Academic Assessment or Grade Appeal

Types of Grade Appeals

1. Appeal of a component grade (i.e., a grade awarded for a single item of work, such as an assignment, test or exam) where the component grade is worth at least 10% of the course; and
2. Appeal of a final grade in a course (i.e., the official grade that appears on a Student’s transcript).

Grounds for Component Grade Appeals

An appeal of a component grade is available only where:

1. The assessment or the evaluation criteria do not reflect the course learning outcomes; or
2. The assessment criteria have been applied in an inconsistent or biased manner.

Questions to consider in determining whether you have grounds for a component grade appeal:

• At any point in the semester did your instructor deviate significantly from the applicable course outline?
• Can you point to what area of the applicable course outline that your instructor deviated from, and how they deviated from it?
• Did the deviation from the course outline impact your ability to do well in a test or assignment?  Do you believe the change resulted in a significant loss of marks?
• At any point of the semester did your instructor demonstrate personal bias or unfair treatment towards you which you feel adversely affected your grade?
• If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, did you speak with your instructor/program manager to attempt to resolve the issue?
• If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, do you have any written documentation (i.e. emails, course outline, or other course materials) to support your claim?
  • If not, it is important that you evaluate your case and determine if you can reasonably prove your claims.  If not, you may not have grounds to file a component grade appeal.

Grounds for Final Grade Appeals

An appeal of a final grade is available only where:

1. The assessment of the final grade was made without considering all individual items of work completed/submitted;
2. The final grade does not align with the results of the individual assessments in the course, indicating an error in calculation in developing the final grade; or
3. The overall assessment of the final grade is demonstrably unjust.

Questions to consider in determining whether you have grounds for a final grade appeal:

• Does the calculation of your final grade not make sense based on your prior component grades/assessment in the same course?
• At any point of the semester, did your instructor demonstrate personal bias or unfair treatment towards you which you feel adversely affected your final grade?
• If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, do you have any written documentation (i.e. emails, course outline, or other course materials) to support your claim?
  • If not, it is important that you evaluate your case and determine if you can reasonably prove your claims.  If not, you may not have grounds to file a component grade appeal.

Initiating an Appeal

Prior to submitting a Grade Appeal, the Student must first attempt an informal resolution process by discussing the concern with the instructor which decided on the grade to dispute. Such discussion must occur within 5 working days of receiving the grade.

If, following the discussion with the Instructor, the Student believes they have grounds for appeal the Student may initiate an appeal to the applicable Academic Manager (Program Chair, Program Manager or Regional Campus Manager, as the case may be). The Appeal must be in writing in the requisite form submitted within 5 working days of the Student’s discussion of the matter with their instructor.

Appeal Form

The Appeal must be made in writing in by filling out the applicable appeal form. Details provided by the Student must include but are not limited to:

Details provided by the Student must include but are not limited to:

• The grounds for appeal (must fit within 1 of the 4 grounds noted in this Guide);

• In the case of an appeal of a component grade, a copy of the work which is the subject of the Appeal and any available rubrics or evaluation criteria documents;

• The specific remedy sought by the Student.

The Appeal Form must submitted within 5 working days of the Student’s discussion with their instructor/decision-maker.

Process

The appeal will thereafter be reviewed by the applicable Academic Manager in accordance with the Student Appeals Procedure.