GRADE GRIEVANCE

BEFORE INITIATING A GRADE GRIEVANCE, READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. This form is used if you have reason to believe that the grade you were issued is an inaccurate representation of your performance in a class. It is NOT used to request additional time to submit work or to request other accommodation to change your grade.

POLICY: Grades are issued at the sole discretion of the instructor, and, in the absence of mistake, fraud, bad faith, or incompetence, the grade issued by the instructor is final. Students who believe that the grade issued was based on negligent or capricious grading retain the right to file a grade grievance. During a progressive review, the student's concerns will be reviewed by designated individuals under the oversight of the CAO. The decision of the CAO is final.

PROCESS: If you feel that a grade you have been issued is not accurate, you must contact the instructor to discuss your concerns. Except in special circumstances, this meeting must take place prior to filing a grievance. This meeting should take place as soon as possible after the award of the grade, and must be completed no later than the first Friday of the term immediately following the term in which the grade was assigned.

If the instructor determines that the grade posted was incorrect, the instructor will submit a grade change form and no grievance is submitted. 

If no error is found and you are not satisfied after meeting with the instructor, you have the right to file a grade grievance.

LEVEL 1: DEPARTMENT REVIEW

To request departmental review, submit this Grade Grievance form. It must be received no later than Friday of Week 2 of the term immediately following the term in which the grade was assigned. The form will be routed to your program chair (GE chair if a GE course) and your chair will contact you to schedule a meeting to discuss your concerns. The chair will initiate the review within five days of this meeting, and conduct a series of meetings with all relevant parties.

The department chair shall notify you and the instructor of the decision no more than five business days following the final review meeting.

In cases where the chair is also the instructor, the CAO shall designate an alternative reviewer.

LEVEL 2: CAO REVIEW

If either you or the instructor are dissatisfied with the outcome of the Level 1 review, you both have the right to request review by the CAO. This request must be submitted no more than ten business following the date the chair forwarded the decision.

The elevated grade grievance shall be reviewed by the CAO. The CAO will intitiate the review within five business days of receipt of the elevated request. The CAO may form an Academic Grievance Committee, if needed, to conduct the review.

The CAO shall notify all parties of the decision no more than five business days following the final review meeting. The decision of the CAO is final.

QUESTIONS: Registrar@uwest.edu or contact the CAO at CAO@uwest.edu

By signing, I verify that I am the student of record and that all information I have provided and will provide is true. I understand the grievance process as explained on this form, and agree to respond promptly to requests for meetings and documentation. I further undertand that any failure on my part to respond to emails or to participate in scheduled meetings, without cause, will be considered voluntary cancellation of this grievance. I  accept that the decision of the CAO is final.