the Final Course Grade.

___ The Course Instructor Committed an Oversight in Calculating the Final Course Grade.

___ The Course Instructor acted in an “Arbitrary and/or Capricious” Manner in Assigning Grades, including

the Final Course grade to the Student.

___ The Course Instructor in Assigning grades discriminated against the student on the basis of race, color,

religion, creed, lifestyle, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, age, union membership, sex,

disability or Veteran’s status.

IV. Desired Resolution

Grade Given by the Instructor______ Grade Expected by Student ________

Student Signature:______________________________________

Attach to this form a written statement detailing the basis for your grade appeal and the justification

for the grade change desired.

Received By ____________ Name of Department or Program ____________

(Departmental or Program Representative)

Date ___________ Time _________

Cc: Dean’s Office

Shippensburg University

Disposition of Graduate Grade Appeal

I. Student Information:

Student Name:_______________________________ Student ID No.: ___________________

Student’s Home College: ______________________ Major: ________________________

Postal Address(es) to which all university communication concerning this appeal will be directed:

______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

E-mail Address(es): _______________________________________________________________

Phone #(s): ______________________________________________________________________

II. Course for Which Appeal Was Filed:

Course Name: ____________________________, Course Number _______, Section: ____, taken

during Spring ___ Fall ____ Summer Term ____ 20___. Course Instructor _____________________.

III. Basis for the Appeal (Check Appropriate Line(s)):

____The Course Instructor Miscalculated the Final Course Grade.

___ The Course Instructor Committed an Oversight in Calculating the Final Course Grade.

___ The Course Instructor acted in an “Arbitrary and/or Capricious” Manner in Assigning Grades, including

the Final Course grade to the Student.

___ The Course Instructor in Assigning grades discriminated against the student on the basis of race, color,

religion, creed, lifestyle, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, age, union membership, sex,

disability or Veteran’s status.

IV. R

esolution of Appeal

Grade Given by the Instructor______ Grade Desired by Student ________

Appeal Granted ________ Appeal Denied ________

_______________________________________________ ______________

Academic Appeals Committee Faculty Co-Chairperson Date

_______________________________________________ ______________

Academic Appeals Committee Student Co-Chairperson Date

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