Grade Appeal Policy and Procedures

If a student believes that an error was made in the assignment of a grade, he or she should speak with the instructor of the course within 30 days following the posting of the grade.  An email message or note requesting an appointment and explaining the problem will give the faculty member an opportunity to gather the appropriate course materials,  papers, exams or other submissions so that the ensuing conversation can be meaningful.  As a result of this conversation, a faculty member may correct an error and change the grade.   If the problem is not resolved between the student and faculty member, the student may petition The School of Professional Studies Committee on Academic Appeals and Discipline, which hears student appeals on grades, determinations of satisfactory progress, plagiarism and related matters. 

Policy
The School of Professional Studies is responsible for determining the requirements and standards of performance for courses and for qualifying examinations The School of Professional Studies course instructors retain considerable discretion in these matters.  The instructor is under obligation, however, to ensure that his/her course syllabus is consistent with the goals of the curriculum of the certificate program or course.  The grading standards in a given course shall reflect levels of difficulty related to the educational objectives of the program.

Instructors have an obligation to students to make clear the basis of evaluation (e.g., reading assignments, student's written submissions, contributions to class discussions, and presentations) at the start of each course so that students are not surprised by unexpected or untimely demands.  Grades on examinations or for work in a course are the responsibility of the instructor.

Procedures
Academic appeals consist of issues raised by students who question the validity of their grades for work in a course, grades on examinations, and/or final course grades.  Most of these appeals can and should be resolved by the student's direct discussion and communication with the instructor.  A student's appeal of a final grade must be formally initiated within 30 days following the posting of the grade on the student's transcript.  If the 30-day deadline has lapsed, the grade becomes permanent.

The Academic Appeals process comprises three levels as described below.  The student may terminate the appeal process after Level I (with the instructor) or after Level II if a satisfactory conclusion is reached.  The Level III decision of the Academic Appeals Committee is final.

Level I: With the Instructor:
The student shall meet with the instructor in an attempt to resolve the complaint.  The student should email or call the instructor, explain the concerns, and ask for specific information as to why this grade was received.  The student may be accompanied by a student or other member of The School of Professional Studies community in discussion with the instructor.  Under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), students have the right to review their examinations.  It is the instructor's responsibility to provide the student with a detailed explanation of how the grade was determined.

Level II: With The School of Professional Studies Student Affairs Coordinator:
If the matter is not resolved at Level I, the student shall submit a written appeal to The School of Professional Studies Student Affairs Coordinator.  The written appeal must specify the nature of the complaint and the outcome the student is seeking and it must be received within 30 days of the meeting with the instructor.  The Student Affairs Coordinator will schedule a meeting with the student and the instructor in an attempt to resolve the complaint.  The Student Affairs Coordinator and the instructor with whom the complaint is filed will then communicate their decision in writing to the student.

Level III: With the Academic Appeals Committee:
If the matter is not resolved at Level II, the student shall submit a written appeal outlining the nature of the complaint and the outcome sought to the Dean of the School of Professional Studies (or his or her designee), within 30 days of receipt of the letter referred to in Level II.  The Dean shall schedule a meeting with the student and the Academic Appeals Committee.  The Academic Appeals Committee will consist of the Dean and two members of The School of Professional Studies governing committee and one The School of Professional Studies instructor or CUNY faculty member with relevant specialization, who will hear the student's complaint.  The Dean, on the basis of each individual student complaint, shall randomly determine the members of the Academic Appeals Committee; the committee will not function as a standing committee.  The Dean will communicate the decision of the Academic Appeals Committee in writing to the student.  In academic appeals, the decision of the Academic Appeals Committee is final.

The academic appeals process will be accomplished in a reasonable period of time not to extend beyond six months.  A student's failure to comply with the aforementioned process will nullify the complaint.  The timeline for the specific stages of the academic appeals process is giving below.

Timeline Governing the Appeals Process
A formal academic appeal is filed after the student has met with his/her instructor but has not resolved the complaint.  Students have 30 days from the date their final grade was posted to initiate a Level II academic appeal to The School of Professional Studies Student Affairs Coordinator.  A formal academic appeal is considered filed only when a dated letter or email is sent to the Student Affairs Coordinator.  Students have 30 days to initiate a Level III academic appeal from the date they receive notice of the outcome of a Level II academic appeal

Once received, the Student Affairs Coordinator has 10 days to respond to the student's formal appeal by scheduling a meeting with the student and instructor.  Once the meeting has been conducted, the student will receive a decision in writing within 10 days.  If the appeal has been denied, the student may move onto the next level of the appeal process (the Academic Appeals Committee) by submitting the request within 30 days of the notice of the Level II academic appeal outcome.

Submit initial appeal requests to:

Dr. Zeita-Marion Lobley, Student Affairs Coordinator
School of Professional Studies
Graduate School and University Center
365 Fifth Avenue, Room 3311
New York, New York 10016
zlobley@gc.cuny.edu

When the Dean or the Dean's designee receives a written appeal requesting a hearing with the Academic Appeal Committee, the Dean has 10 days to respond to the student's formal appeal by scheduling a meeting with the Academic Appeals Committee.  Students will receive a decision in writing within 10 days of the Academic Appeal Committee meeting.  The decision of the Academic Appeals Committee is final.

Submit Academic Appeal Committee requests to:

Dr. Zeita-Marion Lobley, Student Affairs Coordinator
School of Professional Studies
Graduate School and University Center
365 Fifth Avenue, Room 3311
New York, New York 10016
zlobley@gc.cuny.edu