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It is the instructor’s prerogative to evaluate student work and assign grades in accordance with their academic and professional judgment. Grounds to appeal an assigned grade include, but are not limited to: (a) the application of nonacademic criteria in the grading process (b) evaluation of student work by criteria not directly reflective of performance relative to course requirements, and (c) a miscalculation of the grade according to information contained in the course syllabus or other posted or distributed course information. Grade appeals must be finalized before the awarding of the degree. A student who wishes to appeal an assigned grade may avail themselves of the following process.
Step 1: Student-Initiated Discussion with Instructor
When a student is not satisfied with an assigned grade, the student should first confer with the instructor regarding the accuracy of the grade received. The instructor will provide an explanation for the grade and reference grading procedures for the assignment and course. If the grade was assigned in error, the instructor will correct the grade.
Step 2: Student-Initiated Discussion with the Chair of Graduate Studies
If the student is not satisfied with the instructor’s decision, the student may request a meeting with the Chair of Graduate Studies. This request must be made in writing via LIM College email within seven days of the meeting between the student and the instructor. The request for an appointment must include a statement asserting the basis for the appeal and a summary of efforts made thus far to resolve the grade in question.
For Experiential Education courses, appeals should be submitted to the Assistant Vice President for Career and Internship Services or designee. For courses in which the Chair of Graduate Studies is the instructor, students should proceed directly to Step 3.
Step 3: Student-Initiated Submission of Grade Appeal Petition
A student may not move to Step 3 without having completed Steps 1 and 2, except when the instructor and the Chair of Graduate Studies is the same person.
If, upon completion of Steps 1 and 2, the student is not satisfied with the outcome, the student should submit a Grade Appeal Petition to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs by February 15 for Semester 1 courses, July 15 for Semester 2 courses, and September 15 for Semester 3 courses. Supporting documentation and materials may be submitted with the Grade Appeal Petition.
Within 30 days of receipt of the Grade Appeal Petition, the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will review all material submitted by the student, the instructor’s grading criteria, the instructor’s evaluation of the student’s work, and any other pertinent material. The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will then issue a final decision either upholding or changing the grade in question. The Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will inform the instructor and the student in writing as to the decision. If the grade in question is to be changed, the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will submit a Change of Grade Form to the LIM College Registrar. The decision made by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs is final and there are no further options for appeal.
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