Grade Appeals

In the academic community, grades are a measure of student achievement toward fulfillment of course objectives. The responsibility for assessing student achievement and assigning grades rests with the faculty, and, except for unusual circumstances, the course grade given is final.

The grade appeals system affords recourse to a student who has evidence or believes that evidence exists to show that an inappropriate grade has been assigned as a result of error, or that the method of assigning the grade is inconsistent with the method of assigning grades to other students.

Policy

The CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (CUNY SLU) is responsible for determining the requirements and standards of performance for courses and for qualifying examinations CUNY SLU course instructors retain considerable discretion in these matters. The instructor is under obligation, however, to ensure that her/his course syllabus is consistent with the goals of the curriculum of the course. The grading standards in a given course shall reflect levels of difficulty related to the educational objectives of the program.

Instructors have an obligation to students to make clear the basis of evaluation (e.g., reading assignments, student's written submissions, contributions to class discussions, and presentations) at the start of each course so that students are not surprised by unexpected or untimely demands. Grades on examinations or for work in a course are the responsibility of the instructor.

Grade Appeal Procedures

A student who wishes to appeal a grade must initiate the process in the full semester following the semester in which the contested grade was received. Spring and Summer Session courses must be appealed during the following Fall semester, while Fall and Winter session courses must be appealed during the following Spring semester before the last day to withdraw and receive a “W” grade. Appeals that are not initiated by these deadlines will not be considered.

If a student believes that an error was made in the assignment of a grade, she/he should engage in Level 1 of the grade appeal process: speaking with the instructor of the course within 30 days following the posting of the grade. An email message or note requesting an appointment and explaining the problem will give the faculty member an opportunity to gather the appropriate course materials, papers, exams or other submissions so that the ensuing conversation can be meaningful. As a result of this conversation, a faculty member may correct an error and change the grade. If the problem is not resolved between the student and faculty member, the student may then elevate the communication to include the department chair, which constitutes Level 2 of the grade appeal process.

If, after Levels 1 and 2 of the grade appeal process, the issue remains unresolved, the student may initiate a formal grade appeal by completing and submitting a Level 3 Grade Appeal Form to grade.appeal@slu.cuny.edu.

This written Level 3 appeal must be received within 15 days after the completion of Level 2; thus initiating a process with the Academic Appeals Committee. The Academic Appeals Committee will make a decision within 30 days of meeting with all pertinent stakeholders. This Level 3 decision by the Academic Appeals Committee is final.

Be aware that the grade appeal process may result in the awarding of a lower grade than that which the student originally received.