Academic Appeal Procedures

Students will be assigned a due date within the 6 week period, and no work can be accepted for grading past that date. The instructor will be given a separate due date for the final grade to be submitted to the Registrar in order to allow sufficient time for grading all coursework.

All unresolved incompletes will become a failing grade once the established due date has passed. No student with an “I” for a given semester is eligible for school honors in that semester. Graduating seniors who end their last semester with an “I” must complete all course requirements within the given time-frame in order to receive a diploma.

PASS/FAIL GRADING BASIS Student teaching, international fieldwork, selected internships, and other courses approved by the Deans’ Council may be graded on a Pass/Fail (P/F) basis. A grade of "P" is equivalent to a "C" or better. A "P" grade fulfills the degree requirement but does not carry grade points and is not included in GPA calculations. Students may not request to take a regular course on a Pass/Fail basis.

GRADE CHANGES

Grade changes will be accepted by the Registrar’s Office only in the cases of documented clerical error, miscalculation or by appeal to the Provost as a result of extenuating circumstances. A faculty member cannot reassess previously submitted material and submit a new grade. Students may not submit course work for grading after the final exam for a course. Final Grades must be calculated based on work submitted through the Final Exam, and work submitted after the exam cannot be the basis for a grade change request unless an Incomplete Grade Request has been approved.

Re-evaluation of a student’s performance is not considered a legitimate reason for a change of grade. A student may appeal a grade with the faculty member involved through the end of the semester immediately following the one in question (i.e. a professor may only make a change for the preceding semester). A grade change form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office and will include the reason for the change. This policy will be outlined in the Faculty Manual. In extreme cases of extenuating circumstances or information that arises after the grade has been submitted, the appropriate dean, in conjunction with the faculty member, will review a petition for a change of grade.

The faculty member is the main voice regarding individual course policies, course expectations, and the assignment of grades. Students who believe that a reported grade is in error or that they are treated unfairly in their academic experience should make every effort to resolve the issue first with the faculty member. If a student still feels that they have been treated improperly, they may then discuss the situation with the respective department director and, if necessary, the Dean of the College. Appeals to department directors or deans must be received within three weeks after making the attempt to resolve the issue with the faculty member.