The Academic Appeals Board considers both course grade re-evaluation and academic dishonesty disciplinary actions. It is the choice and responsibility of the student to file an appeal petition. The student is encouraged to consult with the student’s advisor or the vice president for academic affairs.
Course grade re-evaluation appeals must be based either on clerical or bookkeeping errors or on allegations of capricious, illogical, unjust, or unprofessional grading. No appeal can be made until a final course grade is assigned. Prior to beginning a course grade re-evaluation petition, the student must first review their assignments with the course instructor to determine if a clerical or bookkeeping error has occurred.
If the student cannot be physically present for the review conference, other forms of communication are acceptable. If it is determined that a clerical or bookkeeping error has occurred, the course instructor will submit a grade correction to the Office of Academic Records. If, after the assignment review, the final course grade is still in dispute, the student may choose to prepare a course grade re-evaluation petition.
Course Grade Re-Evaluation Process
- The student will inform the Office of Academic Affairs of intent to file a course grade re-evaluation petition no later than the end of the fourth week of the semester following the course grade in question.
- The Office of Academic Affairs will then inform the chair of the Academic Appeals Board and the course instructor that an intent to appeal a course grade has been submitted. If the chair is involved with the case, the chair must recuse themselves and another chair appointed by the vice president for academic affairs (VPAA). The student will select one or two full-time faculty members to sit on the Academic Appeals Board. It is the student’s option to select one or two. Faculty members may decline to serve. The chair will contact members of the volunteer full-time faculty pool for two or three additional members. All four members of the board should have no involvement with the grade re-evaluation case.
- The student must submit all petition materials to the Office of Academic Affairs within two weeks of submitting the intent to petition. See the “Course Grade Re-evaluation Petition” on My Cottey, under “Forms.” The petition requires the student to provide a rationale for appeal.
- Student petition materials are shared with the course instructor and the Academic Appeals Board after receipt by the Office of Academic Affairs.
- The course instructor has two weeks to prepare materials for board consideration.
- The board will consider only the materials which have been submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs.
- The Academic Appeals Board will submit their recommendation to the VPAA no later than the end of the twelfth week of the semester in which the petition was submitted.
The VPAA’s decision is final.