A student has the right to activate the grade appeal process for students when they believe that the grade they have received for a course is incorrect.

Activation

Written Notice

Unresolved Grade Appeal

Hearing Committee

Final Action on Grade Appeal

Section 1.  Activation:

A.  Prior to activation of the formal grade appeal process it is recommended that the student discuss his/her complaint with the instructor who issued the grade.  

B.   If the student cannot reach the instructor or if the grade is not resolved by the instructor then the student must file a written intent to appeal the grade with the instructor's division office within 2 weeks of the grade's posting.

Section 2.  Written Notice

A.  Once the written notice is filed, the student has until 5 p.m. on February 1^st or 5 p.m. on September 1^st (whichever occurs immediately after the grading period in which the grade was issued) to contact the Division Chair who will set up a meeting between the student, instructor and division chair (or student and instructor if they had not met before).

Section 3.  Unresolved Grade Appeal          

A.  If the grade appeal is still unresolved, the student must submit details in writing to the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs within 10 days of the meeting with the division chair and instructor.

B.   The vice president in return will notify the instructor, student and division chair by certified mail of the formal grade appeal.

Section 4.  Hearing Committee        

A.  Within 15 days of the receipt of the written certified letter, a hearing committee made up of the Division Chair, two faculty members of the same division chosen by the Division Chair, and two students chosen by the USA President will meet to hear the grade appeal.

B.   The instructor and the student who is appealing his/her grade will be invited to be present when this committee meets.

Section 5.  Final Action on Grade Appeal

A.  The written recommendation of this hearing committee will be forwarded to the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs who will act on the grade appeal within15 days of being notified.