Grade Appeals
Grade Appeals
Great Basin College respects an instructor’s qualifications and upholds the right of an instructor to determine academic standards. With faculty approval, an instructor establishes the scope, objectives, and methodology of the course being taught and is responsible for informing students of the requirements for completion of the course of study in the class. The instructor evaluates student performance according to written grading criteria made available to students at the beginning of the class.
Should students have questions about their final grade in a course, the following published procedures shall be followed. The procedures do not apply to cases of grades issued because of academic dishonesty.
Student concerns about instructor conduct or activities unrelated directly to grades should follow the student grievance procedure
The burden of proof in these procedures’ rests with the student. Students may consult with the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs in Berg Hall or their local Center Directors for assistance with the procedures and policies for appeal.
Failure to initiate these procedures within 30 calendar days of the end of the semester will result in the forfeiture of the right to challenge a grade.
These are the steps that must be taken:
Step One: The student must first communicate with the instructor in writing or by email to discuss the complaint and attempt a satisfactory resolution. If successful, no further action needs to be taken.
Step Two: If unsuccessful in step one, the student will write a letter to the chair of the instructor’s department (this information is available at the Admissions and Records office in Elko or from your center) requesting a meeting between the student, the instructor, and the department chair. The department chair will respond within 15 days of receipt of the written request and establish a mutually agreeable date and time for the resolution meeting. After hearing from both sides, the department chair will recommend a solution. Acceptance of this solution by both the student and the instructor ends the complaint procedure and no further action will be taken. (Note: If the instructor is also the department chair, the student will write the request for a resolution meeting to the chair of the faculty senate. The senate chair or a designee of the senate chair will fulfill the responsibilities of a department chair as outlined above).
Step Three: Failure of remedy in step two requires a written complaint to be submitted to the Academic Standards Committee of the faculty senate. This complaint may be submitted by either the student or the instructor if either is not satisfied by the recommended solution for step two (this action must be accomplished within five days of the failure of step two). Within 15 days of receipt of the written complaint, the academic standards committee will arrange for the student and the instructor to be heard before a full or quorum meeting of the academic standards committee; the chair involved in step two will be in attendance if deemed necessary by the student or the instructor. Within 15 days of this meeting the chair of the academic standards committee will provide a written recommendation to resolve the issue. Copies will be given to the student, the instructor, and the department chair or senate chair designee (as appropriate).
Step Four: If the issue is still unresolved to the satisfaction of either party, a written request of review must be lodged in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs within three calendar days of issuance of the academic standards committee’s recommendations. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will, after reviewing the documentation of the previous three steps, issue a written decision which will be the final determination.
Note: During summer months, faculty may not be available to complete the appeal process. The student still must initiate the appeal within 30 calendar days of the end of the semester, but it is possible that an appeal relating to spring semester may not be resolved until fall semester.