Grading/Class Related Appeals

Generally, student complaints about grades or other class related performance assessments
can be addressed by the instructor of record and the student.  When that cannot be
achieved, the student may have his/her complaint addressed by the procedure outlined
below.  Faculty, other classroom professionals, and students’ rights are to be protected and
their human dignity respected.  Grading and other class related complaints are to be filed
initially within thirty days following the alleged precipitating action on which the
complaint is based.  Except where extenuating circumstances render it unreasonable, the
outcome of a complaint that reaches the level of department/division head (exception Dean
of Architecture and of Nursing) will be reviewed within thirty days and a written
notification of outcome will be provided to the student.  Where a complaint must be
reviewed at each level, the entire process should be completed within ninety days of receipt
of the complaint.

In those instances where students believe that miscommunication, errors, or unfairness of
any kind may have adversely affected the instructor’s assessment of their academic
performance, the student has a right to appeal by following the procedure listed and by
doing so within thirty days of receiving the grade or experiencing any other problematic
academic event that prompted the complaint:

1. The student should meet with the instructor of record, preferably during his/her office
   hours, to present the grievance and any supporting documentation that the grade or
   outcome of a class related concern should have been different. 
2. If the instructor is no longer at the university of if the subject of the grievance arises
   when faculty are not expected to be on duty for a week or more, the student should
   report to his or her advisor or the absent faculty member’s immediate supervisor
   (department head, division head, or dean if in School of Architecture or College of
   Nursing). 
3. If the issue is not resolved at the faculty level and the student wishes to pursue the
   issue beyond the instructor, he/she should meet with his/her academic advisor even if
   the grade or other issue is not in the department, division, school, or college in which
   the student’s class is being offered.  The advisor will intervene appropriately, but if
   unable to negotiate an agreement between the student and his/her instructor, will direct
   the student to follow each level of the appeals procedures items 4 through 10 below. 
4. If no agreement can be reached following discussion among the advisor, the student,
   and the instructor, the student should write a letter to the instructor’s immediate
   supervisor.  In the School of Architecture; or School of Nursing the Dean; in all other
   colleges the immediate supervisor of faculty, teaching assistants, laboratory assistants
   and other classroom professionals is the department or division head.  The letter or
   form should present the grievance, the rationale for it, and the remedy sought.  The
   letter or form should be sent at least one week prior to the student’s scheduled
   appointment to meet with the instructor’s immediate supervisor. 
5. If the instructor’s immediate supervisor cannot resolve the issue to the student’s
   satisfaction and the student wishes to pursue the matter, the instructor’s immediate
   supervisor will refer the matter to a three to five person faculty appeals panel, one of
   whom must be a part-time faculty person if part-time faculty members are employed in
   the department, school or college.  The panel will review the grievance and make a
   recommendation to the instructor’s immediate supervisor. 
6. If no agreement is reached and the student decides to appeal the matter further, he/she
   should send a letter or any published form used for this purpose to the person above
   the instructor’s immediate supervisor. 
7. If the student believes that the decision of the highest official in the College or School,
   the dean, deserves further review due to flaws in the previous reviews or due to his/her
   having information of such nature as to potentially impact the outcome, the student
   should provide a written request for review to the Provost and Vice President for
   Academic Affairs who will employ a review process appropriate to the situation and
   notify the dean of the outcome.  The dean will notify the student of the outcome.  A
   decision that has reached review by the Admissions and Academic Standards
   Committee is final.
8. Grading and other class related academic issues are referred in writing to the Office of
   the President only in instances where a preponderance of the evidence reveals that a
   student’s Constitutional rights or human dignity may have been violated.  The Provost
   and Vice President for Academic Affairs will transmit to the President the entire
   record of reviews conducted at each level if requested by the President following
   his/her receipt of the student’s written appeal.  The President will employ a review
   process appropriate to the matter presented and notify the Provost and Vice President
   for Academic Affairs and dean of the outcome.  The dean will notify the student of the
   outcome. 
9. If the class related complaint is related to issues including but not limited to sexual
   harassment, violence, drug use, possession of firearms, or other behaviors prohibited
   by federal law, state law, Texas A&M University System policy or University
   regulations, the student may select one of the following options: 
   
   Option A: Report the incident, in writing, to the instructor’s or other classroom
   professional’s immediate supervisor (department head, division head, or dean). 
   
   Option B: Report the incident, in writing, to the Director of Human Resources in
   Room 109 Harrington Science Building or to the Provost and Vice President for
   Academic Affairs in Room 212 A.I. Thomas Building. 
10. If the class related complaint involves another student(s) and is related to issues
    including, but not limited to sexual harassment, violence, drug use, possession of
    firearms, or other behaviors prohibited by federal law, state law, Texas A&M
    University System policy or University regulations, the student should report the
    incident to the Office of the Vice President for Student and Enrollment Services.