Assignment Grade Challenge and Final Grade Appeal

Assignment Grade Challenge

FGSBS students may challenge a grade on a particular assignment by following the process below:

• First, the student should contact the faculty grading the assignment to discuss the grade and request a grade change.
  • If the grade is deemed to be correct (no miscalculation occurred) the grade stands as final for that assignment. The faculty who assigned the grade must notify the student of the decision in writing via the TTUHSC El Paso email within five business days after meeting with the student.
  • If the grade issued was an error (a miscalculation occurred) the faculty must correct the grade and notify the student of the grade change within five business days after meeting with the student via the institutional email.
• If the student is not satisfied with the faculty’s decision, within five business days after receiving the faculty’s decision, in writing the student may request the dean to conduct a second and independent evaluation of the assignment .
  • The dean reserves the right to determine if a second evaluation is needed or if meeting with the parties involved is required.
• If the dean deems that a second evaluation is necessary, the dean reviews the assignment and determines whether the grade stands as final or a grade change is required.
  • The dean must notify the student of the decision in writing via email within five business days after accepting to conduct a second evaluation. 
• The dean and the faculty facilitating the assignment meet to discuss and reconcile the assignment grade.
  • If the faculty and dean cannot reach a consensus, the average of the two scores should be used as the final assignment grade.

Timelines related to challenging a grade on a particular assignment may be altered by the dean in consideration of extenuating circumstances.

Final Grade Appeal

A final grade can be formally appealed only when there is demonstrable evidence that prejudice, arbitrary, or capricious actions on the part of the course direct and/or faculty have influenced the final grade. The burden of proof that such an unfair influence has affected a final grade rests with the student who seeks to appeal a final grade.

FGSBS students may appeal a final grade on a course by following the process below:

• First, the student should contact the FGSBS office. The student is required to complete and submit a Final Grade Appeal form along with supporting documents via the TTUHSC El Paso email.
  • The Final Grade Appeal form along with all supporting documents must be submitted to the FGSBS office within five business days after the final grade is posted in Banner.
• The FGSBS office forwards the appeal and all supoorting documents to the course director and the dean.
• The dean meets with the course director and the student separately to review all material pertinent to the grade appeal.
  • The dean has five business days from the receipt of the Final Grade Appeal form and supporting documents to meet with the parties involved.
  • If multiple students are involved, the dean may meet with the students either separately or jointly at the dean’s discretion.
• After the meeting(s) take place, the dean has five business days to render a decision.
• The FGSBS office notifies to all parties involved of the dean’s decision via email.
  • All parties involved are responsible for checking their TTUHSC El Paso email.
• If applicable, the FGSBS office submits a Grade Change Authorization form to the Registrar’s office to update the final grade.
• If the student is not satisfied with the dean’s decision, the student should contact the FGSBS office within five business days after receiving the dean’s decision. 
  • In order to appeal the dean’s decision, the student is required to submit a detailed written explanation setting forth each and every reason why the student believes the grade is unjust.
  • Any reason not set forth in writing should not be considered.
  • Such explanation must be submitted within five business days from the receipt of the dean’s written decision.
• After receiving the student’s detailed written explanation, the FGSBS office calls the FGSBS Graduate Council for a meeting within five business days.
  • The FGSBS office provides the FGSBS Graduate Council with all the documents pertinent to the grade appeal.
  • The FGSBS Graduate Council must provide a written response to all the parties involved via TTUHSC El Paso email within five business days after receiving all documents related to the appeal. 
  • The decision of the FGSBS Graduate Council is final.
• If applicable, the FGSBS office submits a Grade Change Authorization form to the Registrar’s office to update the final grade.

The Assignment Grade Challenge and Final Grade Appeal processes described above is not applicable when it is the faculty’s judgment that the quality of the student’s work and performance do not meet the FGSBS academic expectations.

The assessment of the quality of the student’s academic performance is one of the major responsibilities of FGSBS faculty; therefore, it is unacceptable for faculty to award passing grades to students who have not demonstrated mastery of the course material or met FGSBS academic expectations.

FGSBS faculty is vested with the authority to establish course requirements, learning objectives, and standards of performance; therefore, it is the responsibility of faculty to articulate and communicate course requirements, learning objectives, grading policies, and standards of performance in the course syllabus and apply all grading criteria uniformly and in a timely manner.