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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 final 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, or (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
If a student believes an assigned final grade was issued in error, the student must email the instructor within 5 days of the end of the semester or session regarding the accuracy of the final grade received. All supporting documentation should be included in this email. The instructor has 10 days to provide an explanation for the grade and reference grading procedures for the assignment and/or course. If the final grade was assigned in error, the instructor will correct the grade. All written correspondence must be via LIM College email.
Step 2: Student-Initiated Discussion with Department Chair/Head
If the student is not satisfied with the instructor’s decision or if the instructor has not responded to the initial appeal, the student may request a meeting with the Department Chair/Head/Dean. This request must be made in writing via LIM College email within seven days of the meeting between the student and the instructor, or after the 10 days have passed without a response from the faculty. 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 Career and Internship Services courses, appeals should be submitted to the Assistant Vice President for Career and Internship Services or designee. For First Year Experience courses, appeals should be submitted to the Chair of Fashion Merchandising and Marketing or designee. For courses in which the Department Chair/Dean is the instructor, students should proceed directly to Step 3.
If the student fails to initiate and proceed with Step 2 within the allotted time frame, it will be assumed that the grade appeal has been resolved or abandoned.
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 Department Chair/Head/Dean 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 Final Grade Appeal Petition to the either the Dean of Graduate Studies (or Provost) and CC the Director of Academic Support Services by January 15 for fall courses, June 15 for spring courses, and September 15 for summer courses. Supporting documentation and materials may be submitted with the Final Grade Appeal Petition. The petition and all supporting documentation and materials must be made in writing via LIM College email.
Within 30 days of receipt of the Final Grade Appeal Petition, the Dean 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 Dean will then issue a final decision either upholding or changing the grade in question. The Dean will inform the instructor, the Department Chair and the student in writing as to the decision. If the grade in question is to be changed, the Dean will submit a Change of Grade Form to the LIM College Registrar. The decision made by the Dean is final and there are no further options for appeal.
In cases where the Dean of Graduate Studies is the instructor who assigned the grade in question, the Provost will facilitate the process outlined in Step 3.
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