Navigating academic evaluations is a core part of the university experience. While students generally accept instructor assessments, situations can arise where a student believes their grade is unfair. Concerns might include perceived bias, inconsistencies in course requirements, or uneven application of grading standards. In such instances, open discussion and a structured review process are crucial to uncovering facts and rectifying legitimate errors. It’s important to remember, however, that these processes are designed to address unjust grading, not to challenge an instructor’s fundamental right to evaluate student work within their course.
Grounds for Initiating a Grade Change within Your LSA Course
For a grade change to be considered, a student must demonstrate that the original grade was demonstrably unjust. Simply disagreeing with a grade is not grounds for an appeal. The grade appeal procedures within the LSA (College of Literature, Science, and the Arts) course framework are specifically for reviewing cases of alleged capricious grading. This review is not intended to re-evaluate an instructor’s academic judgment regarding the quality of a student’s work.
Capricious grading, in this context, is defined by specific scenarios:
- Grading Based on Factors Other Than Performance: Assigning a grade based on criteria unrelated to a student’s actual performance in the course.
- Differential Standards: Applying stricter or more demanding grading standards to one student compared to others within the same course.
- Deviation from Announced Standards: Grading in a way that significantly departs from the instructor’s previously communicated grading criteria or syllabus.
It’s important to note that correcting simple clerical errors in grade recording is a separate process and does not require a formal grade appeal. Instructors can correct these errors through a standard Supplementary Grade Report.
The LSA is committed to ensuring fair grading practices and providing students with a clear mechanism for recourse when unjust grades are suspected. The grade appeal procedure is designed to serve this purpose. However, any committee convened to review a grade appeal operates with the understanding that it cannot possess the same in-depth knowledge of the course subject matter and specific materials as the original instructor. The committee also recognizes the inherent degree of subjectivity in grading, acknowledging that the distinction between grades like a C and a B- is often nuanced and not easily subject to precise legalistic arguments. Furthermore, a review committee evaluating a single appeal lacks full insight into the overall caliber of students in the class and must exercise caution not to inadvertently diminish the achievements of other students by unduly raising one individual’s grade. Appeals based solely on perceived differences in grading stringency between instructors or courses are not considered valid grounds for review.
Students considering a grade appeal should be aware that the review committee’s role is not to substitute its judgment for that of the instructor, except in demonstrably clear cases of capricious grading. The burden of proof in challenging an assigned grade rests entirely with the student. In situations where reasonable doubt exists, the original grade will stand. The department’s responsibility to address grade complaints is limited to one term following the term in which the course was taken. This policy ensures timely resolution and aligns with the principles of fair academic assessment as outlined in this LSA course guide.
The Adjudication Process for Grade Appeals in LSA Courses
The process for appealing a grade in an LSA course involves a series of steps designed to ensure fairness and due process:
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Initial Consultation with the Instructor: Within the first two weeks of the subsequent semester, the student must formally communicate their grade concerns in writing to the instructor who assigned the grade. They should request a meeting to discuss the issue. During this meeting, the instructor should explain the rationale behind the grade and allow the student to point out any perceived errors or misunderstandings. If the initial instructor was a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI), the student should first consult with the GSI. If a resolution is not reached with the GSI, the student should then contact the faculty member overseeing the course. If the instructor is unavailable, the student should proceed directly to Step 2. For grades assigned in the Fall term, Step 1 should be completed by January 30th of the following year. For Spring, Summer, or Winter term grades, the deadline is September 30th. Grievances outside this timeframe are considered only under exceptional circumstances.
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Discussion with the Director of PICS: If the meeting with the instructor does not resolve the issue, the student should then discuss the problem with the Director of PICS (Program in International and Comparative Studies). The student must submit a written letter to the Director detailing their complaint. The Director of PICS will then solicit a response from the instructor and determine if sufficient grounds exist to warrant a committee hearing. If the Director of PICS is involved in the grievance, the Director of the International Institute will assume this role.
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Director’s Decision and Student Options: If the Director of PICS concludes that a committee hearing is not warranted, they will inform the student of this decision. However, even if the Director advises against it, the student retains the right to insist on a committee hearing.
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Referral to Ad Hoc Review Committee: If the Director of PICS determines that grounds for a formal hearing exist, or if the student persists in their request despite the Director’s advice, the grievance will be forwarded to an ad hoc review committee.
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Composition of the Review Committee: The review committee consists of three members appointed by the Director of PICS (or the Director of the International Institute if the Director of PICS is recused or has advised against a hearing): two faculty members and one student. The student member will be an undergraduate if the student filing the grievance is an undergraduate, or a graduate student if the grievant is a graduate student.
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Committee Findings and Recommendations: The review committee will conduct its review and submit a written summary of its findings and recommendations to both the instructor and the Director of PICS.
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Outcome if Original Grade is Upheld: If the review committee concludes that the assigned grade should stand, the Director of PICS (or the Director of the International Institute) will inform the student in writing that the grade will not be changed and that no further appeal is possible within the International Studies Program.
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Committee Recommendation for Grade Change: If the review committee concludes that the instructor’s grading was unfair, improper, or injudicious, the Director of PICS will attempt to persuade the instructor to implement the committee’s recommendations for a grade change.
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Instructor Refusal and Final Program Decision: If the instructor declines to change the grade despite the recommendations of the review committee and the Director of PICS, the instructor must provide a written explanation for their refusal to both the student and the Director of PICS. The Director of PICS will then provide the student with a written statement summarizing the appeal process, the review committee’s recommendations, their own assessment of the committee’s findings, and the instructor’s refusal to change the grade. It is crucial to understand that there is no further appeal process beyond the International Studies Program.
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Finality of the Program’s Appeal Mechanism: These procedures represent the complete and final grade appeal mechanism available within the International Studies Program. Once this process has been exhausted, no further appeals within the Program are possible.
An exception to the initial consultation step exists when the instructor is no longer affiliated with the University of Michigan. In such cases, a student may submit a grievance directly to the committee without prior discussion with the instructor. The committee will attempt to contact the former instructor to solicit a response and formulate a recommendation. If these attempts are unsuccessful, the Director of the Program, in consultation with the committee, may approve a grade change.
This LSA course guide aims to provide clarity and transparency regarding the grade appeal process, ensuring students are well-informed of their rights and the procedures available to them within their academic journey.
