2.04 Adding or Dropping Courses

Grade Changes and appeals

Evaluation of a student's performance in each course is the responsibility of the Course Director for that course. Normally, the instructor's decision is final. After an instructor has submitted the final course grade for a student in my.harvard, a subsequent grade change request may be submitted along with a reason for the change. Such grade change requests will only be accepted from the course’s instructor of record. If the grade submitted initially was incorrect due to a mathematical, administrative, or other clerical error, then the grade change will be posted immediately. If the grade change request was submitted for any other reason, then the HMS Registrar will refer the grade change request by the faculty member to the Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Education for review. Please note that grades cannot be changed after a degree has been conferred, nor will a grade change request be considered beyond one term following the initial due date of the grade. If students have questions regarding a grade, they are encouraged to follow up directly with the instructor for more clarity. If no clerical mistake was made, then the instructor will explain the rationale for that grade.

Student Disagreement with Grades or Evaluations

A student’s disagreements with grades, evaluations, or reports of academic performance should be raised with the course director, who has ultimate authority over such grades, evaluations, and reports in each course. If such disagreements are not satisfactorily resolved, the student may then bring the concerns to the attention of the program director, who may consult with the course director to discuss the appropriateness of the grade, evaluation, or report in order to help the student understand the basis for the grade, evaluation, or report. In cases where the course director is the program director, concerns should be brought to the Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Education who may consult with the course director to discuss the appropriateness of the grade, evaluation, or report in order to help the student understand the basis for the grade, evaluation, or report. In all such cases, the decision of the course director, or Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Education is binding.