Students may appeal only the final grade assigned in a course, and only for a valid reason. Valid reasons are limited to:
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 students feel that they have a valid reason to appeal a final course grade, and if informal negotiations with the instructor have not yielded relief, then students may formally appeal the grade as follows.
Grade Appeal Procedure The Division Chair meets with the student and acts as a mediator to attempt to resolve any disagreements. Chair consults with the instructor about the grading process. Both instructor and student can be present together at the meeting only if both parties agree. Only the course instructor has the authority to change the grade at this point. Should the instructor be the chair of the division, a tenured member of the division will be selected by the Associate Provost to serve as mediator.
The Associate Provost gathers all appropriate documentation pertinent to the appeal and provides it to the Academic Appeals Committee. The committee will seek input from the faculty member involved.
The Academic Appeals Committee will dismiss the appeal if they determine that the appeal does not fit the criteria listed above. The decision cannot be appealed further.
If the Academic Appeals Committee finds the grade appeal to be meritorious, they will forward a recommended resolution to the Provost’s office. The Provost’s office reviews the recommendation made by the Academic Appeals Committee and makes additional inquiries, if necessary, before reaching a decision to override, or not, the original grade assigned by the instructor. After such review, the decision of the Provost’s office is final and cannot be appealed further.
This appeal must be made prior to the end of the semester following the conclusion of the course. Grade appeals for fall semester grades must be submitted by the end of the subsequent semester, while spring and summer grade appeals must be submitted by the end of the subsequent fall semester.