GC Catalog 2011 2012 - Gaston College

Student InformationPolicies & Procedures(b) Correction of errors made in grading.(c) Explanation of specific grading questionssuch as the correct answer to an examquestion or the basis for a grade receivedon a term paper.2. The student seeking additional clarificationor information on matters related to gradingshould make an appointment with the appropriatedepartment chair. Questions such asthe following may be answered by the departmentchair:(a) Department policy on grading for a particularcourse.(b) Departmental attendance policy or aninstructor's approved attendance policy.(c) Questions related to differences in interpretationsof approved policies.3. Students seeking further recourse related toa final grade received should make an appointmentwith the division dean. The divisiondean should discuss the questions raisedwith the instructor and the department chair,give the student an official interpretation ofthe grade, and explain the appeal process.4. Should the student choose to appeal, the processis as follows:(a) The student should make an appeal inwriting to the Vice President for StudentServices and Enrollment Managementstating the sequence of events leading tohis or her appeal and any personal interpretationsrelated to the case. This writtenappeal must be made not later than themid-term of the semester following the semesterin which the grade was received.(b) The Vice President for Student Servicesand Enrollment Management notifies theinstructor that an appeal has been madeand activates a committee to hear the student'sappeal. Membership of the FinalGrade Appeal Committee is as follows:• Vice President for Student Services andEnrollment Management.• Vice President for Academic Affairs• An instructor from the departmentinvolved, selected by the instructor'sdepartment chair. (The Chief Officer forAcademic Affairs will select an instructorfrom another department within thedivision if the department chair's gradingpolicy is appealed.)• A faculty member selected by thestudent making the appeal.• An instructor selected by the instructorwhose grade is being appealed.• An instructor selected by the Presidentof the Faculty Senate. This instructorshould be a member of the Senatefrom a division other than the one inwhich the appeal is made.• One additional instructor may beselected by the Vice President forStudent Services and EnrollmentManagement, if needed, to insure abalanced representation.5. A meeting of the Appeal Committee is scheduledby the Vice President for Student Servicesand Enrollment Management.(a) The committee examines the evidenceand discusses the case with the instructorand the student.(b) The committee arrives at a decisionwhich is sent as a recommendation tothe instructor. (The student and VicePresident for Student Services andEnrollment Management are also informedof the recommendation.)(c) If the instructor does not follow the recommendationof the committee, thePresident's Executive Council will determinethe appropriate course of action.(d) In all cases, the faculty member hasrecourse through his/her departmentchair, division dean, and vice president.6. After the Final Grade Appeal Committee hasheard the student's complaint, this completesthe appeal process for the student.Letter Grade SystemGrades are based on several factors including attendance,recitation, written and oral quizzes, reports,papers, final examination, and other class activities.At the beginning of each course, it is the responsibilityof the instructor to notify students in writingabout the grading practices that will be used. Theevaluation will be expressed according to the followingletter system:Grades Quality PointsA Superior - 4 per semester hourB Above Average - 3 per semester hourC Average - 2 per semester hourD Below Average - 1 per semester hourF Failure - 0 per semester hourCE Credit by Examination - 0 per semesterhourI Incomplete - 0 per semester hourWI Withdrawal by Instructor with priorattendance - 0 per semester hourWA Withdrawal with prior attendance -0 per semester hourAU Audit - 0 per semester hourX No grade reported by instructor -0 per semester hourTR Transferred credit - 0 per semester hourTA Transferred credit - 0 per semester hour35