Student Grade Appeal Policy

Department of Philosophy
University of Kansas, Lawrence

Student Grade Appeal Policy

1. Students can only appeal a course grade, not a grade for a particular exam, paper, etc.
2. The ground for any appeal is limited to the charge that an instructor has not consistently followed his or her announced or declared grading procedures for the course. The grade cannot be appealed on the ground that the student simply disagrees with the grade. (If a student appeals any grade on the ground of illegitimate discrimination, sexual harassment, etc., that is a different matter--a matter of possible academic misconduct by a faculty member--and is dealt with via other established grievance procedures.)
3. Prior to any departmental action, a student who is interested in filing an appeal must (a) provide a written statement which clearly states the reasons for the appeal, (b) provide evidence (all class exams, assignments, etc.) in support of the appeal; and (c) meet with the charged faculty member with a view to resolving the issue at that level.
4. If the student and the charged faculty member cannot resolve the issue, the student is free to meet with the chair of the department who will attempt to resolve the matter informally to the satisfaction of both parties.
5. If this fails, the chair may either make a decision at that point or appoint a three-member, ad hoc committee to review the case and forward its decision to the student, the charged faculty member, and the chair.
6. If this does not resolve the matter, then the student or the faculty member, as the case may be, is free to appeal to the University Judiciary Board.