The purpose of the grade appeals system is to afford an opportunity for an undergraduate or graduate student to appeal a final course grade under certain circumstances. Faculty judgment of students' academic performance is inherent in the grading process and hence should not be overturned except when the student can show that the grade awarded represents a gross violation of the instructor's own specified evaluation (grading) statement and therefore was awarded in an arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory manner. The evaluation (grading) statement utilized during the grade appeals process is the one contained in the instructor's syllabus at the beginning of the semester. For further assistance, please contact your department chair. For detailed instructions on the process, please review the "Grade Appeals System" document. This system does not apply to preliminary or comprehensive exams or to thesis or dissertation defenses; these issues are reviewed by the Student Academic Relations Committee via the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement. If you need further information about the Student Academic Relations Committee, please contact Dr. Jennifer Buchanan, Associate Vice President of Faculty Development and Advancement, at 644-6876.

*(Approved by Faculty Senate and Student Senate October 19, 2005; Effective December 19, 2005)