Grade Appeals

Approved by the Board of Trustees of Rockland Community College on August 18, 2011. Amended December 12, 2019, January 21, 2021, and again on May 22, 2023. Approved by the Faculty Senate April 19, 2023

A student’s grade appeal must be initiated after the final course grade has been posted and no later than 30 office business days after the start of the following Fall or Spring semester. In the case of administrative error, or with appropriate documentation, the faculty member, Program Director, or Dean of the School may waive the one semester grade change limit.

Grounds for Formal Appeal:

Students may appeal their final grade(s) in any RCC courses on the following grounds, provided that they have evidence to support their claim(s):

  1. Failure by the instructor to include the method by which the final course grade
    would be determined in the syllabus.
  2. Assignment of a course grade by substantial departure from the announced method
    of assessment as outlined in the syllabus.

Stage 1:

  • Students must first request a course grade change from the course instructor.
    • If the instructor is unavailable, the request will be made to the Program Director.
    • If the instructor is a Program Director, the request will be made to the School Dean.
    • If the instructor is also the Dean of an Academic School, the appeal request will go to the Chief Academic Officer.
  • If a student’s request for a grade change has been denied by the instructor of the course, the student has 14 office business days from the date of that denial to formally appeal in writing to the Program Director. The student must include a copy of the course syllabus and all supporting documentation supporting their request.

Stage 2:

  • If the Program Director finds the appeal has no merit, the decision will be communicated to the student, the instructor, and the School Dean within 14 office business days and the decision is final and the original grade remains.
  • If the Program Director finds that the complaint may have merit, they will discuss the matter with the instructor.
  • If the matter remains unresolved, the student has a right to send a grade appeal request to the Dean of the School within 14 office business days from the Program Director’s communicated decision.
  • If the Dean or Chief Academic Officer finds the appeal has merit, the School Dean will form an ad hoc committee to evaluate the appeal.
  • If the Dean or Chief Academic Officer finds the appeal has no merit, the decision will be communicated to the student and instructor within 14 office business days and the decision is final and the original grade remains.

Stage 3:

  • In consultation with the Dean of the School or Chief Academic Officer, an ad hoc committee of faculty(full-time and/or part-time) members will be convened by the Program Director of the relevant department. All parties involved will be notified by the Dean of the School or Chief Academic Officer when the committee is formed.
  • The ad hoc faculty committee will consist of one faculty member from the instructor’s department, one member of the instructor’s school, and one faculty member of another school.
  • The ad hoc committee members will determine who will chair the committee. The ad hoc faculty committee will examine all available written information related to the dispute.
  • The student and/or faculty member may request a meeting with the ad hoc committee via the School Dean or Chief Academic Officer within 14 business office days from the formation of the ad hoc committee.

Within 14 office business days of the conclusion of the appeal hearing, a decision shall be rendered and forwarded in writing to all parties involved.

Stage 4:

  • If the ad hoc committee declines the appeal, the decision is final, and the original grade remains.
  • If the ad hoc committee determines that compelling reasons exist to change the grade, the Chair of the Committee will request that the instructor make the appropriate grade change, after providing the instructor with a written explanation for their decision.
  • Should the instructor decline, the Chair of the ad hoc committee, after considering the instructor’s explanation, and upon concluding that it would be appropriate to change the grade, shall recommend to the Program Director or the Chief Academic Officer that the grade be changed. That individual will provide the instructor with a copy of the recommendation and will ask the instructor to implement the grade change.
  • If the instructor continues to decline changing the grade, the Chair of the ad hoc committee shall then submit the required change of grade form to the Records Office to have the grade change processed. Only that individual, upon the written recommendation of the full ad-hoc committee, should have the authority to effect a change in grade over the objection of the instructor who assigned the original grade.
  • The instructor and the student will be notified of this action in writing.