IUP Student Grade Appeal Policy

Purpose

Grade Review and Grade Appeal are designed as means to resolve differences between students and faculty members related to grading.

Grade Review

A student may disagree with the instructor’s professional evaluation of his or her work but have no grounds for making an appeal based on a claim of discrimination, capriciousness, and/or error as defined below. In these cases, the student should discuss the matter directly with the instructor and, if unsatisfied, with the chairperson of the department in which the course was offered and, if still unsatisfied, with the dean of the college in which the course was offered. If resolution does not occur during grade review, the decision of the instructor shall be final. If there is basis for claiming discrimination, capriciousness, and/or error, the student may proceed with a grade appeal.

Grade Appeal

If a student believes that an improper grade has been assigned, an appeal may be filed only on the following grounds:

Discrimination: On the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, or political affiliation.
Capricious Evaluation: Significant and unwarranted deviation from grading procedures and course outlines set at the beginning of the course (ordinarily in a written statement during the first week of the course) or grade assigned arbitrarily on the basis of whim or impulse. Disagreement with the instructor’s professional evaluation is not sufficient by itself for a claim of capriciousness.
Error: Demonstrable, objective determination that a mathematical or clerical error resulted in the entry of an incorrect grade.

Level I: Informal Resolution

Every effort should be made to resolve the disagreement at Level I. Once a student has determined the proper grounds for appeal, he or she must first seek a resolution to the disagreement with the instructor either in person or in writing. If the student is not satisfied with the results, the student must then speak with the chairperson of the department that offers the course. If still unsatisfied, the student must discuss the matter with the dean of the college that offers the course. A Student Government Association member may accompany and advise the student during the Level I procedures. Only after all attempts for resolution at Level I have been exhausted may the student initiate Level II.

Level II: Appeal Screening

Composition: Each year there shall be appointed a Grade Appeals Committee to determine the existence of the substantive basis for appeal. The committee will be composed of seven voting members: three faculty members appointed by APSCUF, three members elected by and from the Senate Academic Committee (one faculty, one administrator, one student), and one student appointed by the Student Government Association. A quorum consists of a majority of the committee. To take action, a majority of those present must be faculty members. If a quorum of the Level II committee is not available to meet within the designated time limits, the Office of the Provost will seek additional members from the appointing bodies. If these bodies are unable to respond in a timely manner, the Office of the Provost may select additional members from the appropriate groups.
Procedure to Initiate Appeal: To initiate Level II of the appeal, the student must file an appeal form with the Office of the Provost. This form must be filed within 60 calendar days of the beginning of the semester immediately following the semester in which the grade was received. The Office of the Provost may extend the 60-day limit only in unusual circumstances when equity demands it. (Note: Grade appeals will not generally be processed during the summer. Therefore, the appeal of any grade received in the spring or summer sessions normally will be processed in the fall. A review will be scheduled in the summer only when the student’s academic eligibility is jeopardized by the grade in question or when the student is a graduating senior.) The Office of the Provost will notify the appropriate dean, department chairperson, instructor, APSCUF president, and the Student Government Association president of the student’s initiation of the Level II process.
Procedure to Process Appeal: In addition to the appeal form, the student will be expected to submit pertinent information/documentation and rationale for his/her complaint, which will serve as supporting evidence. The faculty member instructor will be expected to submit in writing the course grading procedure and any other pertinent information. The director of Social Equity or designee will advise in appeals based on discrimination. Appeals based on capriciousness will be reviewed in light of the instructor’s announced evaluation and grading system. The committee will review the materials to deny or confirm appeal continuation. Denial of appeal continuation must be by a negative vote of a majority of those present. This committee will immediately inform the Office of the Provost of its findings. Within five (5) class days of the receipt of the committee’s report, the provost or designee will notify the student and the instructor of the findings. If the basis for appeal is determined to be substantive, the provost or designee will schedule a Level III Grade Appeal Panel within 15 class days to be convened before the conclusion of the semester.

Level III: Appeal Review

Composition: The Grade Appeal Panel will consist of five voting members: one academic dean or assistant/associate dean and four faculty members. The Student Government Association Executive Committee designee may advise as requested by the student. The director of Social Equity or designee will advise in appeals based on discrimination. The panel will be constituted from the Grade Appeal Pool by random selection. The panel chairperson will be elected by and from the panel before each review.
Membership: The Grade Appeal Pool will be established in the spring semester to serve for the following academic year. Using random selection methods, the pool will be established by the Office of the Provost. A pool of three deans or assistant/associate deans and 12 full-time faculty members will be maintained. To establish the membership for each appeal panel, before each appeal, the names of pool members will be supplied to all parties involved. A panel member must recuse him or herself if there is a conflict of interest. The student and the instructor each may eliminate only one dean or assistant/associate dean and two faculty members. The opportunity to disqualify panel members will take place only once. If through self-disqualification and challenges a panel cannot be constituted from the pool, then the Office of the Provost will supplement the pool using appropriate random selection methods.
Procedure:
1. Both the student and the instructor will have the right to appear before the panel, present witnesses, and offer evidence. In addition to those specified in Level III, Section A, each may also bring one observer, with whom he or she may consult but who may not participate in the proceedings.
2. The panel shall determine its rules of order for internal operation. After hearing the evidence brought forth, the panel will privately deliberate and render a decision. If the grade appeal is upheld, the Office of the Provost will assemble a committee of three appropriate faculty members (knowledgeable in the discipline but excluding the instructor against whom the complaint was lodged), who will review the student’s work and recommend to the panel the appropriate grade or suitable remedy. The panel will incorporate this recommendation in its determination, which it then forwards to the Office of the Provost for implementation, ordinarily within 30 days. The Office of the Provost will initiate the processing of grade changes resulting from Level III decisions. The Office of the Provost will notify the student of grade changes resulting from Level III decisions.
3. The written report sent to the Office of the Provost will state whether the student’s appeal is upheld or denied; if upheld, the committee’s evaluation and remedy will be included. Both the student and the instructor have the right to review all documents related to the appeal. All documents supporting the report will be sealed and kept for one year to ensure the appropriate action is taken before they are destroyed or returned to the individual presenting the evidence.
4. The Level III decision is final for all involved parties.

Ancillary Provisions

Amendment: Amendments may be implemented upon concurrence by University Senate, APSCUF Representative Council, and Meet-and- Discuss. In the amendment process, specification of University Senate implies the Council of Trustees’ role in approving Senate actions and recognizes the Council of Trustees’ final action to change policy.
Appeals on Procedural Grounds: Decisions may not be challenged merely because the Office of the Provost fails to comply with Ancillary Provisions E, J, or I.
Confidentiality: Students, faculty, administrators, and staff involved in processing and hearing grade appeals must respect the confidentiality of all aspects of these proceedings. Those breaching confidentiality subject themselves to possible disciplinary action. This shall not abridge the First Amendment rights of the student appellant nor the instructor against whom the appeal has been filed.
Continuing Rights: This appeal does not supplant any legal rights afforded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and/or the Government of the United States. Nothing in this policy abrogates or modifies any provisions of or rights under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Discrimination: Discrimination in this policy generally means unlawful discrimination. To the extent that any form of discrimination identified in this definition is not unlawful discrimination, this definition shall not be taken to create a cause of appeal against the university. In such cases, the final appeal procedures stated in this policy will be final and binding on the student.
Dissemination of Grade Appeal Information: The Office of the Provost will annually report to the university community a statistical summary of grade appeal data that does not compromise confidentiality, including (1) the number of appeals filed, (2) the resolutions at levels II and III, and (3) the final implementation of level III decisions.
Faculty Compensation: If a Level III Grade Appeal Panel (hearing) is scheduled at a time when any faculty member involved is not under contract, the faculty member will be compensated under terms mutually agreed upon at Meet-and-Discuss.
Intended Purpose: Unless there is intentional misrepresentation, the results of a grade appeal may not be used for disciplinary action of students or instructors.
Intentional Misrepresentation: Intentional misrepresentation in the filing of grade appeals by students will be referred to the university judicial system for students. Intentional misrepresentation by faculty instructors in the grade appeals process will be referred to the Office of the Provost.
Support Mechanism: The Office of the Provost, after consultation with the Senate Academic Committee and APSCUF, will be responsible for identifying a pool of at least 10 faculty members well versed in the preparation of grade appeals who will be available upon request to help students or faculty members prepare documentation for the grade appeals process.
Tenure and Promotion Committee Membership on Grade Appeals Committees: Members of the university-wide tenure and promotion committees may not serve concurrently on grade appeals committees.
Training/Support: Upon request, the Office of the Provost will offer information sessions/workshops to assist deans, chairs, grade appeals panel/committee members, and members of Student Government Association/university in identifying issues and to provide guidance for the resolution of grade appeals.