Petition, Appeals, and Grievances (Academic)
During a student's academic career, there may be occasion to file an academic petition, an appeal or a grievance. (Information on non-academic appeals or grievances can be found in the University catalog or on the portal at http://myiwu.indwes.edu/directory/casfaculty/documents/grievance%20and%20appeal%20non%20academic.pdf).
Petition: A petition is used to request an exception to an academic policy. Academic petitions are available at the RAS Office located in the student center or at https://myiwu.indwes.edu/directory/RAS/forms.
Appeal: An appeal is used either to request a change in grade or to appeal the decision of a petition.
Grievance: An academic policy grievance involves those situations in which a student believes that the university has not followed published policies regarding an academic decision or discrimination based on race, national origin, color, sex, disability, or age including Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504.
A student who has an appeal or a grievance related to a course grade or policy should follow these procedures below for resolution.
Students must begin with the awareness that the university follows generally accepted college and university practice in the development of academic policies, the operation of classrooms, and use of grading techniques. Indiana Wesleyan University allows its instructors some leeway in implementation of generally accepted practices.
Appeal of Grade
If the student feels that an instructor has not followed his or her own published grading policy or if the student feels there is an error in grade calculation, the student is encouraged to begin the informal procedure, outlined below. However, at any point in time the student may choose to end the informal process, and initiate the formal procedure. The procedures for both processes are outlined below.
A. Informal Procedure
1. Within 15 school days of receiving the grade, the student should contact the professor requesting a full explanation of the grade given and the basis for making the grade. If the student's appeal has merit, the professor may decide to submit a change of grade to the Registration & Academic Services (RAS) Office.
2. If the student is unhappy with this outcome, the student may request a review with the Division Chair of the academic unit that offers the course in question. If the complaint involves the chairperson then the academic dean of the school in which the course is offered will conduct the review. If the complaint involves the academic dean then the Provost will conduct the review.
3. The Division Chair or academic dean will notify the faculty member of the review and seek to mediate the dispute through the following steps:
• Informal discussion of the facts of the case between all parties seeking resolution will occur within 10 working days of the appeal.
• If the faculty member’s stated policy for calculating the grade has not been followed, the Division Chair will insist that it be followed and a change in course grade submitted by the professor if appropriate.
• If the dispute is about a grade on a specific paper or an examination, the Division Chair will request that the professor re-evaluate the paper, according to the rubric, or the examination to examine the grade given and make a change in course grade if appropriate. If upon completion of the informal process, the student is not satisfied with the decision, the formal procedure may be initiated.
B. Formal Procedure
1. If not initiated earlier, students must begin the formal procedure within 10 working days of receiving the Informal decision. Formal Academic Grievance/Grade Appeal forms are available in Academic Affairs Office.
2. If the dispute is over a grade received on a specific project or examination, within 5 working days, the academic dean will request a second reading of the specific paper, and the grading rubric, or examination, by two faculty members with knowledge in the academic discipline. The faculty members will submit their evaluations to the academic dean within 10 working days. If the dispute is over a course grade, the academic dean will review the course information including but not limited to the course syllabus, grading policies and grade calculations.
3. Once the academic dean receives all information, they will make a judgment within the next 10 days, as to whether the grade has been misevaluated by more than one full grade. If so, the grade may then be changed by the academic dean. The decision of the academic dean will be final in all grade appeals. If the complaint involves the academic dean then the Executive dean will conduct the review.
The complainant will be notified of results at each step of the grade appeal process. All documentation related to the complaint will be reported to the Academic Affairs Office where all files will be kept.
Academic Grievance
If a student believes that the university has not followed published policies regarding academic decisions or has been discriminated against based on race, national origin, color, sex, disability, or age, including Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504, the student is encouraged to begin the informal procedure, outlined below. However, at any point in time, the student may choose to end the informal process and initiate the formal procedure. The procedures for both processes are outlined below. In cases involving allegations of discrimination against a University employee, students may also contact the Human Resources Department at extension 2117, and for sex discrimination cases, the University's Title IX Coordinator at extension 2175.
A. Informal Procedure
1. If comfortable, the student should contact the faculty member with whom they have a grievance for a full explanation of the university policy, or the federal or state policy, and how the policy was followed. If the university policy has been followed, that should resolve the complaint.
2. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved, the student may request a hearing with the division chairperson. (If the grievance involves the division chairperson, the grievance will be referred to the academic dean of the school.)
3. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved with the division chairperson, the student may request a hearing with the academic dean of the school.
4. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved with the academic leader informally, the formal procedure may be initiated.
B. Formal Procedure
1. If not initiated earlier, the complainant may begin the formal procedure by submitting a written grievance form. Written grievance forms must be submitted no later than 30 days after the decision from the informal procedure. Formal Academic Grievance forms are available in the CAS Academic Affairs Office or the RAS Office.
2. The student may then make a request a hearing, to take place within 15 working days, with the appropriate academic dean of the school or Executive Dean to review the formal grievance.
3. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved, the student may then request a hearing, to take place within 15 working days, with the Academic Affairs Council of the university.
The decision of the Academic Affairs Council will be made within 15 working days of such a request and will be final in all academic policy disputes.
The complainant will be notified of results at each step of the grievance process. All documentation related to the complaint will be reported to the Academic Affairs Office where all files will be kept.
Because grievance and appeal processes are private university administrative hearings, legal counsel or representation is inappropriate.
