<%@ Language=VBScript %> <% Option Explicit %> Academic or Grade Appeal Procedure - Lanier Technical College
 
 




   
 
Academic or Grade Appeal Procedure
  
 
     
The purpose of the grade appeal process is to provide a procedure for students at Lanier Technical College to appeal a final grade or other academic decision received from an instructor.

Questions and concerns about grades are often the result of misunderstandings about grading practices and expected standards. Direct communication between the instructor and the student, including review of the course syllabus, usually resolves these misunderstandings. If a student receives a course grade which he/she believes is incorrect, the student should contact the instructor no later than the end of the first week of the following quarter to discuss the concern. If conversation with the instructor does not resolve the matter, the student will follow the grade appeal procedure:

  1. The student will contact the Dean/Director to file the "Academic Appeal Form" and to request a meeting to discuss the issue. The Dean/Director will conduct an investigation in an effort to resolve the appeal and will give the student an interpretation of the grade.
  2. If no solution is found after meeting with the dean/director/coordinator, the student may file an appeal with the Vice President of Academic Affairs or Vice President of Campus Operations before the mid-term of the quarter following the quarter in which the grade was received, or the student may lose his/her right to appeal.
  3. Upon receiving the completed appeal form, the Vice President of Academic Affairs or Vice President of Campus Operations will review the appeal, notify the instructor that an appeal has been made, and activate the Academic Appeals Committee to hear the student's appeal. Membership of this committee includes:
    1. Dean/Director - Chair of Committee
    2. Student Government Representative
    3. A faculty member from a department not involved in the appeal appointed by the Vice President
    4. A faculty member selected by the student making the appeal
    5. A faculty member selected by the instructor whose grade is being appealed
  4. Since the hearing conducted by the Academic Appeals Committee is an in-house procedure and not a court of law, no legal counsel or any other person may be present except the student, the instructor, and appointed members of the committee. Exceptions to this would be granted by the Vice President only in the case of a disabled student requiring some highly specialized extraordinary assistance that could not be routinely provided by the chair or another member of the committee.
  5. A meeting of the Academic Appeals Committee is scheduled by the Vice President within two weeks of receiving the appeal.
  6. On the date of the hearing, the Academic Appeals Committee convenes at the appointed place with the aggrieved student and involved faculty member. The chair of the committee presides at the meeting. The committee examines the evidence, calls witnesses as necessary, and keeps informal minutes of the proceedings that shall be available to the Vice President and President.
  7. The faculty member involved in the appeal presents his/her case to the committee (no longer than 15 minutes). The aggrieved student is not present during this presentation. The committee may question the faculty member concerning his/her testimony. Following completion of the testimony, the faculty member is dismissed.
  8. The student involved in the appeal presents his/her case to the committee (no longer than 15 minutes). The faculty member involved in the appeal is not present during this presentation. The committee may question the student concerning his/her testimony. Following completion of the testimony, the student is dismissed.
  9. Following the hearing of all testimony, the committee convenes to discuss the evidence and make a decision as to the disposition of the appeal. A formal vote will be taken by the chair to determine the outcome of the appeal.
  10. The chair notifies the Vice President of the committee's recommendation within two working days of the hearing.
  11. The Vice President will notify the student and faculty member in writing as to the disposition of the appeal within five working days of the hearing date.
  12. Further appeal, if desired by either party, will be presented to the President and Vice President.
  13. Decisions of the President are final.
  14. The mailing address and telephone number for the Council on Occupational Education is located in the front of this catalog for cases where the grievance is not settled at the institutional level.