Graduate Course Grade Appeal
Date Implemented: December 10, 2025
Date Revised: December 10, 2025
At the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½. Thomas, instructors’ evaluations are considered authoritative. However, students who believe they have been assigned a final course grade unfairly may use the student grievance process to appeal the grade. The first step in any such appeal is to discuss the grade with the instructor who assigned the grade within 4 weeks of the grade submission. If the professor decides that a grade change is warranted because of an error in the computation, transcription, or reporting of the grade, or if there was a procedural or other grading error in a course assignment(s) that impacted the course grade, the professor may change the student’s grade using the Grade Change Form. If the professor decides otherwise, the student may appeal to the next level, whether department chair or dean. If the grade appeal progresses to the department chair/program director, dean, or ultimately to the Student Grievance and Conduct Committee, the grade may only be changed if the assignment of the grade was arbitrary or capricious. A grade assignment is arbitrary or capricious if it: (1) violates stated policies, procedures and/or grading standards; (2) involves application of inappropriate criteria, including discrimination or retaliation; or (3) violates applicable law.
A department chair/program director, dean, and/or the Student Grievance and Conduct Committee may investigate the grade appeal as needed, including requesting information from the student and faculty member, who are expected to promptly comply with any such requests.
If a department chair/program director or dean determines that a grade change is not warranted based on the criteria above, they will inform the student in writing, and the student may elect to appeal to the next level within 10 business days. If a department chair/program director or dean determines that a grade change is warranted based on the criteria above, they must notify the instructor and explain their reasons to the instructor in writing. The instructor may then (within 10 business days): (1) voluntarily change the grade and inform the chair/director or dean that they have done so, (2) grant the administrator permission to change the grade without implying the instructor’s endorsement, or (3) respond in writing to the administrator’s determination and request that the administrator’s determination be reviewed at the next level in the appeals process: the dean (if the department chair/program director made the determination) or the Student Grievance and Conduct Committee (if the dean made the determination). If the faculty member elects the third option above, the student’s grievance, the administrator’s determination, and the faculty member’s written response, along with any other documents considered by the administrator in connection with the grade appeal, will be forwarded by the administrator to the next level in the appeal process before any decision is finalized. If the faculty member does not take action within 10 business days of the administrator’s notice that a grade change is warranted, the faculty member waives their right to request additional review and the student’s grade will be changed.
If the appeal reaches the Student Grievance and Conduct Committee, that committee will hear the appeal and then make a recommendation to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, who will make the final determination in consultation with the Executive Vice President and Provost. If the Committee recommends that a grade change is warranted based on the criteria above, the Committee will notify the faculty member of their recommendation and reasons, and the faculty member shall have ten (10) business days to respond in writing to the recommendation before the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs makes a final decision.
The student who filed the grade appeal and the instructor will be given written notice of determinations made at each step of the student grievance process.
Important Note: This graduate course grade appeal policy applies to all St. Thomas graduate students in programs where there is not a separate grade appeal policy specific to their program(s). This policy will also govern if a graduate program has its own grade appeal policy, but the policy has omissions or gaps that mean in cannot be applied in the specific context of a grade appeal.
The Graduate Academic Policies are the responsibility of the Graduate Curriculum Committee Convener. For additions or revisions contact gradcurriculum@stthomas.edu.