The assessment of student learning is the responsibility of every faculty member at Stevenson University. The final assessment of each student’s learning is reported as a final course grade to the Office of the Registrar.
Grounds for Appeal
There is a presumption that the final grade assigned by the faculty member is fair and reflects each student’s overall performance in the course. Only final course grades may be appealed. The sole grounds for final grade appeal that will be considered are:
- A procedural error by which the grade assigned is not consistent with specific standards established for the course as set forth in the course syllabus or addenda;
- The grade assigned is a result of a calculation error;
- The grade was assigned in an arbitrary and capricious manner.
The burden of proof during the appeal is on the student at each of the three levels of appeal set forth below. A student is not permitted to appeal a final course grade that reflects a sanction for academic misconduct.
Procedures for Appeal
A student who wishes to appeal the final grade assigned for a course is permitted to do so only as set forth in this Grade Appeal Policy and by following the procedures set forth in this section.
Level 1: Appeal to the Instructor
The Level 1 Grade Appeal form to be used by the student to initiate a grade appeal is located on <forms.stevenson.edu>.
A. Within seven (7) calendar days following the final grade due date, the student must complete the Level 1 Grade Appeal form and submit it electronically to the Instructor of Record (“Instructor”) for the course for which grade the appeal is being made. For example, if fall semester final grades are due on December 20 by 5:00 p.m., the timeline for a student to file a Grade Appeal starts on December 21 and ends on December 27.
The student must clearly state the grounds for the appeal and provide relevant evidence in support of their appeal.
B. Within seven (7) calendar days of receiving the Level 1 Grade Appeal form, the Instructor must consider the merits of the appeal and make a decision to uphold or to modify the final grade. The Instructor must communicate their decision to the student, the Registrar’s Office, and the Supervisor using the designated section on the Level 1 Grade Appeal form.
The Supervisor is understood to be the academic program administrator (i.e., the Program Coordinator, Program Director, Department Chair, or School Dean/Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs [“Dean”]) who oversees the course in which the grade is being challenged.
Level 2: Appeal to the Supervisor
There is a presumption that the decision regarding the Level 1 appeal of the final grade was made properly. If the student believes they have grounds for appealing the Level 1 decision, then they must use the Level 2 Grade Appeal form to initiate an appeal of the Instructor’s decision made at Level 1. The Level 2 Grade Appeal form is located on <forms.stevenson.edu>.
A. Within seven (7) calendar days of the student’s receipt of the Instructor’s written decision, the student must submit a Level 2 Grade Appeal form to the Instructor’s Supervisor. The student must clearly state the grounds for the appeal and provide relevant evidence in support of their appeal
When the Supervisor is the Instructor of Record (Level 1) or is unavailable, the Dean may designate an individual to act in place of the Supervisor.
B. Within seven (7) calendar days of receiving the Level 2 Grade Appeal form, the Supervisor (or designee) must consider the merits of the appeal and make a decision to uphold or to modify the final grade. The Supervisor (or designee) must communicate their decision to the student, the Registrar’s Office, the Instructor, and the Dean using the designated section on the Level 2 Grade Appeal form.
Level 3: Appeal to the School Dean
There is a presumption that the decision regarding the Level 2 appeal of the final grade was made properly. If the student believes they have grounds for appealing the Level 2 decision, then they must use the Level 3 Grade Appeal form to initiate an appeal of the Supervisor’s decision made at Level 2. The Level 3 Grade Appeal form is located on <forms.stevenson.edu>.
A. Within seven (7) calendar days of the student’s receipt of the Supervisor’s written decision, the student must submit a Level 3 Grade Appeal to the relevant Dean (the Dean who oversees the course in which the grade is being challenged). The student must clearly state the grounds for the appeal and provide relevant evidence in support of their appeal
If the Supervisor is the Dean (Level 2) or is unavailable, the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost may designate an individual to act in place of the Dean.
B. Within seven (7) calendar days of receiving the Level 3 Grade Appeal form, the Dean (or designee) must consider the merits of the appeal and make a decision to uphold or to modify the final grade. The Dean (or designee) must communicate their decision to the student, the Registrar’s Office, the Instructor, and the Supervisor using the designated section on the Level 3 Grade Appeal form.
The decision of the Dean is the final decision of the University on the matter.
Time Periods
The Dean (or the person serving in that role during a vacancy or absence) shall have the authority to extend the time periods set forth in this policy when they believe it is reasonable to do so due to unforeseen circumstances or due to events such as inclement weather, University schedule issues, serious illness, or vacancy in position. A calendar day includes any days such as a holiday or when the University is closed.
(Updated June 2025)