Students may appeal a course grade. Course grade 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 appeal, the student must first review their assignments with the course instructor to determine if a clerical or bookkeeping error has occurred.
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 appeal.
Course Grade Appeal Process
- The student will inform the Office of Academic Affairs (acadaffairs@cottey.edu) of intent to file a course grade appeal no later than the end of the fourth week of the semester following the course grade in question. The Office of Academic Affairs will supply the student with an Intent to File Course Grade Appeal Form, which requires the student to provide a rationale for appeal.
- The VPAA will convene an academic appeal committee (see “Academic Appeal Committee” for composition of the committee).
- The student must submit all appeal materials to the Office of Academic Affairs (acadaffairs@cottey.edu) within two weeks of submitting an intent to appeal.
- Student appeal materials are shared with the course instructor and the Academic Appeal Committee after receipt by the Office of Academic Affairs.
- The course instructor has two weeks to prepare materials for committee consideration.
- The committee will consider only the materials which have been submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs.
- The Academic Appeal Committee 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.