Appendix B: Grade Appeal
1. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate the grade appeal procedure.
2. The student must first discuss the course grade fully with the instructor of the course. This must be done no later than thirty (30) calendar days into the succeeding semester beginning with the first day of classes.
The MWSC Student Handbook allows for grade appeal only under the following circumstances and the Department adheres to these grounds:
1. clerical error
2. capricious grading, defined as
a. The assignment of a grade to a particular student on some basis other than the performance in the course;
b. The assignment of a grade to a particular student by resort to more exacting or demanding standards than were applied to other students in the course;
c. The assignment of a grade by a substantial departure from the instructor’s previously announced standards.
Departmental Responsibility and Procedure:
1. If after a meaningful discussion with the instructor (which must take place within thirty [30] calendar days into the succeeding regular academic semester, beginning with the first day of classes) the student feels he/she has grounds for appeal under the criteria above, the student must submit to the Department Chair a written statement explaining the discussion with the instructor and citing the grounds for appeal and requesting that a grade appeal committee be formed. The written request must be received no later than ten calendar days after the aforementioned 30-day deadline. The student will provide any evidence relevant to the claim.
2. Upon receipt of the written appeal, the Chair will insure that the student has met with the instructor. A Grade Appeal Committee will be formed (as outlined in Section II.B.i of the Department Policy Guide) and first review whether the appeal is valid under the Grounds for Appeal above.
3. If the Committee proceeds, it will follow the procedures outlined in Section II.B.i of the Departmental Policy Guide, keeping such records as necessary until the deadline for filing an appeal with the MWSC Academic Regulations and Standards Committee has passed.