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Grade Appeal Policy and Process

A graduate or undergraduate student may appeal a grade by using the following procedures. Where mentioned, the words college, dean, and department head are the department or college in which the course being appealed is offered. A week consists of five business days or seven calendar days. Grade appeals are not processed during the summer sessions unless the dean determines a case warrants immediate review, such as those for students cleared for May graduation. Please note that a grade appeal is only available before the student's degree is awarded.

For information about the University process, see: http://catalog.arizona.edu/policy/grade-appeal

Grade Appeal Forms

  • Grade Appeal Policy and Process Packet
    • The packet has the entire process outlined along with all the forms required for the process
  • Grade Appeal Policy and Process
    • General information about the policy and process
  • Phase 1 - Student Initiation
    • Form for students to start the process of appealing a grade
    • Email or provide printed versions to the instructor or TA and copy the department head
    • Be sure to attach appropriate documentation where requested
  • Phase 2 - Instructor Response
    • Form for instructor to respond to student's grade appeal
  • Phase 3 - Department Head Response
    • Form for a department head to respond if escalated past instructor

Grade Appeal Time Table

 PRIOR TO: COMPLETE STEPS RESPONSIBILITY OF
Week 5 1, 2, and 3 Student
Week 7 4 Instructor
Week 8 5 Student
Week 10 6 Department Head/Instructor
Week 11 7 Student
Week 15 9, 9, and 10 Dean

Phase 1: Grade Appeal Initiation

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STUDENT Step 1: Within the first five weeks of the regular semester after the semester in which the grade was awarded, or sooner if possible, the student should discuss the concerns with the course instructor, stating the reasons for questioning the grade. If the instructor is a teaching assistant/associate and this interview does not resolve the difficulty, the student shall discuss the problem with the person in charge of the course.

STUDENT Step 2: Within the first five weeks of the regular semester after the semester in which the grade was awarded, or sooner if possible, the student shall begin the process of submitting a grade appeal by utilizing the forms located on the Office of the Registrar’s website. The student must attest in writing that s/he has informed the instructor s/he intends to file a grade appeal.

STUDENT Step 3: Within the first five weeks of the regular semester after the semester in which the grade was awarded, or sooner if possible, the student shall carefully formulate an appeal in writing, and submit it to the instructor with a copy to the department head.

Grade Appeal Initiation Form

Phase 2: Instructor Response

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INSTRUCTOR Step 4: Within two weeks from the date of receipt of the student's written statement, the instructor shall respond to the student in writing. The instructor should explain the grading procedures and how the grade in question was determined as well as other issues raised in the student's statement.

Instructor Response Form

Phase 3: Department Head Response

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STUDENT Step 5: If the instructor is not available or does not resolve the matter within the two-week period, the student shall, within one week thereafter, readdress and submit the written appeal to the department head.

DEPARTMENT HEAD/INSTRUCTOR Step 6: The department head has two weeks to consider the student's written statement, the instructor's written statement, and confer with each. The department head may not change the grade, but shall inform the instructor and the student in writing of his/her recommendation. If a grade change is recommended, the instructor may refuse to accept the recommendation. The instructor shall notify the department head and the student in writing of his/her decision.

Department Head Response Form

Phase 4: Dean’s Response

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STUDENT Step 7: If the department head does not act on or resolve this matter to the student's satisfaction within a two-week period, the student shall, within one week thereafter, readdress and submit the written appeal to the dean.

DEAN Step 8: The dean shall review the student's appeal and take appropriate action. If the basis of the appeal is the fundamental fairness of treatment of the student by the instructor, the dean should convene a committee to review the case. Valid reasons for convening an appeal committee include, but are not limited to: a violation of University policy, a failure to follow published course policies, a lack of consistency within the student's course section, or a dispute over the factual accuracy of graded work. The following are NOT reasons that should be brought to a committee: a disagreement with published course policies, differences in classroom policies or grading schemes in different courses or between different sections of the same course, or a grade's impact on a student's academic progress, athletic eligibility, or eligibility for veteran's benefits.

DEAN Step 9: When appropriate, the dean shall convene a committee to review the case. The committee consists of five members. Faculty representatives include one from the department of the instructor concerned, and two from closely related departments or colleges. The student council of the college provides two student representatives. Student representatives shall be full-time upper-division undergraduate students for appeals by undergraduate students or full-time graduate students for appeals by graduate students. If the college does not have an appropriate student council, the ASUA or GPSC shall appoint the student members. All student members must be in good academic standing in that college.

Appoint Appeal Committee

Within the structure provided by the dean, the committee shall design its own rules of operation and select a chair other than the faculty representative from the department concerned. The student and instructor shall represent themselves. The committee may, or may not

  • meet separately with the student, the instructor, and the department head
  • request each party to submit a brief written summary statement of the issues, and/or 
  • interview other persons who have relevant information.

If feasible, the committee should meet with the student and the instructor together in an attempt to resolve the difference. The committee shall consider all aspects of the case before making its recommendation. The committee shall make a written report with recommendations and provide copies to the student, the instructor, the department head, and the dean.

DEAN Step 10: The dean shall make a final decision after full consideration of the committee's recommendation and within four weeks of receiving the student's appeal. The dean has the authority to change the grade to a different credit-bearing grade, which includes regular grades (A, B, C, D, E), alternative grades (S, P), or optional grades (P, F), depending on the course grading system and the system chosen by the student at registration. The registrar shall accept the dean's decision. The department head, the instructor, and the student shall be notified in writing of the dean's decision.


 

If you have question regarding the process, please contact the College in which you are appealing a grade or the Grading Coordinator in the Office of the Registrar at reg-grades@arizona.edu.

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