Student Grade Appeals Policy Guidelines (Revised - March 2015)

Policies and Procedures

Policies and procedures adopted by the School of Information Sciences faculty relative to student appeal of grades. The following policy guidelines are provided to assure the establishment of procedures, which will provide for the prompt, fair and equitable resolution of grade appeals.

1.0 Basic Principles

1.1 Instructors are expected to evaluate student work according to sound academic standards. Equal demands are required of all students in a class (although more work is expected from graduate students than from undergraduates), and grades are assigned without departing substantially from announced procedures.

It is the instructor's prerogative to assign grades in accordance with his/her academic/professional judgment, and the student assumes the burden of proof in the appeals process.

1.2 Grounds for appeals are: (1) the application of non-academic criteria in the grading process, as listed in the university's non-discrimination/affirmative action statute: race, color, sex (including gender identity), national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, familial status, marital status, height, weight, disability, or veteran status; (2) sexual harassment or discrimination; or (3) evaluation of student work by criteria not directly reflective of performance relative to course requirements.

1.3 These policy guidelines do not apply to allegations of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty matters should be addressed under the Student Code of Conduct statute.

Appeal of Grades

Informal Appeal

A student's first appeal shall be directed to the instructor in charge.

Ombudsman

Students and faculty may contact the WSU Ombuds Office at any time for assistance with any problem associated with a grade decision or grade appeal.

Formal Appeal: Initiation of Appeal

To initiate the appeal process, the student shall submit a written statement detailing his/her objections, along with supporting documentation, to the School of Information Sciences Associate Dean. The student must file the written appeal within 30 calendar days following official notification of grades for the term in which the disputed grade was awarded, whenever informal review fails to resolve a dispute.

School of Information Sciences Review

The SIS Associate Dean shall assemble all written documentation and oral testimonies from the student and instructor in charge. If the matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of all parties, the Associate Dean shall convene a Grade Appeals Committee. Students shall be notified in writing of the department's decision regarding the appeal within 60 days of lodging the formal appeal.

Grade Appeals Committee

An ad hoc committee of three faculty members appointed by the Associate Dean, and one student, shall consider the appeal. The School of Information Sciences Associate Dean shall appoint a Committee Chair. Opportunity will be given to both the student and the instructor to state their cases before a decision is made by the committee.
All meetings held in relation to the appeal shall provide parties the opportunity to present additional information orally or in writing. No additional persons will be permitted at such meetings without advance approval by the Chair, Associate Dean, or Dean, as appropriate. The decision of the Grade Appeals Committee will be reported to the Associate Dean. Matters not resolved at the School level may be appealed to the Dean.

Dean's Review

If the appeal is not resolved at the School level the student may initiate a review by the Dean of the University Library System.

Review by Associate Provost for Academic Programs

If, after your School/College appeal path is exhausted and you wish to continue with the grade appeal process, per the University Academic policy, you may request a Provost Review within 30 days of this decision. The request should be submitted via the online form located at https://provost.wayne.edu/academic-policy. For assistance with the appeal process, you may contact the Ombudsperson Laura Birnie-Lindemann at ombudsoffice@wayne.edu.