Student Academic Grievances
Young Harris College seeks to establish a caring and just academic community on its campus. Accordingly, the College is committed to fair treatment of its students in their relationships with other members of the College community. Occasionally, however, a student may feel that she/he has been treated unfairly and may seek appropriate action to correct the perceived injustice.
First, the student must meet informally with the party in question and attempt to reach a mutually agreeable solution. If no solution is reached, the student may file a grievance according to the Student Grievances, Complaints, and Appeals Processes published in the Young Harris College Guide to Student Life. Student grievances concerning the academic program of the College must be filed in writing using the form provided in the Office of Academic Affairs.
If a student files a grievance to appeal an automatic withdrawal from a course due to excessive absences, it must be filed no later than the class day following the notification of withdrawal.
If a student wishes to appeal an Honor Code decision, they must do so following the procedures set forth in the Young Harris College Honor Code.
Grade Appeals
A grade appeal should be a method of last resort. Faculty decisions regarding grading and assessment are not subject to appeal, unless the student can present evidence of substantial and significant mitigating circumstances. Students may appeal only final course grades, not individual assignments, and only when they can present evidence of identifiable and distinct errors in the evaluation process - such as calculation errors, inconsistency with stated grading criteria, and the like - or evidence of arbitrary and capricious grading.
Before initiating a formal appeal, the student should first consult with the instructor of record to clarify the rationale for the grade. If the matter cannot be resolved between the student and instructor, or if the instructor is no longer employed by the college, the student may consult the appropriate department chair. The department chair will serve as a mediator and consult with the instructor, either with the student present or separately. The chair will inform the student of the outcome.
The student may initiate a formal grade appeal only after the department chair has consulted with the instructor and informed the student of the outcome. To initiate a formal appeal, the student must submit a grade appeal form and supporting evidence and explanation to the dean of the division in which the course was taken. The student obtains the grade appeal form from the Office of Academic Affairs. The formal, written appeal must be submitted to the dean by the following deadlines.
- Grade appeal for fall semester (any session) - January 25
- Grade appeal for spring semester (any session) - June 1
- Grade appeal for summer semester - September 1
The dean will review the appeal; render a final, binding, and non-appealable decision; and notify the student and instructor. If the dean is the instructor of record, the Provost will conduct the formal appeal. Otherwise, the Provost may only review whether the appeal procedure has been followed. If the dean decides to change the final course grade, he or she will submit a “Change of Grade” form to the Registrar.
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