The Grade Appeal Policy is to establish a clear, fair, and uniform process by which students may contest the grade assigned to them for a course. Grades reflect exclusively students’ academic achievements and will be changed only in exceptional circumstances. 

General Provisions 
All parties to a grade appeal are expected to be polite and respectful throughout the process. All documents and proceedings associated with specific grade appeals shall remain confidential during and after the process. 

Appeals  

Grounds for Appeals 
Grade appeals shall be based on grading process problems, such as when a student believes an assigned or final grade is incorrect based on the syllabus and other relevant documents. 

Acceptable grounds for a grade appeal could include: 

• An error was made in grade computation or entry.
• The grade was based on standards different than those applied to other students registered in the same course.
• The assigned grade constitutes a substantial departure from the published or announced grading standards for the course. 

This Grade Appeal Policy does not address disputed grades resulting from alleged academic integrity violations. 

Appeal Process 

1. Appeal to the Instructor: A student who believes they have grounds for an appeal should first attempt to resolve the issue with the instructor of the course. Grade appeals should only be made to the instructor and not made to the teaching assistant. 

2. Formal Appeal to the Department Head or Associate Dean: If the student and the instructor cannot resolve the student’s concerns, the student may pursue a formal grade appeal through the department responsible for the course. The student must submit a written statement outlying the grounds for the appeal to the Department Head or Associate Dean (Architecture, Lally School of Management, and Core Engineering) of the department responsible for the course, with a copy to the instructor. Appeals to the Department Head or Associate Dean must be submitted within one week of the instructor’s decision. The appeal letter shall include the following information: 

   1. Student’s name
   2. Student’s current email address
   3. Instructor’s Name
   4. Course title and number
   5. The semester the class was completed and grade received.
   6. A description of the grade dispute.
   7. A summary of the actions the student has taken to resolve the grade dispute and proposed solution.
   8. All relevant documentation related to the grade dispute such as graded assignments, test results, and the syllabus. 

   Upon receipt of the written appeal, the Department Head or Associate Dean will forward the student’s written appeal and supporting documentation to the instructor. The instructor must provide a written response to the Department Head or Associate Dean and the student. The Department Head or Associate Dean will review the documentation presented by the student and instructor and will then provide a written ruling to the student, with a copy to the instructor, within two weeks. 

3.  Formal Appeal to the Dean of the School: A student may appeal the Department Head or Associate Dean’s ruling by submitting a notice of appeal to the Dean of the School responsible for the course. The appeal should identify specific grounds of appeal for further review. Appeals to the Dean must be submitted within one week of the Department Head or Associate Dean’s decision. The Dean or designee will review the appeal and documentation and issue a decision and the basis for it within two weeks. The Dean’s decision will be final.