Academic Catalog - Mt. Sierra College
Academic Catalog - Mt. Sierra College
Academic Catalog - Mt. Sierra College
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<strong>Mt</strong>. <strong>Sierra</strong> <strong>College</strong> Student Services<br />
74<br />
<strong>Academic</strong> Grievance Procedure<br />
Except in cases where capricious, malicious, incompetent or unfair grading can be clearly demonstrated, faculty members<br />
shall have final authority in the assignment of a grade. However, there may be times that a student believes that he or she has<br />
not received an appropriate grade. The student should first contact the Registrar’s Office to verify that the grade has been<br />
recorded accurately. If so, the student should follow the following steps in the prescribed order:<br />
1. Meet with the faculty member who assigned the grade. The student should present evidence that supports the claim that<br />
the grade assigned was inappropriate;<br />
2. If the faculty member determines that the grade assigned was in error, the faculty member shall submit a “Request for a<br />
Grade Change” form to the Registrar. All academic records will be changed to reflect the revised grade;<br />
3. If the faculty member is no longer on the <strong>Mt</strong>. <strong>Sierra</strong> <strong>College</strong> staff, the appropriate Department Chairperson shall appoint<br />
a qualified faculty member to review the work submitted by the student. If a grade change is deemed warranted, the<br />
Department Chairperson, based upon the recommendation of the qualified faculty member, shall submit a “Request for<br />
a Grade Change” form to the Registrar;<br />
4. If a dispute still exists, the student shall submit a written request for review to the appropriate Department Chairperson.<br />
If the dispute involves a grade assigned by the Department Chairperson, the written request shall be submitted to the<br />
Dean or his/her designee. The Department Chair, Dean or his/her designee shall review the case. If there is concern<br />
about the grading process, the faculty member will be requested to re-evaluate the student’s performance and consider<br />
assigning a new grade;<br />
5. If a dispute still exists after review by the appropriate Department Chairperson, the student may submit a written request<br />
to the Dean or his/her designee for review. After a review is conducted, the Dean may request the designated faculty<br />
member or alternative faculty member to review the student’s performance and consider assigning a new grade, if<br />
deemed appropriate;<br />
6. Unless it can be clearly demonstrated that the grade assigned was done in an unfair, capricious, or incompetent way, the<br />
grade assigned by the original faculty member will be upheld;<br />
7. If it is determined that the grade assigned was done in a capricious, unfair or incompetent way, the Department Chairperson<br />
shall appoint a qualified faculty member to review the work of the student and recommend an appropriate grade. The<br />
Dean must approve the appointed faculty member. The Dean must approve the revised grade. Once approved, the<br />
Dean will submit a “Request for a Grade Change” form to the Registrar and all academic records will be adjusted. The<br />
decision of the Dean is final.<br />
Non-<strong>Academic</strong> Grievance Procedure<br />
Students may grieve actions taken as a result of the imposition of discipline, violations of <strong>College</strong> Policy (including violations<br />
of the <strong>College</strong>’s policy on academic integrity) or other actions by college staff or other students that are deemed inappropriate<br />
by the student. The following procedural due process shall be followed:<br />
1. The student shall submit a written request to the Dean for either a review of the case or an appeal of action taken by the<br />
<strong>College</strong> against the student for violations of <strong>College</strong> Policy;<br />
2. Upon receipt of the written the request, the Dean or his/her designee shall appoint an Appeals/Review Committee to<br />
review the appeal or allegations. The committee shall be comprised of one general education faculty member appointed<br />
by the Dean or his/her designee, one faculty member appointed by the Department Chairperson of the major department<br />
of the student filing the request for appeal, and two students appointed by the Dean or his/her designee. The Dean or<br />
his/her designee shall chair the Appeals/Review Committee;<br />
3. The Committee shall consider all relevant testimony and supporting documentation presented by the student filing the<br />
request for appeal or review. Legal counsel cannot represent the student;<br />
4. Based upon a thorough review of all relevant evidence and testimony, the Appeals/Review Committee shall make a<br />
recommendation to the Dean. This shall take place within 10 business days from the filing of the request for appeal or review.<br />
The Dean will render a written decision;<br />
5. If the student believes that there are extenuating circumstances or that all of the evidence presented was not appropriately<br />
considered, the student may submit a written appeal to the <strong>College</strong> President. The President shall review the appeal and<br />
render a written decision. The decision of the President is final.<br />
<strong>Mt</strong>. <strong>Sierra</strong> <strong>College</strong> Student Services<br />
75