Appendix C. Undergraduate Academic Assessment Grievance Procedure

I. A grievance may be filed if the student believes that the instructor has given a course grade or evaluation of the student’s work by criteria that were not clearly and directly related to the student’s performance in the course for which the grade or evaluation was assigned, as by the use of: (Am 20 May 05)

A. Non-academic criteria such as ethnicity, political views, religion, age, sex, financial status, or national origin; (for a complete list of criteria, see APM 015.A.2.). (Am 20 May 05, 31 Aug 17)

B. Capricious or arbitrary application of academic criteria in a manner not reflective of student performance in relation to course requirements. (Am 20 May 05)

II. A grievance must be initiated within the time limits specified in Part IV of this Regulation. (Am 20 May 05)

III. Resolution of a grievance should follow these steps in this sequence: (Am 20 May 05)

A. A student who has a grievance concerning an evaluation or grade should first approach the instructor to see if the issue can be resolved. The initial contact must take place within one regular academic quarter from the issuance of the grade or evaluation. (Am 20 May 05)

B. If the matter is not resolved, the student should submit the grievance and documentation in writing to the executive officer of the academic sponsoring unit (department chair or college provost). The executive should attempt to facilitate a consensual resolution of the grievance between the student and the instructor. (Am 20 May 05)

A. Resolution of a grievance: If the grievance is not resolved by steps III.  A and B, the student may appeal to the Committee on Courses of Instruction (CCI).  (CC 31 Aug 17)

B. Requirements for Timely Filing: A formal appeal must be filed within six months for summer, fall, and winter quarter courses or nine months for spring quarter courses per the grading deadline; (5 days after the last day of finals); of the date on which the disputed grade or evaluation was made part of the student’s permanent record by the Registrar. (En 21 Feb 96; Am 20 May 05, 6 Mar 09)

C. The Committee on Courses of Instruction (CCI) will review the grievance and consult with the appropriate chair(s).  If the Committee finds there is substantial evidence that the grievance has merit, it will conduct an informational investigation, during which it may request that the student and instructor provide or present additional evidence.  (Am 21 Feb 96, 20 May 05; CC 20 May 81, 31 Aug 17)

D. After the investigation, the CCI shall attempt to facilitate a consensual resolution of the grievance with the student and the instructor.  If no resolution is reached, the Committee will decide the matter.  (CC 31 Aug 17)

E. The decision may include:  1) no change, 2) removal of course from transcript, 3) removal of evaluation from transcript, or 4) change of grade to Pass, No Pass, or Withdraw.  In the case of option 4, if the course was originally taken for a letter grade, the change to a Pass will not affect the student’s ability to graduate under letter grade requirements.  The Committee’s decision is final.  A faculty member may request his or her name be removed from the course in the official transcript.  (Am 21 Feb 96, 20 May 05; CC 20 May 81)

F. These procedures are designed solely to determine whether non-academic criteria or the capricious or arbitrary application of academic criteria have been used in assigning a grade or evaluation, and if so to affect a change of that grade or evaluation.

1) No punitive actions may be taken against the instructor on the basis of these procedures.  Neither the filing of charges nor the final disposition of the case shall, under any circumstances, become a part of the personnel file of the instructor.    Sanctions against an instructor for violation of the Faculty Code may be sought by filing a complaint in accordance with CAPPM 002.015.

2) No punitive action may be taken against the complainant on the basis of these procedures.  Neither the filing of charges nor the final disposition of the case shall, under any circumstances, become a part of the complainant’s record.