Academic Evaluation (Grade Change) and Policy on Final Grades

After a final grade has been submitted, a student may not be required nor allowed to turn in extra work, to redo previous work, or to otherwise make adjustments to his or her work in order to improve the final grade. The only circumstances under which a faculty member may change a final grade once it has been submitted are as follows:

1. The professor has made a calculation error;

OR

2. Work previously considered missing is located by the professor, and it is clear the student turned the work in on time.

Students who believe that they have been subjected to arbitrary or discriminatory academic evaluation by faculty members are guaranteed the right to appeal. Arbitrary or discriminatory academic evaluation involves any or all of the following:

1. Grading on a basis clearly irrelevant to the student's mastery of the course.
   
2. Grading on a basis which has not been consistently applied to all students taking the same course concurrently.
   
3. Grading on a basis which is not consistent with prior practices or announced policies in that course during the semester.
   
4. Grading that does not take into consideration or honor accommodations granted from the Associate Dean of Students, who coordinates services for students with disabilities, following the date such notification was received by the professor.

In questions of alleged improper academic evaluation, students must follow this procedure to appeal:

• Consult with the individual faculty member. If, after this step, the student still claims arbitrary or discriminatory evaluation, the student moves to Step 2. If the concern is that the faculty member did not take into consideration or honor accommodations granted by the Associate Dean of Students, the student should consult with that Dean.
  
• Visit the Director of Academic Programs, who will confer with the student, hear the student’s position, describe the appeals process and help the student to assess his or her options. The student should provide the Director with a written statement giving relevant facts and the reason for the appeal. If the student decides to appeal the grade further, he or she next contacts the Associate Dean of the Faculty.
  
• The Associate Dean of the Faculty makes a final determination about the appeal grounds. If the Associate Dean finds no grounds for appeal, the grade stands.
  
• If the Associate Dean of the Faculty finds that the student’s grade was subject to arbitrary or discriminatory evaluation, the final grade is determined by the chair of the relevant department. If it was the chair whose evaluation is being appealed, the grade is determined by a proximate tenured faculty member chosen by the Provost, ideally from the same department but if necessary from a closely related department. The final grade may go up or down, or may remain the same after review by the chair. This decision by the chair or a proximate faculty member is final.