Grade Appeals Policy

Effective 2/11/2021

Permanent grades may be changed only under the following circumstances

a) if there has been an error on the instructor’s part in calculating your grade or b) if you have evidence that the instructor graded unfairly due to personal prejudice. The instructor’s judgement of the quality of a student’s submitted work may not be appealed.

If a student believes they have received a grade they did not earn, based on the criteria enumerated above, they may appeal in writing to the instructor for a change. The deadline for appealing a grade is the last day of classes of the semester following the semester in which the grade was given. In cases where the instructor is on sabbatical , the deadline will be extended until the last day of classes of the semester in which the instructor has returned from sabbatical. The instructor will consider the appeal and respond in writing, stating their reasons for their decision and copying the Department Chair. If the instructor agrees with the appeal and decides to change the original grade, they must submit a grade change in Albert. The grade change will need to be approved online by the department chair and the director of academic services.

A student may appeal an instructor’s decision in writing to their Department Chair, using the same criteria enumerated above.  The Chair will review the submitted evidence, consult with the instructor, and render a decision in writing, stating their reasons for their decision and copying both the student and the instructor. In considering an appeal, a Chair may not substitute their own judgment of the quality of a student’s work for that of the instructor.

The student or instructor may appeal the Chair’s decision in writing to the Committee on Academic Affairs, a standing committee of the Tisch School of the Arts faculty.  The only possible bases of such an appeal are that the Department Chair did not review the submitted evidence, did not consult with the instructor, did not render a decision in writing, or there is evidence of personal prejudice on the part of the Chair.  The Committee will review the submitted evidence and render a final, written decision in the matter. There is no appeal of a decision of the Committee on Academic Affairs.