Academics

Academic Grievances

The Academic Grievance Procedure is established for student grievances relating to grades. In matters relating to grades, the instructor’s judgment is
normally deemed final and conclusive. For instance, an instructor’s judgment that a grade should be a B and not an A is final and binding and will not be
reviewed by grievance procedures.

Students may not appeal the professional judgment exercised by an instructor in assigning a grade except under the following circumstances:

Academic Grievance Procedure

Students may initiate an appeal if the student believes that one or more of the following has occurred:

  1. Inconsistent grading standards were used to grade students of the same class.
  2. The instructor altered the grading procedure as defined in the course outline without advising the class of the change.
  3. The instructor deviated from his/her established grading policy.
  4. A student’s assignment is graded and an explanation of the method for determining the grade is not provided by an instructor.
  5. A final grade is lowered because a student missed an examination for a College function and was not permitted to make up the exam.
  6. The student’s grade was improperly computed.
  7. The instructor alleges that a student has been involved in academic dishonesty, plagiarism, or willful falsification of educational data that is represented as scholarly research.

A student may initiate the Academic Grievance process by using the following steps:

Step 1.
Within 15 calendar days of the grades being posted by the College, the student may request a meeting with an instructor to discuss a course grade. The instructor shall meet with the student within 7 calendar days to discuss the grade.

Step 2.
If a student is dissatisfied with the instructor’s response, the student may appeal to the appropriate division chairperson. Such an appeal must be in writing within 15 calendar days of the meeting with the instructor and must clearly identify and explain the basis for the appeal. The division chairperson will render a written decision within 10 calendar days of the appeal. If the division chairperson is the faculty member involved, then the student may appeal to the appropriate Dean/Vice President.