Grade Appeal Guidelines
If a student believes a faculty member has issued a final grade in violation of the faculty member's published grading standards or practices, the student must do the following:
Step one - Student meets with the instructor and discusses the matter.
Step two - Student meets with the appropriate associate dean or dean of the instructor's department if the problem was not resolved in step one. Note: See Time Limits below.
Step three - If the student has not been able to resolve the issue in one of the above steps, the student may appeal the grade by submitting the Academic Standards Committee Student Grade Appeal Form together with any and all supporting documentation to the associate dean. The associate dean will determine whether the student has completed steps one and two of the procedure and, if so, shall transmit the grade appeal form, any supporting documentation provided by the student, the comments/rationale of the instructor, and his/her comments/rationale to the Academic Standards Committee for consideration before the committee meets to consider the appeal. All the above documentation will be sent to the administrative assistant supporting the Standards Committee two weeks prior to the meeting at which the grade appeal will be addressed.
If the associate dean determines that the student has not completed step one or step two of this procedure, or if the appeal is submitted after the applicable deadline as provided below, the associate dean shall refuse to accept the student's submission, write the date and reason for his/her refusal to accept the appeal on the grade appeal form, and return the original form and supporting documentation to the student and retain a copy for his/her records.
The grade appeal form must state with particularity how the instructor's published grading standards or practices have been violated, using the syllabus or first day handout as guidelines, and be signed and dated by the student. The first day handout and any coursework or documentation that may assist the committee in its decision is attached by the student. The associate dean must receive the form and any supporting documentation from the student not later than the deadlines stated below. Questions regarding the appeal process may be directed to the Committee Chairperson, or the administrative assistant for the committee - those names are listed on the Intranet: Resources > Macomb Standing Committees > Standards Committee > Members/Responsibilities. This page lists all committee members. The decision of the Standards Committee shall be final.
Time Limit on All Grade Changes:
The student must initiate the grade appeal process, that is complete steps one and two of this procedure and file the grade appeal form with any supporting documentation, with the associate dean on or before the following deadlines; March 1 for the previous Fall semester, July 1 for the previous Winter semester, and October 1 for the previous Spring/Summer semesters. Reference College Grading, Reports and Symbols Policy for more information.
Approved by the Provost
January 4, 2003
Revised May 2016
Reviewed November 2023