Final Grade Not What You Expected?
Students may appeal an instructor’s grading decision on the basis of one or more of the following grounds:
1) The grading decision was made on some basis other than performance and other than as a penalty for academic misconduct. For example, work is graded differently than stated in the rubric; An instructor’s policy is not to give A’s (even when a student’s grade is within A-range), etc.
2) The grading decision was based upon standards unreasonably different from those which were applied to other students in the same course and section. Possible examples: Some students were permitted to submit late work without penalty and others were not; Final grades of certain students were rounded to the nearest whole number, while others were not; Extra credit opportunities were provided to some, but not all, students.
3) The grading decision was based on a substantial, unreasonable, or unannounced departure from previously articulated standards. Possible examples: Final grades are calculated with a different method than stated on the syllabus; Last minute change to the amount of points an assignment/exam is worth; Addition of assignment/exam not on the syllabus, etc.
Important Information:
- Grade appeals are only for final course grades.
- Appeals consist of a written statement (required) and any relevant documentation (optional).
- Strong appeals:
- Clearly state the grounds of the appeal.
- Provide concrete information (examples, data, etc.) to support claims.
- Include supporting documentation (ex. emails, Canvas screenshots, syllabi, etc.)
- Appeals are submitted to chair of the department the course was offered in.
- Deadline for submitting appeals:
- Fall Courses – 30 days after the start of the spring semester
- Spring and Summer Courses – 30 days after the start of the fall semester.
Complete details and instructions can be found in CSU’s General Catalogue.