Grade Appeal Policy and Procedures for Undergraduate Students

Grade Appeals

These procedures apply to grade appeals and to appeals of grades, probation, suspension or dismissal.

Informal communication between faculty and students will usually lead to mutually satisfactory resolution of disputes about grades, cheating, plagiarism or expulsion from class. If the student and the faculty member cannot come to a solution, the department chair should be consulted. In cases of courses taught outside of traditional academic departments, the course coordinator is considered analogous to the department chair. If, after informal negotiation, a student believes that appeal of a faculty member's decision is necessary, the following procedures must be followed:

• The formal appeal procedure should begin as soon as possible after the grievance but only after attempts at informal resolution have failed. The formal procedure must be started within 30 calendar days into the next quarter after the contested decision or grade was officially recorded and during which the student is enrolled at DU. In no case (whatever the student's enrollment status) can an appeal be instituted later than one calendar year after a decision has been officially recorded.
• Any appeal must be in writing, dated and headed with the words "Academic Appeal." Once an appeal is entered, it must be presented in its original form at all later levels of appeal, although new statements may be added at any time. Any evidence and all direct and supporting statements once made become part of the permanent record of the appeal and must be produced at each level of appeal.
• At each level of appeal, a written, dated decision and written reasons for the decision must be provided to the affected party or parties-the student, the faculty member and any person who has rendered a decision at an earlier level of appeal.
• Students with identical grievances against the same faculty member may consolidate their appeals.
• In the matter of grades, the chairperson, dean or committee may recommend changes but shall have the power to alter grades only in cases of clearly established procedural error or substantial capriciousness or arbitrariness in the evaluation.
• Students are permitted to submit evidence in writing. At the discretion of the University, students may be invited to present their appeal in person.

Grade Appeal Process

1. First level: Appeal to the faculty member
   After receiving a formal appeal, the faculty member shall assure that a written decision with express reasons is available or delivered to the student within five class days. Should the student fail to take further action within five class days after receiving the faculty member's decision, that decision shall stand. If the student is dissatisfied with the decision or does not receive a response from the faculty member within five class days, he/she may proceed to the second level of appeal.
2. Second level: Appeal to the department chair
   If the student elects to continue the appeal, he or she may appeal to the chair of the department, who shall assure that a written decision or recommendation about the appeal is available or delivered with express reasons within five class days after receiving the appeal. If the student is dissatisfied with the decision or does not receive a response from the chair within five class days, he/she may proceed to the third level of appeal. Should the student or faculty member fail to take action on the chair's decision or recommendation within five class days following its receipt, the accepted recommendation of the faculty member or new decision by the department chair shall be final.
3. Third level: Appeals Committee
   If the student elects to continue the appeal after the chair's decision or recommendation has been received, he/she may take the matter to the dean of the appropriate academic unit (or the dean's designee) within five class days. The dean shall ascertain within five days whether the procedures for appeal at the first and second levels have been duly followed; if they have not, he/she will require that they be followed before he/she takes any further action. As soon as possible (but no later than 30 calendar days) after receiving a proper written, dated request for appeal at this level, the dean will convene an appeals committee. A written decision or recommendation with express reasons shall be furnished by the appeals committee and transmitted through the office of the dean to all affected parties within five class days after the conclusion of the committee's deliberations. The faculty member may respond in writing to the decision or recommendation of the appeals committee with express reasons if not in agreement with the decision or recommendation. The response must be made to the dean within 10 class days after receiving the report of the appeals committee; otherwise, the committee's decision or recommendation shall be final and shall be implemented.

The appeals committee shall consist of three faculty members chosen by the dean or designee, who shall serve as chairperson without vote. All deliberations of the committee will be closed and confidential.

Faculty from the same department as the faculty member involved in the case may not serve on the appeals committee. The presence of all eligible members-the three faculty members and the dean or designee-shall constitute the quorum.

All findings of the appeals committee shall be considered final.

Additional Information

For additional information on grades and grade policies contact the Office of the Registrar at 303.871.4986 or email to mecox@du.edu.

Click here to view Grade Policies and Appeal Procedures for Graduate Students

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