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Office of the Registrar

Reasons to Appeal

A grade appeal arises when circumstances either prevent assignment of an earned course grade or cause an assigned course grade to be questioned by a student. The basis for questioning a grade and filing a grade appeal is limited by the criteria defined in the Student Course Grade Appeal Policy.

For more information about the criteria for a grade appeal, consult the policy; in particular sections:

  • IV. Jurisdiction;
  • VI.C.1. Basic Guidelines for Grade Appeals; and
  • Appendix A “BASIS FOR GRADE APPEAL” on the “FORMAL GRADE APPEAL FORM”

“BASIS FOR GRADE APPEAL” (quoted from Appendix A “Step 3 - FORMAL GRADE APPEAL FORM”):

If your situation falls into one of the categories, you may have grounds for a grade appeal:

  • The Instructor refuses to (or cannot) assign a grade
  • The Instructor is not available to review possible computational error.
  • The grade assigned is:
  • A result of an Instructor or clerical error
  • Inequitable or capricious
  • Unreflective of course performance
  • Inconsistent with other grade assignments in the course

Please note that the grade appeal case has to be based on specific graded items. You must provide documentation (e.g., graded tests, assignments, etc. – see policy Appendix A) as evidence to support your claim. “I think I deserve a better grade” does not provide a basis for filing a grade appeal.

Please note: Grade appeals sometimes get rejected because the student does not have grounds for a grade appeal, but rather for another form or grievance (such as discrimination):  before starting a grade appeal, make sure you talk with an advisor or the Dean of Students about your case, so they can help you find out where to appeal. Grievances for discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, religion, or sexual orientation go through the Office of Human Resources or the Office of the Dean of Students, not through the grade appeal process.