Appealing Academic Grades NOT Related to Academic Misconduct

Per UNF Policy 2.0340, students may petition to change a final evaluative grade relating to individual courses. A student may appeal final grades which the student believes have been assigned:

1. arbitrarily or capriciously;
2. contrary to the criteria announced in the course; or
3. for constitutionally and/or legally impermissible reasons.

Such appeals shall be limited to a period of 90 calendar days from the date the grade was assigned. A grade of Incomplete (I) may not be appealed.

Any reference to calendar days throughout this document does NOT include university holidays, spring break, and days between terms; i.e. the last day of Final Exams Week in fall term until the first day of spring term; the last day of Final Exams Week in spring term until the first day of summer A term; and the last day of summer term until the first day of fall term.

Summer Meeting schedule: Appeals may be heard over the summer term if both parties (faculty and student) are available to meet and if a University Appeals Committee quorum (faculty and student membership) can be reached.

All written appeals and correspondence may only be sent and/or delivered to respective parties via their official university email addresses.

Procedures for Appealing a Grade NOT Related to Academic Misconduct

• The student first submits a written appeal to the faculty member within ninety (90) calendar days from the date the disputed grade was assigned.
  1. The faculty member involved must provide a written response within ten (10) calendar days after receiving the student's appeal.
  2. If the faculty member agrees, the faculty member will submit a Change of Grade within 10 calendar days for Chair approval.

If there is no resolution between the student and the faculty member...

• The student may then appeal to the department chairperson.
  1. Within ten (10) calendar days after receiving a response from the faculty member, the student may submit a written appeal to the appropriate departmental chairperson.
  2. The Chair is obligated to respond to the student's appeal within twenty (20) calendar days with a copy to the faculty member.
  3. The Chair may not override the instructor's decision and issue a Change of Grade without the faculty member's concurrence.

If there is no resolution following the appeal to the department chairperson...

• The student may appeal to the Dean.
  1. Within ten (10) calendar days after the Chair sends their response to the student, the student may send a written or emailed appeal to the appropriate College Dean with copies to the faculty member and the Chair.
  2. The College Dean is obligated to respond to the student's appeal within twenty (20) calendar days.
  3. The Dean may not override the instructor's decision and issue a Change of Grade without the faculty member's concurrence.

If there is no resolution following the appeal to the college dean...

• The student may appeal to meet with the University Academic Appeals Committee. Formal submissions are accepted electronically through the Academic Grade Appeal Request. 
  1. Within ten (10) calendar days after the College Dean sends his or her response to the student, the student must complete the online request form and upload all related written correspondence.
  2. Academic Affairs will refer the appeal to the Chair or designee of the University Academic Appeals Committee within ten (10) calendar days.
  3. The Chair or designee of the University Academic Appeals Committee will coordinate the date and time of the hearing to all parties. The requesting student will be notified of the hearing date established the Chair or designee of the University Appeal Committee. The committee will proceed with scheduling a hearing if there is no response. Notification will be sent to all parties at least ten (10) calendar days in advance of the hearing. Once a hearing date is scheduled and communicated, it may not be rescheduled by any involved party unless there is a documented emergency. If either the student, the Department, and/or College representative(s) should fail to appear at the scheduled hearing, the hearing may proceed in their absence. A hearing must be rescheduled if the Committee fails to reach quorum, i.e. six members which must include the Committee Chair and a minimum of three (3) faculty members and two (2) students.
  4. Evidence from all parties must be in the Office of Academic Affairs within 72 business hours in advance of the scheduled hearing. All evidence will be available for review by either party at least 24 business hours before the hearing.
  5. The University Academic Appeals Committee's recommendation will be based on a majority vote by the Committee's voting members. The burden of proof rests on the appealing party. The Committee may also make a recommendation that differs from the request.
  6. The Committee's Chairperson will send the Committee's recommendation to the Provost with copies to all parties involved within ten (10) calendar days following the hearing.
  7. The decision of the Provost or their designee will be forwarded to all involved parties in writing within twenty (20) calendar days of the hearing.
  8. Within five (5) calendar days after the Provost's decision is sent to the involved parties, any of the parties involved may deliver a written appeal to the University President. If no appeal is filed with the President, the faculty member will submit a Change of Grade within five (5) calendar days, if necessary.
  9. The President or their designee will provide a response within ten (10) calendar days to all involved parties. If necessary, the faculty member will submit a Change of Grade within five (5) calendar days. The decision of the President or designee shall be final. No further appeals are allowed.