Final Course Grade Appeal Policy and Process

Appeal Process

If a student believes his/her final course grade was awarded in error or was a substantial departure from the standards contained in the course syllabus, the student should contact the instructor immediately after receiving the final grade. All informal discussions about final grades must be initiated within 10 business days beginning with the first day of the following academic semester. The timeline is very important. If the professor is not available, the student should contact the professor’s supervisor. The student should keep copies of the class syllabus and all other work such as exams, quizzes, homework, and in-class assignments. Document everything. If a resolution is not reached, the student may ask for a formal review of the final grade.

Request for a Formal Review of Final Course Grade

1. A request for a formal review must be submitted in writing to the faculty member’s associate dean (or equivalent or designee) within 15 business days of the beginning of the academic semester. A written request for a formal review is required and must include:
   1. The specific complaint, clearly stated;
   2. All relevant course information including syllabus, exams, homework and other graded work; and
   3. A statement of the resolution that the student is seeking.
2. Within five business days of receipt of the student’s appeal, the associate dean (or equivalent or designee) will review the appeal and notify the student, faculty member and dean of academics of his/her decision through College email.
3. If the student does not agree with the decision in Step 2, he/she may appeal to the chairperson of the Campus Final Course Grade Appeal Committee (contact the Dean of Academic Affairs Office). The appeal must be made to the committee chairperson within five business days following the receipt of the associate dean’s (or equivalent or designee) decision. Within five business days of the receipt of the student’s appeal, the committee chairperson will convene the committee. The committee chairperson will notify all of the hearing by College email. The student, faculty member, and associate dean may appear before the committee. Within five business days of the committee hearing, the chairperson will notify the dean of academics of the committee’s written recommendation.
4. Within five business days of receipt of the committee’s recommendation, the dean of academics will notify the student, faculty member, associate dean (or equivalent or designee) of his/her decision through the College email. The decision of the dean of academics is FINAL and cannot be appealed.
5. The dean of academics may extend any of the timelines specified above if extenuating circumstances makes this necessary.

Note: Please refer to www.palmbeachstate.edu/Academic-Affairs/Final-Grade-Appeal website for student final course Grade Appeal Forms.

Campus Final Course Grade Appeal Committee

Who will be on the committee?

The campus academic dean shall select the members for the Campus Final Course Grade Appeals Committee. If a campus has Health Sciences and/or Public Safety programs, the campus academic dean shall also select the members for a Final Course Grade Appeals Committee for each of these program areas.

Unless otherwise required by program accreditation, the committee shall be composed of six persons including two students, three faculty and one administrator. In addition, three alternates will be identified. Faculty, staff and students who are directly involved in the case may not serve on the committee. The academic dean shall select one of the committee members to serve as chairperson.

What role will the chairperson have on the committee?

• Facilitate the hearing process, only voting in case of a tie.
• Call the hearing to order and introduce all members present.
• Explain to the student and all participants the manner in which the hearing will be conducted.
• Maintain proper decorum and order.
• Ensure that the student and the faculty have the opportunity to testify and present evidence.
• Ensure that all available relevant evidence is presented and that the recommendation is based upon the appeal criteria, evidence and any testimony given.
• Call a recess at his/her discretion.

What will happen during the hearing?

• Opening remarks will be given by the chairperson.
• The student will present any evidence supporting the appeal.
• Faculty will present their reply.
• At the conclusion of the hearing, the participants will be excused, and in closed session, a recommendation will be rendered by a majority vote.

How will the committee make its recommendation?

The process for determining the outcome of the hearing is called deliberation. This process involves a review of the criteria, evidence and testimony, discussion and a vote. The committee will use the preponderance of evidence standard to determine whether the grade should stand or be changed. The chairperson will ensure that only evidence presented at the hearing itself may be taken into account in reaching a decision and that the committee adheres to the standards of confidentiality. A recommendation will be delivered via College email within five business days to the campus academic dean.

How will the dean of academics notify all of his/her decisions?

Within five business days of receipt of the Final Course Grade Appeals Committee’s recommendation, the campus academic dean will notify the student, faculty and committee chairperson through College email of his/her decision. The decision of the campus academic dean is final*.

*The Academic Dean is the President’s designee, per Board Policy 6Hx-18-3.34.

Enacted July 2004 in Section G from existing policy; revised July 2010; July 2011; July 2014; July 2015