Appeals to change course grades

Students who wish to appeal a final course grade need to follow the appeal procedure listed below. The appeal process for final course grades must be initiated no later than the end of the quarter (the last class day) following the quarter in which the course was completed.

The procedure for a final course grade appeal at MCC requires that the student and instructor first have a conversation with the expectation of resolving the grading issue between them. The question is mainly whether or not the instructor’s syllabus has been followed.

If, after that conversation, there is still disagreement about whether or not the instructor has adhered to the syllabus in dealing with the student’s final grade issue, the student may choose to follow a formal appeal process.  

The formal appeal process begins when a student puts his or her concern officially in writing by sending a letter or email to the instructor (first level of appeal). Upon receipt of the instructor’s response, the student may appeal, if necessary, in writing to the next level, the appropriate academic dean (second level of appeal). Upon receipt of the academic dean’s response, the student may appeal, if necessary, to the final level, the vice president for academic affairs, for a final decision.

The purpose of the initial first-level appeal letter (or email) is to seek resolution between student and instructor, pointing specifically to the syllabus and how the student can show that the procedures set up in the syllabus were not upheld.

The instructor’s written reply to this letter usually suffices to resolve the issue.

A grade appeal makes it to the level of the academic dean only in the rare cases when a written appeal to the instructor is unsuccessful.

The purpose of the written appeal to the academic dean is to show how the student was not dealt with in accordance with procedures set up in the instructor’s syllabus and how the instructor erred in his or her response to the student’s written appeal. When a written appeal is submitted to an academic dean, the student must attach the syllabus for the course, the student’s written appeal to the instructor, and the instructor’s written reply.

A grade appeal makes it to the level of the vice president for academic affairs in the unlikely event that an appeal was not resolved at the first level (instructor) or the second level (academic dean). The student must submit a written appeal that shows how the student was not dealt with in accordance to the procedures set up in the instructor’s syllabus and, specifically, where the instructor and the academic dean erred in their respective responses. When a written appeal is submitted to the vice president for academic affairs, the student must attach the syllabus for the course, the student’s written appeals to both the instructor and the academic dean, and the respective responses from the instructor and the academic dean.

Decisions made by the vice president for academic affairs concerning appeals to change a final course grade are final and not subject to further appeal.