GRADE APPEALS: At the University
of Wisconsin-Whitewater it is expected
that instructors will evaluate students
regularly and consistently by criteria and
guidelines presented to students at the
beginning of each grading period. If a
student has reason to believe the grade is
incorrect the student may act on that by
taking the following steps in chronological
order. A complaint which is timely filed
under any other student complaint
procedure and then referred for
processing under these procedures, shall
be considered to have met the deadline
for filing as a grade appeal.
Informal Process
Consult the instructor whose grade is
being appealed. This consultation must
take place within 7 calendar days of start
of classes after the grading period in
question.
If the student/instructor conference is
unsatisfactory or if the instructor is
unwilling or unable to participate, within 7
calendar days the student may schedule a
conference with the chair of the
department in which the course was
offered.
After hearing the student's appeal, the
chair will attempt to resolve the problem
within 7 calendar days.
If this resolution is unsatisfactory, the
student may then, within 7 calendar days
after receiving the chairperson's response,
submit a written appeal to the
Department's Grade Appeals Committee
through the chairperson. This will initiate
the Formal Appeal Process.
Formal Process
The appeal must be in writing and
signed by the student.
The Department Grade Appeals
Committee will
convene to examine the appeal, the
response and render its conclusion in
writing to the chair, student and instructor,
within 14 calendar days of receipt of the
appeal.
While the Grade Appeals Committee
cannot require the instructor to change a
student's grade, the Committee can
recommend such a change to the
instructor and to the Dean of the College
in which the course is offered.
Should the student wish to appeal
beyond the department, the student may
submit the Committee findings and the
basis for the further appeal to the Dean of
the College in which the course was
offered, within 3 calendar days of
presentation of Committee findings. The
Dean will review the student's appeal and
the findings of the Committee, and
recommend appropriate action to the
department and the instructor within 14
days of receipt of the appeal.
If this action is unsatisfactory to the
student, a final appeal may be made to the
Provost who will determine whether a
change in grade is to be made within 14
days of receipt of the appeal. The Provost
is the only individual authorized to change
a student grade without the instructor's
permission. However, the Provost may
change a grade only when the faculty
department committee and the Dean
support such a change.