Student Appeal of Final Grade

1. The student must file a written appeal with the chair of the academic unit* with a copy to the instructor not later than 120 days after the grade was officially recorded. The appeal shall include (1) a statement that the student has tried but failed to resolve the question with the instructor and (2) specific reasons for the appeal and supporting documentation. If two or more students in a class wish to appeal their grades, each individual student must follow the appeal procedure. A decision must be made individually for each student in cases where two or more students from a class are making a grade appeal.
2. The chair shall attempt to resolve the issue informally. Resolution requires agreement of both faculty member and student. The resolution shall be stated in writing and filed in the chair's office, with copies given to the student and the faculty member.

FORMAL PHASE:

3. If the issue cannot be resolved informally, the chair shall notify the Dean of Faculty, who shall appoint an appeals committee. The appeals committee shall consist of: The Dean of Faculty (chair); one faculty member from the division/program in which the appeal is being made who is in as closely related discipline as possible to the course in question; one faculty member form any other academic unit; and a student from the same program in which the appeal is being made. The committee shall be charged to weigh evidence, deliberate, and find for or against the appeal.** A decision for the appeal will require a grade change; a decision against the appeal will require no further action.
   
   The instructor and student may be present for the appeal hearing. The instructor and student are also to receive copies of all written statements submitted in the grade appeal process.
   
   In cases in which the committee finds for the appeal, the committee will recommend the letter grade it feels to be appropriate. The decision as to the grade given, however, will be made after consultation with the faculty member involved in the appeal and the student making the appeal. The final grade will then be submitted by the committee to the Registrar.
   
   The appeals committee shall arrive at a decision within two class weeks of the time of its constitution. The decision will be by written ballot. A copy of the committee's action shall be filed in the Dean's Office and sent to the faculty member involved in the appeal, and to the student making the appeal. In all cases reasonable speed shall be pursued and in no case should a faculty member work to impede the grade appeal process.
4. In cases involving graduation, all reasonable speed shall be pursued. Allowing for proper deliberation, however, may well require delaying the student's graduation.

*If a chair is the instructor whose grade is appealed, the student shall initiate the grade appeal with the Dean of Faculty (Lamoni) or Dean of Nursing (Independence).