Grade appeals and grievances at the Cronkite School

To discuss grievances that do not meet the criteria of a grade appeal, contact Senior Associate Dean Jessica Pucci. Be sure to consult the course syllabus and Cronkite School Policies first: All instructors and students are required to uphold these policies.

This process does not address academic integrity allegations, faculty misconduct or discrimination. Please direct discrimination complaints to the Office of University Rights and Responsibilities.

Step 1: The student questioning a final course grade must first undergo the informal procedure of conferring with the instructor, respectfully stating any evidence and reasons for questioning that the grade received was erroneous or not given in good faith. The instructor is obliged to review the matter and, whenever possible, respond to the student within 10 business days to explain the grading procedure and show how the grade in question was determined.

Step 2: If the matter remains unresolved after completing Step 1, the student may then request a review by the Cronkite Dean’s designee by completing the Academic Affairs Report form (select “grade appeal“). Do not submit this form until Step 1 is complete; you must attach any related correspondence with your instructor to the form. 

The dean’s designee will review the form submission, and render a decision or refer the matter to the Cronkite School Standards Committee; the designee’s decision is final. The designee will render a decision or referral and communicate it via email within 10 business days. If the decision indicates a referral to the Standards Committee, the student may proceed to the formal process (outlined below). In most instances, however, the procedure does not go beyond this level. Direct questions about this process to Senior Associate Dean Rebecca Blatt.

Business days: “Business day” is defined as: not including Saturday, Sunday, any officially recognized university employee holiday, or any day the University is closed.

Step 3: The decision made by the Dean’s designee in Informal Process Step 2 is final; further consideration on a decided matter or appeals requested outside these criteria and procedures are not eligible for formal hearings. If the dean’s designee has referred the appeal to the Cronkite School Standards Committee, the student has 10 business days to provide the Cronkite School Standards Committee Chair with a written request for appeal. The request must be submitted from the student’s asu.edu email account, and must include a statement (attached as a single .PDF file) that contains the following: 

• Your name
• Your student ID number
• The course prefix and number (e.g. MCO 281), course title, and the year and session (A, B or C) in which the class was taught
• Your reason for questioning the grade, and evidence that the grade was issued erroneously, inconsistently or unfairly.
• The remedy you are requesting (including a quantitative method by which the final grade could be recalculated)
• Any documents (e.g. screenshots, correspondence, assignment files) you wish to submit as evidence to support your statement. Label them as Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2, etc., and reference the exhibit number(s) where appropriate in your statement so the Committee will know what point each exhibit supports.

Step 4: The Standards Committee Chair will provide the student’s statement and exhibits to the instructor, and request that the instructor provide a written response within 10 business days.

Step 5: Within 10 business days, the Chair of the Cronkite Standards Committee will submit the student and instructor statements to the Committee, and the Chair will work with the student and instructor to schedule a hearing. The Standards Committee is an elected committee of Cronkite School faculty which meets regularly during the fall and spring semesters.

Once a hearing date is selected, all participants will receive a hearing packet containing evidence provided by both the student and the instructor at least five business days in advance of the hearing date. A student who fails to confirm their attendance at a scheduled hearing date is deemed to have abandoned the appeal. Abandoned appeals are not rescheduled.

Step 6: The Cronkite Standards Committee conducts the hearing with the student and instructor in an attempt to resolve the dispute. Hearings are closed to the public. The Chair of the Standards Committee coordinates and executes the hearing according to the Hearing Guidelines (below).

A student who fails to show up or participate in a scheduled hearing according to the Hearing Guidelines is deemed to have abandoned the appeal. Abandoned appeals are not rescheduled.

After all parties have been heard, they will be excused and the Committee will deliberate in closed session. Once the Committee has reached consensus, the Chair will submit their written recommendation to the Cronkite School Dean.

Step 7: Final action in each case is taken by the dean. The Dean will review the case and committee recommendation, and decide any grade changes deemed appropriate. The Dean informs the student, instructor, Standards Committee and Dean’s designee of any action taken. The Dean’s decision is final.

Hearings of the Cronkite School Standards Committee are coordinated and led by the committee Chair, who ensures the student, instructor and Committee follow these guidelines and procedures to promote fair, prompt resolutions.

Hearing Guidelines

• The student has the burden of proving with clear and convincing evidence that there was an error, inconsistency or unfairness in the final grade.
• Hearings are closed to the public. The student and the instructor may remain in the hearing throughout the presentation of all evidence and testimony, although the Chair may excuse either party, any advisor, or any witness if that person’s conduct is disruptive.
• The student and the instructor may each have an advisor present, but the advisors may not address the Committee directly, except as the Chair deems necessary.
• The Chair has the final authority to resolve procedural disputes that arise. Although formal rules of evidence do not apply to the hearing process, the Chair may limit the presentation of irrelevant or cumulative evidence, the number of witnesses and the length of the hearing.
• All Standards Committee proceedings are recorded by Zoom.

Hearing Procedure

• The Chair introduces the persons present at the hearing and reminds participants of the requirement that all information received in the hearing must be maintained in confidence.
• The Chair presents and summarizes the appeal aloud.
• The Chair makes any necessary decisions or clarifications regarding procedures.
• The student offers evidence in support of the grade appeal. The student may present witnesses and evidence. The student has the burden of showing it is more likely than not that the instructor acted erroneously or unfairly.
• The Chair calls witnesses to present their testimony, and excuses witnesses from the hearing once their testimony is complete.
• Committee members may ask questions of the student or the student’s witnesses.
• The instructor offers evidence in defense of the grade appeal. The instructor may present witnesses and evidence.
• The Chair calls witnesses to present their testimony, and excuses witnesses from the hearing once their testimony is complete.
• Committee members may ask questions of the instructor, or any of the instructor’s witnesses.
• The Chair concludes the discussion.
• The Committee deliberates in private until a recommendation is reached by a simple majority.
• The Chair coordinates the Committee’s written recommendation, which shall indicate the recommended grade and any other relevant information the Committee wishes to transmit to the Dean.
• The Chair submits the recommendation to the Dean, who will review the hearing proceedings. The Dean may require that the grade grievance be dismissed or may request further proceedings.