Students generally trust the evaluations their instructors provide for their academic work. However, situations arise where a student might believe their academic performance has been graded unfairly or improperly. Common reasons for such concerns include perceived bias, unexpected changes in course requirements, or inconsistencies in grading standards. In these instances, open discussion and mediation can help uncover the facts and determine if a legitimate issue needs to be addressed. It’s important to note, however, that these processes are not designed to challenge an instructor’s fundamental right to evaluate student work.
Grounds for Appealing a Grade in LSA Courses at UMICH
To successfully appeal a grade, a student must demonstrate that the original grade was unjust. Simply being dissatisfied with a grade is not sufficient grounds for an appeal. The grade appeal procedures are specifically intended for reviewing cases of alleged capricious grading, not for reassessing an instructor’s academic judgment of a student’s work quality.
Capricious grading, in this context, includes the following scenarios:
- Grading Based on Factors Other Than Performance: Assigning a grade based on criteria unrelated to the student’s actual performance in the course.
- Unequal Application of Standards: Grading a student using stricter or more demanding standards than those applied to other students in the same course.
- Deviation from Announced Standards: Assigning a grade that significantly departs from the grading standards the instructor initially communicated to the class.
It’s important to note that correcting simple clerical errors in grading is not considered a grade appeal. Instructors can rectify these errors by submitting a Supplementary Grade Report.
The University of Michigan’s LSA program recognizes the importance of fair grading and provides students with a formal process to address unjust grades. This grade appeal procedure serves as that essential mechanism for redress. However, it’s crucial to understand that any committee reviewing a grade appeal cannot possess the same depth of knowledge about the course subject matter or the specific materials used as the original instructor. Furthermore, grading inherently involves a degree of subjectivity. The distinction between a C and a B-, for example, is often nuanced and not easily quantifiable through a formal appeal process. When evaluating an individual case, a committee lacks the broader perspective of the overall student performance distribution within the class and must exercise caution in raising an individual grade. Adjusting one student’s grade could inadvertently diminish the perceived achievements of other students who performed well and received appropriately higher grades. Appeals based solely on the argument that one instructor’s grading standards are more rigorous than another’s are not considered valid.
Students considering a grade appeal should be aware that the review committee’s role is not to substitute their judgment for that of the instructor, except in demonstrably clear cases of capricious grading. The student initiating the appeal bears the burden of proof. In cases where reasonable doubt exists, the original grade will be upheld. The department’s responsibility to address a grade complaint is limited to one term following the term in which the course was taken.
The Grade Appeal Adjudication Process at UMICH LSA
The adjudication process for grade appeals within the LSA program at the University of Michigan involves a series of structured steps designed to ensure fairness and due process.
Step 1: Initial Discussion with the Instructor
Within the first two weeks of the semester following the one in which the grade was received, the student should formally communicate their grade concerns in writing to the instructor or professor who assigned the grade. This communication should include a request for a meeting to discuss the matter. During this meeting, the instructor is expected to explain the rationale behind the assigned grade and provide the student with an opportunity to articulate any perceived errors or misunderstandings.
If the instructor who assigned the grade 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 or professor is unavailable or unresponsive, the student should proceed directly to Step 2. For grades received in the Fall term, Step 1 should ideally be completed by January 30th of the following year. For grades received in the Spring, Summer, or Winter terms, the deadline is September 30th. Grievances submitted beyond these timelines will only be considered under exceptional circumstances.
Step 2: Consultation with the Director of PICS
If the initial meeting with the instructor does not resolve the student’s concerns, the next step is to discuss the issue with the Director of PICS (presumably a program or department within LSA). The student must submit a formal letter to the Director of PICS detailing the specifics of their complaint. The Director will then solicit a response from the instructor and assess whether there is sufficient basis to warrant a committee hearing. If the Director of PICS is personally involved in the grievance, their responsibilities will be assumed by the Director of the International Institute (or another designated authority).
Step 3: Director’s Decision and Student Options
If the Director of PICS determines that the complaint does not warrant a committee hearing, 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.
Step 4: Referral to an Ad Hoc Review Committee
If the Director of PICS finds grounds for a formal hearing, or if the student persists in requesting a hearing despite the Director’s recommendation, the grievance will be referred to an ad hoc review committee.
Step 5: Composition of the Review Committee
The review committee is formed by the Director of PICS (or the Director of the International Institute, under the conditions mentioned in Step 2 and 3). It consists of three members: two faculty members and one student. The student member will be an undergraduate if the student filing the grievance is an undergraduate, and a graduate student if the grievant is a graduate student.
Step 6: Committee Findings and Recommendations
The review committee will conduct its review and submit a written summary of their findings and recommendations to both the instructor involved and the Director of PICS.
Step 7: Outcome if Original Grade is Upheld
If the review committee concludes that the original grade should stand, the Director of PICS (or the Director of the International Institute) will formally inform the student in writing that the grade will not be changed. At this point, no further appeals are possible within the International Studies Program (or relevant LSA department).
Step 8: Committee Recommendation for Grade Change
If the review committee finds that the instructor did not act fairly, properly, or judiciously in assigning the grade, the Director of PICS will attempt to persuade the instructor to implement the committee’s recommendations, which typically involve changing the grade.
Step 9: Instructor Refusal and Final Review
If the instructor declines to change the grade, even after 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 entire appeal process, including the review committee’s recommendations, the Director’s own evaluation of the committee’s findings, and the instructor’s refusal to change the grade. It is critical to note that there is no further level of appeal beyond the International Studies Program within LSA at UMICH.
Step 10: Finality of the Program’s Procedures
These procedures represent the complete and final grade appeal mechanism available within the International Studies Program at UMICH. Once these procedures have been exhausted, no further appeals are possible within the Program.
Exception for Unavailable Instructors
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 make an effort to contact the instructor to obtain 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.
Conclusion
The LSA program at UMICH provides a structured process for students to appeal grades they believe to be unjust. This process is designed to be thorough and fair, balancing the student’s right to due process with the instructor’s academic judgment. While the process exists to address legitimate concerns about capricious grading, students should understand that the burden of proof rests with them, and the process is not intended to simply re-evaluate the subjective assessment of their academic work. Understanding these procedures is a crucial part of navigating your academic journey within the LSA program at the University of Michigan.
