13.5 Grade Reviews
Administrative, arithmetical, or mechanical error
Ordinarily, once a grade has been posted to a student’s academic record, the grade becomes final. A student may submit a request for a Grade Review directly to an instructor if the student believes that an administrative, arithmetical, or mechanical error has occurred. (Note: this process does not allow an instructor to consider new information, to reevaluate the substance of a student’s work, or to consider factors outside of the academic work.)
All grade review requests related to administrative, arithmetical, or mechanical grading errors must be submitted by the first day of the first full quarter after the grade has been posted to the student’s academic record (e.g. for an Autumn quarter grade that is posted in Winter, then the deadline for the grievance will be the first day of the subsequent Spring quarter).
Upon receipt of the grade review request, the instructor will review the student’s submission and the student’s exam, paper, or other academic work to determine whether an administrative error occurred. The instructor shall then inform the student in writing as to the outcome of the student’s request. The instructor shall respond to the student’s request within 15 business days from receipt of the request, if practicable.
The instructor’s decision shall be final and is not subject to review by or appeal to the Dean, Deputy Dean, Dean of Students, the Registrar, or other administrators. Once final grades for graduating students have been sent to the University Registrar, no grade may be changed by an instructor for any reason.
Gross procedural irregularity / exam maladministration
A student may submit request for a Grade Review to the Dean of Students or the Deputy Dean in the event that a grade may be adversely affected by a gross procedural irregularity, by non-academic criteria, or by an exam maladministration. For example, such irregularities could include a failure of exam software, an improper procedure being followed, or an approved accommodation not being properly implemented. All grade review requests related to gross procedural irregularity other than exam maladministration must be submitted by the first day of classes of the first full quarter after the grade has been received (e.g. for an Autumn quarter grade that is posted in Winter, then the deadline for the grade review request will be the first day of the subsequent Spring quarter).
Upon receipt of the request, the Dean of Students or Deputy Dean will review the student’s submission and any other relevant items. The Dean of Students or Deputy Dean may also interview the relevant instructor, administrators, or other individuals. The Dean of Students or Deputy Dean will respond to the student’s grade review request within three weeks (15 working days) from the receipt of the request, if practicable.
The decision by the Dean of Students or the Deputy Dean shall be final and is not subject to review by the Dean or any other administrators. Note: in the event that the Dean of Students or Deputy Dean does determine that non-academic criteria were used in the process of grading, the student may be offered an opportunity to receive a grade of “P**” to indicate passing in lieu of the original grade submitted by the instructor if warranted.
Special procedures for Grade Reviews related to exam maladministration
In the circumstances in which a student believes that a procedural irregularity or maladministration of an exam may adversely impact their grade, the student is expected to promptly contact the Dean of Students, typically within 24 hours of completing the exam, and should not wait for the receipt of the grade. For circumstances related to such issues, once the grade has been posted to a student’s academic record, the grade becomes final and may no longer be reviewed through this process.