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Note: FERPA guidelines state that a student has a right to privacy of his or her education record. As such, students' records are confidential. FERPA guidelines prohibit teachers from discussing the status of a student/students' record with parents or others. Please review the FERPA guidelines in the USF Handbook (page 44-45 "Student Records Policy").   

​​[See "Student Academic Grievance Procedures" in the 2009/10 USF Undergraduate Catalog]

Grade Grievance Definition 

Students sometimes have difficulty understanding the USF and FYC grade grievance policy and procedure. Information about grade grievance follows:

If a student has questions about project grades or the final course grade assigned in a First-Year Composition class, the instructor always should be the first point-of-contact. Generally a student's instructor can explain how grades are assigned and answer any relevant questions about student performance and evaluation. If a student meets with an instructor, discusses grade issues, but still has unresolved issues related to the assigned grade, then the student may file an academic grievance with the Department of English First-Year Composition Program if the nature of the grievance meets the criteria stated in this policy statement and summarized above.

Remember, your instructor has explicit understanding of the content of the class and of your work. Your instructor normally is the final authority for assigning your grades for an activity, project, or course, and you may grieve the assigned grade only if the instructor has violated published policies and procedures, or if grades for a particular student were assigned according to a different criteria than that used to assess other students in the same class.

An "academic grievance" typically refers to a situation when a student challenges a grade on an assignment or a final course grade.  Students can file a grade appeal in response to "a specific academic decision or action that affects that student's academic record or status."  A student may grieve a grade when the instructor "has violated published policies and procedures, or when an academic action has been applied to the grievant in a manner different from that used for other students."  A student may also file a grievance when the instructor has assigned the student either a project grade or a course grade based upon an alleged incident of plagiarism. See the FYC Plagiarism Policy, documented below. "Academic grievances will not deal with general student complaints" [USF Policy 10-002]

In the case of grade appeals, the USF system reserves the right to change a student's grade if it is determined that the grade given was incorrect. The term "incorrect" means that the assigned grade was based upon something other than performance in the course, or that the assignment of the grade was not consistent with the criteria for awarding of grades as described in the course syllabus or other materials distributed to the student.

Please note, however, that this does not mean that a grade will be changed in instances when a student feels a teacher is too harsh or strict in evaluation or when a student believes a teacher is ineffective.  In other words, disliking a teacher or a teacher's style is not reason enough for a grade change.  Likewise,  this does not mean that a grade will necessarily be changed when an instructor deviates from the original course plan (syllabus, class documents).  In the University setting, it is not uncommon for teachers to update course schedules and requirements in response to students' needs or extenuating circumstances.  So long as all students in a particular class are graded according to the same standards, even in the case of unannounced or last-minute changes, the instructor’s decision generally is supported by FYC administration.

Remember, instructors may consider student attendance when assigning final course grades, and attendance records generally are not included in Blackboard Grade Center columns and calculations. Therefore, if your final course grade does not correspond with the Blackboard Grade Center point total, be sure to review the instructor's class attendance policy and, if necessary, arrange a meeting with your instructor to resolve any attendance-related grade issues.

        Academic grievances will not deal with general student complaints. These general complaints include the instructor’s teaching methods, materials, classroom conduct, feedback, or personal opinions expressed in the classroom. One positive element of a university education is exposure to a variety of teaching styles, methods, and opinions, and the FYC Program acknowledges the value of diversity among its teaching staff.

In the case of all other academic grievances, the USF system reserves the right to determine the final outcome based upon the procedures detailed in the current USF Undergraduate Catalog.  Neither the student nor the instructor shall be entitled to bring legal representation to any actual grievance proceeding as this is an internal review of an academic decision.

Instructor Meeting 

Right to Appeal

[See "I. Introduction (Purpose and Intent)" in the current USF Undergraduate Catalog]

Committee Appeal 

Per the University Catalog, a student has the right to appeal a teacher’s grade assignment following the Student Academic Grievance Procedures outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog within three weeks of the graded assignment or three weeks from the time the student receives the final course grade.

Grievance Deadlines

 If you wish to appeal the instructor’s decision in either of the above situations, you must notify the FYC Program within three (3) weeks of the grading incident or from the delivery of the final course grade.

Grievance Process

Begin the grievance process by

1.       Sending an email to the First-Year Composition Program Associate Director, Dr. Dianne Donnelly (ddonnelly@usf.edu), and copy the Director, Dr. Joe Moxley (moxley@usf.edu), and state your intention to file a grievance.

2.       Scheduling a face-to-face meeting with Dr. Donnelly to discuss the incident and your instructor’s grading decision. At your face-to-face conference with Dr. Donnelly, bring all documents you have that will help demonstrate your composing process on the assignment or class in question, including drafts, notes, final draft, etc. You also will be requested to provide a brief (250-words or fewer) written description of your grievance, the course syllabus, Dr. Donnelly will advise you about following the Undergraduate Catalog to pursue your grievance. This procedure is generally outlined in the “Student Grievance” section, below.

3.       Your grievance, along with all material submitted by you and your instructor, will be reviewed by a Department of English committee and you will be informed of the department decision within three (3) weeks.

4.       You have the right to appeal a department decision by filing a grievance with the College of Arts and Sciences. See the Undergraduate Catalog Student Academic Grievance Procedures for more information.  

College Appeal 
​​FAQ​

Fir​st Things First

 

Here are some things to check before looking into the grievance process:

 

I don’t understand how my instructor assigned my grade for a particular assignment. What should I do?

 

Your first step should be to contact your FYC instructor and make arrangements to meet and discuss the situation. Many misunderstandings about grades can be resolved, quickly and easily, by talking with your teacher.

 

I don’t understand how the instructor assigned my final grade for the class. What should I do?

 

Be sure to check the following:

 

1.       Attendance – instructors may adjust final grades based upon a student’s adherence to attendance policy. Check the syllabus for this class and compare any attendance statement with your attendance record

 

2.       Grade Weights – generally instructors will allow Blackboard to calculate grade weights, but in some cases this is separately calculated by the instructor. Check the syllabus for grade weights and compare that with any grade weights indicated on Blackboard’s Grade Center

 

3.       Correct Column for Final Grade – Make sure you’re looking at the correct column for a final course grade

 


 

Grievance

 

Okay. I’ve done all that First Things First stuff, and I’m still not happy. What next?

 

If you have talked with your teacher and you’re still not satisfied with the outcome, you should read through the information on this webpage, review the grievance documentation in the current USF Undergraduate Catalog (excerpted here), and make sure your situation qualifies for an official grade grievance.

 

What is a grade grievance, anyway?

 

An academic grievance means that a student formally challenges the grade for an assignment or for the course. A committee of USF administrators and professors will be convened to resolve formal grievances.

 

Before I read this webpage and the catalog, can you tell me the general guidelines for a grade grievance?

 

You may grieve a grade when:

 

1.       You believe that your instructor has violated published USF policies and procedures

 

2.       You believe that you have been graded or otherwise assessed according to different criteria from other students in the same class

 

3.       Your instructor has assigned you either a project grade or a course grade based upon an alleged incident of plagiarism

 

What kinds of incidents are not open to grade grievance?

 

You may not grieve a grade when:

 

1.       You feel the teacher is too harsh, too strict, or requires more difficult assignments than other teachers teaching the same course

 

2.       Your teacher, with advance notice, makes minor adjustments to the course syllabus and all students in the class are subject to the same, revised syllabus requirements

 

3.       Your teacher has adjusted your grade based upon class attendance, and has followed USF and FYC policy when making that grade adjustment.

 

A Note About Attendance

 

First-Year Composition classes are participatory in design, meaning that students learn from interacting with their peers and participating in team activities. In fact, most students will learn as much from collaboration in the classroom as they will from formal instructor presentations. FYC courses are not primarily lecture classes.

 

Consequently, the FYC program has a strict attendance policy. You must be present every day in order to fully benefit from the class and learn valuable lessons that will contribute to your success in other USF classes and beyond.

 

Attendance Policy

• Attendance is mandatory. This is not a lecture class. Class meetings will be spent engaged in activities that will directly and immediately address your needs as a writer. Please check your course syllabus for more information.

 

 

 But I don’t believe my instructor counted valid excused absences correctly when assigning my grade! Can’t I do anything?

 

Again, talk with your instructor to resolve any grading issues related to attendance. Remember,

 

1.       All “excused” absences must be approved by your instructor, in advance whenever possible, but in any case within one week of the absence

 

2.       You must keep formal records of all excused absences

 

3.       Missing a scheduled student-teacher conference may be counted as an absence for attendance purposes

 

Generally, grievance committees do not have the responsibility of reviewing attendance records and revising a teacher’s grade assignment based upon attendance issues.