Academic Appeals Form

This form is an opportunity for you to appeal any decisions made with regard to academic policies or an academic concern or problem of a general nature. The information you provide is held in strict confidence and handled according to the description of each policy. Your honest response is assumed and appreciated. If you have further questions or concerns, please contact the Provost’s Office at provost@oglethorpe.edu.

First Name

Last Name

Birthdate

OU Student ID Number

Email Address

Phone Number

Advisor's Name

Before completing this form, please refer to the OU Bulletin Section 3.9, which provides a general overview of academic complaints, waivers, and appeals.

Please select one of the following:

If Applicable Enter the Course Number, Section and Name.

Instructor Name

Instructor Email

DIRECTIONS:

Please give the full details of your appeal, including a compelling argument.

Though it may be obvious for appeals on drop/add/withdrawal, please include the full course details below: number, name, section, time, professor, etc.

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URGENT NOTE:
Since you are ONLY allowed to submit this appeal ONCE, please make sure that you do not leave out anything important. You will not be able to add details to your appeal once submitted. To be clear, you cannot submit multiple appeals on the same issue.

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Appeal Detail Statement (Please provide all the details of your case):

Attach Documentation

Grade Appeal Policy (as of 2015-09-02)

Students may appeal only the final grade assigned in a course, and only for reason. Valid reasons are limited to:
1.   The grade was assigned in an arbitrary manner (meaning it reflects a substantial deviation from accepted academic norms and/or from stated procedures found in the course syllabus or elsewhere), or

2.   The grade was assigned in a prejudicial manner (meaning it was based at least partly on ill-will and is at odds with the stated means by which grades are to be determined in the course), or

3.   At least one factor contributing to the grade is in violation of University regulations or in violation of state or federal law, or

4.   There was an error in fact in the manner in which the grade was determined.

Students and faculty members should make every effort to informally resolve grade disputes. The grade appeal policy provides a method of last resort if informal deliberations fail to satisfy all parties.

The grade appeal policy applies only when a student initiates such an appeal. The grade appeal policy does not apply if an instructor voluntarily elects to change a final grade, nor does it apply to any portion of a grade (up to and including the final course grade) which may have resulted from a disciplinary action (such as punishment for an honor code liability). Grade appeals which may occur in conjunction with an alleged violation of Oglethorpe’s policy prohibiting discrimination, harassment and retaliation must be deferred until the grievance procedure detailed in that policy has fully concluded. Throughout this policy, any reference to “instructor” is understood to be a reference to the instructor of record.

If a student feels that he/she has a valid reason to appeal a final course grade, and if informal negotiations with the instructor have not yielded relief, then the student may formally appeal the grade as follows.

Timeliness: Any grade appeal must be initiated no later than the last day of classes of the semester immediately following the one where the grade was issued. If for any reason the instructor of the course is unavailable (e.g., is away for the summer, is on a sabbatical leave, etc.) the division chair will attempt to confer with the instructor to determine whether to proceed or delay the process until the instructor’s return. If the instructor is unable to return within one semester of the initiation of the grade appeal, the division chair will assume authority for the role of the instructor in the process.

Step 1: The student (either in person or via e-mail) requests from the provost’s office an official grade appeal form. On that form the student will state why he/she feels the particular grade should be changed, providing as many details as possible. The only valid bases for appeal are the four listed above. The completed and signed form, along with any relevant supporting documentation, must be returned (either in person or via e-mail) to the provost’s office within five business days of the form having been given or sent to the student.

Step 2: The associate provost will forward the appeal and all supporting documentation to the instructor for the course in question. The instructor has 15 business days to respond to the associate provost and the student in writing, either agreeing or refusing to change the grade. If the instructor agrees to change the grade, the appropriate change of grade form must be filed with the registrar within the ensuing five business days. In this case, the appeal is concluded. In the case of a refusal, the instructor will explain the reasons for the refusal, adding as many details as possible. If the student still wishes to continue the appeal, the student will notify the associate provost of this fact within the next five business days following the announcement of the instructor’s decision. In this case, the process moves to Step 3.

Step 3: The associate provost forwards the original appeal, the instructor’s response and all supporting materials to the chair of the division in which the course is housed. In the case of a Core course, the Core Director will serve as the relevant division chair. If the instructor is the chair, the associate provost will select the chair of a different division to serve in his/her stead. If the course is not housed within the Core or one of the regular divisions, a chair of one of the divisions will be selected to serve in this role by the associate provost. The chair will review the materials, and may elect to interview the student, the instructor and any other potential witnesses. Following this process, the chair summarizes his/her findings and delivers a written judgment to the associate provost, who will inform the other parties of the chair’s decision. The chair’s decision is conditionally binding (see Step 4) on both parties. If the chair decides that the grade should be changed, the chair will have sole authority on determining what the new grade should be.

Step 4: If either party can compellingly argue that the result of Step 3 is unjust, he/she has five business days from the date of notification of the chair’s decision to make such arguments in writing and to request the provost render a final decision in the matter. The provost will review all reports and documentation affiliated with the appeal, and may opt to interview the student, the instructor or any witnesses. The provost will render a binding, final and non-appealable decision in the matter. If the provost decides that the grade should be changed, the provost will have sole authority on determining what the new grade should be.

Confirmation: I have read the above policy and understand the process for submitting a Academic Grade Appeal.

I Agree

Attach Documentation

Course Number, Section and Name

Semester

Year Course Taken

Final Assigned Grade That You Are Appealing

Instructor's First Name

Instructor's Last Name

Instructor's Email

Students may appeal only the final grade assigned in a course, and only for reason. Valid reasons are limited to the following (please check the one you are claiming):

Grade Appeal Statement - Please include any additional information regarding the grade appeal you would like the committee to consider.

I hereby request an appeal of the above-referenced grade for the reason checked above. I have received a copy of the Grade Appeal Policy and understand that after submission of this form accompanied by a compelling argument for the change and relevant supporting materials, the Provost will forward all to the instructor of the course to attempt an informal resolution.

Should an informal resolution be achieved, the grade appeal is concluded and a change of grade is filed with the Registrar within 5 days. The instructor has 15 business days in which to respond to the provost and to me. If the instructor’s decision is unacceptable, I will notify the provost accordingly.

I Agree

Student Signature (Type your First and Last name)