Grade Appeals

If a student believes he or she has received a course grade that is not reflective of the quality of work put forth in accordance with the expectations outlined in the course syllabus, the following procedure provides a way for that student to appeal the grade and address his or her concerns. However, the student should not assume that any grade appeal will be successful.

The first step is to contact the instructor upon posting of the final course grade. Final course grades are posted online through Spartan Space the week following the end of the course. In the event that the instructor is no longer employed by the University, the grade appeal will be determined by the Division Chair. This first step should be completed in writing by letter or e-mail no later than 30 days after the beginning of the semester following the one in which the disputed final grade was received (30 days into the Spring semester for a Fall or Winterim course or 30 days into the Fall semester for a Spring or Summer course). The appeal must be factually based and the evidence for the appeal clearly explained. An appeal may be based on one of the following standards: (1) the recorded grade is an error or (2) the grade determination was not reflective of the quality of work put forth in accordance with the expectations outlined in the course syllabus. These are the only legitimate grounds for an appeal. Students may not appeal an individual test, assignment, or project grade.

Upon receipt of the appeal, the instructor has fourteen (14) days to evaluate and respond in writing. The instructor's response need only notify the student as to whether the appeal has been sustained or denied. If the instructor determines that the grade should be changed, the instructor will file a Change of Grade Form with the Records Office. A copy of that communication will be provided to the student and to the Division Chair.
If the instructor denies the appeal, the student may next appeal to the Division Chair responsible for the course within fourteen (14) days of receiving the instructor's decision. If the course instructor is the Division Chair, or if the Division Chair reviewed the original appeal because the instructor is no longer with the University, the appeal would be to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. To initiate the second-level appeal, the student must submit the following items to the Division Chair ( or the Vice President for Academic Affairs, when appropriate) and to the Records Office: signed Grade Appeal Form, the instructor's written denial, and an explanation with supporting evidence as to why the denial is deemed to be unjustified. The Grade Appeal Form is available in the Records Office and can be downloaded from the MBU website.

The Division Chair will consider the grade appeal and review the points of disagreement and thereby determine whether the grade was recorded in error, or whether the award of the grade was not reflective of the quality of work put forth in accordance with the expectations outlined in the course syllabus.
The Division Chair will render judgment as to whether the grade that has been assigned is the accurate grade. The Division Chair's decision will be the final determination of the grade.

grade_appeals_form06101.pdf