A student who wishes to appeal to the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts (HLCFPA) Grading Appeals Committee should present to the Dean of the College, or to any one of the faculty members on the Committee, a written statement concerning the grounds for the appeal. Students should initiate the appeal process at the start of the semester immediately after the semester in which the grade was assigned, and at least two weeks in advance of the time a hearing is desired. The Grading Appeals Committee will only accept appeals that have been initiated in this manner. Unless there are special circumstances, the committee will not hear appeals during the summer.
The written appeal to the Committee should provide the following data:
- An account of the facts surrounding the awarding of the grade.
- Evidence that the student has sought to resolve the case in consultation with the instructor.
- Evidence that the student has attempted to resolve the case through the appropriate School’s grading appeals committee.
Upon receiving the student's appeal, the Dean, Committee Chair, or Committee member will forward it to the entire Committee, who will then request from the School grading appeals committee all records of its deliberations, including documentary evidence gathered throughout the appeal process. The instructor will be notified of the filing of the appeal and of their right to examine a copy of the appeal.
After preliminary examination of a case, the College Appeals Committee may choose to:
- Decide the case without a hearing based upon the written submissions of the parties.
- Refer the case back to the instructor, the School, or the student, with the judgment that a resolution lies within the power of the student and faculty member or the student and the School.
In the event that the College Appeals Committee accepts the case unconditionally, it shall:
- If necessary, solicit from the faculty member, student, and/or the School appeals committee written statements addressing any questions and issues that the Committee believes to require further clarification.
- If necessary, supplement this information with interviews with the chair of the School committee or any of its members, with any parties to the dispute (e.g., student and/or instructor), and with anyone else whose testimony is relevant to the case.
- Grant a hearing before the Committee at the request of either party.
- Consider the full body of evidence and pronounce a decision based on it.
A decision by the committee shall be rendered as soon as possible and communicated in writing to both the student and the instructor. The Committee shall provide reasons and justification for the decision to the party whose position was rejected. An additional copy of this letter shall be sent to the Dean of the College for his/her record.
Either students or faculty members may appeal an adverse ruling one time within thirty days of the ruling. As the College Appeals Committee is the final appeal committee, an appeal of one of its decisions would go back to the Committee for reconsideration. Justifications for re-appeal (as determined by the committee) include submission of significant new evidence or a new interpretation of evidence considered in the earlier appeal. The re-appeal statement should be as specific as possible, supply all documentary evidence available (e.g., dates, places, and times), and not include unsubstantiated charges.
Committee decisions that call for a change of grade shall be communicated in writing to the Dean of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. It is the responsibility of the Dean to make the change of grade.