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Faculty members at Mountain Empire Community College are responsible for assigning course grades and providing objective grading criteria for which those grades are assigned in the course syllabus. As such, most student disagreements regarding course grades are best resolved informally between the student and faculty member.
The Grade Appeal Procedure provides a fair and orderly process for students who wish to pursue a formal appeal of a course grade. In taking such action, students shall assume the burden of proof concerning any perceived error in the grade assigned. Further, students shall follow the sequence of steps outlined in this procedure with the presumption that, as a matter of rule, instructors do not assign arbitrary and unreasonable course grades.
Grade Appeal Procedure
Step 1: Students are encouraged to resolve course grade disagreements with their instructor on an informal basis. Should the dispute not be resolved at this level, the student may proceed to Step 2.
Step 2: Should the student not be satisfied with the outcome of the informal instructor/student meeting; the student shall submit a Request for Grade Appeal form (available in The Office of Enrollment Services) to the Dean of that Division no later than ten (10) working days after the first day of classes for the next academic term. The Dean of Enrollment Services will forward the request to the academic dean under whose division the course was offered within ten (10) working days. Within ten (10) working days of receiving the request for grade appeal form, the academic dean shall hold conferences with the student and instructor to consider the grade appeal. The dean shall provide a written report of his/her findings to both parties within ten (10) working days of the conference. For the record, a copy of the report shall be kept on file in the division office, but the original report along with the Request for Grade Appeal form must be returned to the Dean of Enrollment Services.
Step 3: Should the student wish to advance his/her grade appeal to the next level, he/she may notify the Dean of Enrollment Services to submit the Request for Grade Appeal form to the Student Affairs Committee within ten (10) working days of receipt of the dean’s report. The committee shall conduct its investigation, make its decision by simple majority vote, and communicate its findings in writing to the student, faculty member, dean and the Vice President of Academic and Student Services. This investigation will take place no later than ten (10) working days after receipt of the written appeal by the student. The final report and any supporting documents along with the Request for Grade Appeal form must be returned to the Dean of Enrollment Services.
Step 4: Should the student wish to advance his/her grade appeal to the next level, he/she may notify the Dean of Enrollment Services to submit the Request for Grade Appeal form to the Vice President of Academic and Student Services to attempt to satisfactorily resolve the appeal. The Vice President of Academic and Student Service shall consider the student’s final grade appeal only within the context of assuring that the decision as rendered by the Student Affairs Committee was supported by the evidence presented and, as such, was neither arbitrary nor unreasonable. The Vice President of Academic and Student Services will notify the student, faculty member, and the division dean of his/her decision within ten (10) working days after hearing the appeal. The final report and any supporting documents along with the Request for Grade Appeal form must be returned to the Dean of Enrollment Services.
Step 5: Should the student wish to advance his/her grade appeal to the next level, he/she may notify the Dean of Enrollment Services to submit the Request for Grade Appeal form to the President of the College. The President shall consider the student’s final grade appeal only within the context of assuring that the decision as rendered by the Vice President of Academic and Student Services was supported by the evidence presented and, as such, was neither arbitrary nor unreasonable. The President will notify the student, faculty member, division dean, and the Vice President of Academic and Student Services of his/her decision within ten (10) working days after hearing the appeal. The President’s decision is final. The final report and any supporting documents along with the Request for Grade Appeal form must be returned to the Dean of Enrollment Services.
Time Limitations:
The time limitations specified for the Grade Appeal Procedure are binding on all parties involved. If any of the time limitations are surpassed, the Grade Appeal at that time will be considered null and void.
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