Grade Appeal Policy

Policy Statement

A student has the right to appeal a final course grade assigned by an instructor if certain conditions apply. The appeal process is a stepwise procedure involving the course instructor, department chair (or program director), dean, and Provost, in that order. Each step may produce a resolution, in which case, no additional step is required. The person making the decision at any one of the steps is responsible for implementing the grade change, if any, by submitting the grade change form to the Registrar.

Purpose/Scope

To afford a student the opportunity to settle disagreements concerning the application of the grading standards, attendance requirements, or both, as described in the course syllabus.

Applicability

This policy applies to all undergraduate and graduate students.

Definitions

Days — Days referenced in this policy are calendar days. Day 1 is when instruction begins in a semester. The close of business, which is 5:00 p.m., marks the official end of the day. Fall and spring are the two semesters of an academic year. Courses offered during winter break and during the summer are known as sessions.

For reference: The semester following fall is spring, the semester following spring is fall, the semester following winter session is spring semester, and the semester following summer session is fall semester.  

Policy Procedures

The instructor’s statements in the syllabus shall be the course’s grading standards and attendance requirements, and the student is responsible for knowing and meeting these standards and requirements.

If there are disagreements about a final course grade of a semester or session and the disagreements involve one or more of the following, then the grade appeal process can be used to adjudicate the matter:

1. The course instructor made an error in assigning points for individual assignments, which impacted the complainant’s final grade.

2. The course instructor has not followed the grading standards, attendance requirements, or both, published in the syllabus in determining the final course grade of the student complainant.

3. The course instructor has erroneously or unequally applied the published grading standards, attendance requirements, or both, in the syllabus in determining the complainant’s final course grade.

4. The course instructor did not publish grading standards by the first week of classes and the absence of the published grading standards caused the complainant to have insufficient information about how assignments would be graded. 

Step 1: Initial attempt by the Student with the Instructor

A. No later than 15 days of the next semester, the student must notify the instructor in writing of the disagreements about the final course grade.

B. By day 35, the instructor must inform the student in writing whether the disagreements have been resolved and how. If the disagreements are resolved and the grade change specified by the instructor is in place, the grade appeal is deemed completed. No additional step is required.

*If the instructor is unavailable or unresponsive, please proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Appeal to the Department Chair by the Student

A. By day 40, the student has the right to appeal in writing to the department chair (or program director) the decision of the instructor, and they must do so by elaborating on the reason(s).

B. The matter is considered closed if the student does not appeal to the department chair (or program director).

C. By day 55, the department chair (or program director) must collect necessary information from the student and the instructor, complete an investigation, render a decision, and notify the student and the instructor.

D. If the matter is resolved and the specified grade change, if any, is in place, the grade appeal is deemed completed. No additional step is required.

Step 3: Appeal to the Dean by the Student

A. By day 70, the student has the right to appeal in writing to the dean (or designee), hereinafter referred to as the “dean’s designee” the decision of the department chair.

B. The matter is considered closed if the student does not appeal to the dean’s designee.

C. By day 85, the dean’s designee must collect necessary information from the student and department chair, complete a review, render a decision, and notify the student, the department chair,  and the instructor.

D. If the matter is resolved and the stipulated grade change, if any, is in place, the grade appeal is deemed completed. No additional step is required.

Step 4: Appeal to the Provost by the Student

A. By day 100, the student has the right to appeal in writing to the provost (or designee), hereinafter referred to as the “provost’s designee” the decision of the dean’s designee.

B. The matter is considered closed if the student does not appeal to the provost’s designee.

C. By day 115, the provost’s designee must collect necessary information from the dean’s designee and the student, complete a review, render a decision, and notify the student, the dean’s designee, the department chair, and the instructor.

D. When the stipulated grade change, if any, is in place, the grade appeal is deemed completed. There is no appeal beyond the provost.

Links to Related Procedures and Information

There are no links for this policy at this time.

Contact Information

Brockport University Senate

History (in descending order)

Item	Date	Explanation
Next Review Date	2029-03-05	Five-year review
Revision Date	2024-03-05	Policy Revised throughout (Senate Resolution 2023-2024 #13)
Adoption Date	2004-05-05	Policy Adopted (Senate Resolution 2003-2004 #28)

Approval

This policy was approved by Brockport University Senate & SUNY Brockport President on 2024-03-05 (Senate Resolution 2023-2024 #13)