4.4 Grade Disputes on Examinations or Assignments

This section sets forth the sole process by which a student may challenge a final course grade. To initiate the process, students who wish to dispute a final course grade must bring written notification of their concerns to the course instructor, the Program Director, or their faculty advisor within ten business days from receipt of the grade. The written notification must include a description of how the student's performance satisfied course requirements as outlined in the published course syllabi. The following steps are included in the process:

• A copy of the written notification of concerns will be sent to each of the following individuals: the course instructor, the Program Director, and faculty advisor.
• It is highly recommended that the student and the faculty member meet first to try to resolve the dispute, and it is the student's responsibility to make efforts to set up a meeting to address the written concerns with the faculty member. At any such meetings between the student and faculty member, the faculty member will keep written documentation of the efforts to resolve the dispute.
• If the student and faculty member cannot come to agreement, then a meeting will be held with the student, the faculty member, and either the Associate Director of the Program, the Director of the Program, or the Provost based on availability. This administrative faculty representative shall attempt to reconcile the matter. This meeting will be scheduled within 10 business days of receipt of the written notification.
• Final disposition of grading will rest with the faculty of record. The student will be notified of the final disposition within 10 business days of the conclusion of this meeting.