If you are still unable to resolve the situation after contacting your instructor and the department head or chair, you can submit a request for an Academic Grievance hearing to review your situation. You must do so within 15 business days of attempting to resolve the situation informally.
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A description of the grade you are contesting, including a description of the assignment and the date you received the grade
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A description of why you are grieving the grade, including how it aligns with one or more of the definitions of arbitrary and capricious grading
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A description of your informal resolution attempts with the instructor and department head, including dates of your outreach attempts and any significant conversations
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Details of your desired outcome to address the situation (i.e., regrading of an assignment, an increase in your grade, grading of an assignment that was not previously graded, etc.)
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All documentation, evidence, or supplementary materials that support your claim of arbitrary and capricious grading (i.e., a copy of the assignment, course syllabus, rubric, email correspondence, etc.). Academic Grievances without supporting evidence will be denied.
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A staff member in the Academic Honesty & Grievances office will review your materials and determine 1) if you have followed the grievance process, and then 2) if your situation (and provided documentation) meets the definition of arbitrary and capricious grading. We may reach out to you to request more information.
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Once our review is complete, we will follow up to inform you of the outcome of your request.
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In situations where a hearing is granted, the Academic Honesty & Grievances office will notify your instructor of the grievance and begin the process of scheduling a hearing.
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Before the hearing, the student and instructor submit materials (syllabus, assignment(s), email correspondence, etc.) for the panel members to review.
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The student has up to 30 minutes to present information and evidence to the hearing panel to support their claim of arbitrary and capricious grading.
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The instructor has up to 30 minutes to respond to the student’s claim of arbitrary and capricious grading.
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The panel members ask the students and instructor questions to better understand their materials and arguments. The student and instructor may ask questions of each other through the hearing panel chair.
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After their initial presentations and the question/answer portion of the hearing, the student and instructor have a final 10 minutes each to make closing statements.
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The panel members privately deliberate and decide on the case. In cases where the panel decides in favor of the student, they include an appropriate method to rectify the situation, based on the student’s initial request and the content of the hearing.
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Both parties are informed of the outcome within 15 business days of the hearing.