Grade Dispute Appeal Process
Baker College has established an appeal process for students who have concerns regarding grades and the consistent application of both class requirements and policies as it pertains to grades. If a student believes that the final course grade is based on a clerical or calculation error, capriciousness, arbitrariness, or is not in alignment with established grading criteria outlined in the course syllabus, the student may file an appeal and must offer evidence to support the claim. To ensure prompt resolution of the student’s concern, the appeal process has deadlines for each stage. If the student does not file the required paperwork within 30 calendar days of the end of the semester in which the concern occurred, the student cannot appeal. All deadlines for the process must be met; otherwise, the appeal ends, and the student has no further recourse.
STEP 1
The student will discuss the concern in dispute with the instructor.
STEP 2
If the concern is not resolved with the instructor, and the student wishes to pursue the concern, the student will communicate with an academic advisor or designee. The academic advisor or designee will provide the student with an Academic Appeal form. The student will complete the Academic Appeal form and submit, within 10 business days of the meeting with the academic advisor or designee, a comprehensive written document, which represents a summary of the facts and data from the student’s point of view. The appeal and supporting documentation must be received by the established deadline. If any supporting materials are not received by the stated deadline, the appeal will go forward without the additional materials. Upon receipt of the appeal, the academic advisor or designee will send the appeal to the instructor. The instructor will review the appeal and provide a written response to the student’s concern. The instructor will return the response to the academic advisor or designee within 10 business days of receipt of the appeal. The academic advisor or designee will share the instructor’s written response with the student. If the concern is not resolved, the appeal will move to Step 3.
STEP 3
The academic advisor or designee will send the Academic Appeal form and written document to the Director of Academic Affairs. The Director of Academic Affairs will have 10 business days to render a decision and return the appeal to the academic advisor or designee.
The academic advisor or designee will inform the student of the decision. Upon the student’s request, the Director of Academic Affairs may review the decision with the student. Within five business days of notification, the student will indicate, in writing on the Academic Appeal form, his/her acceptance of the decision or the desire to move the appeal to Step 4.
STEP 4
If the concern is not resolved in Step 3, and the student chooses to pursue the concern further, the academic advisor or designee will contact the chair of the judiciary council and will forward all documentation. The judiciary council will be convened within 15 business days of receipt of the appeal to resolve the concern.
The judiciary council will be formed and chaired by the Director of Student Affairs or designee. The chair will be a non-voting member of the council. The council will be composed of two students, two faculty members who teach in programs other than the student’s program, and a program director from a division other than the division that is responsible for the course involved in the appeal.
Both the student and the instructor may appear before the judiciary council although no new documentation can be presented at this time. A written report of the council’s decision will be completed by the chair and will be placed in the student’s file. A copy of the report will be sent by the chair to the student and the instructor within five business days. The decision of the judiciary council is final. The student and the instructor may respond in writing to the council’s action, and these responses will be placed in the student’s academic file. No further appeal will be permitted.
Submit Formal Complaint