Grade Grievance

Grade Grievances

Columbia University School of Nursing has specific policies for addressing grade grievances. Grade grievances are limited to overall course grades. Students who believe their final course grade has been unfairly calculated must adhere to the Grievance Process. 

The grievance process typically occurs at the start of the subsequent semester, which impacts student progression. 

Please note: faculty members have the right to determine grading policies for their classes and have the expertise to evaluate student work unless substantive and objective evidence to the contrary is presented.  

Students may grieve a course grade based on: 

  1. Procedural error: e.g. grading miscalculation or deviation from the grading policy 
  1. Arbitrary and capricious grading: assigned grade is inconsistent with evaluation criteria/posted rubric 
  2. Excessive grading sanction

Please note: Issues related to time and attendance (e.g. late assignment submission, clinical lateness, absence requests, make-up exam requests) are not eligible for grievance without concrete documentation that these criteria were inconsistently or arbitrarily applied.

Claims of bias or discrimination in grading practices will also be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE). 

Grade Grievance Process 

  1. Students who wish to grieve a course grade must first contact the course faculty to discuss grading questions and concerns, within five (5) business days of the official posting of the final grade. The faculty member will meet with or respond to the student’s concerns regarding the grade within ten (10) business days.
  2. If the faculty member does not believe a grade change is warranted but the student wants to proceed with a grade grievance, the student must notify the Vice Dean of Education, via email, within five (5) business days of   the date of the faculty response in step 1, detailing the grounds for the grievance, according to the policy.
  3. Within ten (10) business days, the Vice Dean of Education will determine whether the basis for the grievance as articulated by the student, if proven, would meet the grounds for grievance pursuant to the policy.  If a grievance is warranted, the Vice Dean notifies the chair of the Committee on Admissions to convene a grievance panel.

The grievance process is in writing only; there is no meeting between the student and the panel. Decisions are based on a review of the documentation provided. Once the decision to convene a grievance panel has been made, the student will have ten (10) business days to prepare and submit the packet for review. 

  1. The student will be referred to the Dean of Students for advisement on preparing the written packet for review by the panel. Packets should include statements and supporting evidence for grounds for grievance.
  2. The faculty member will consult with their supervisor/program director on preparing the materials for the packet for review by the panel. Packets should include statements and supporting evidence on how the student was graded and basis for grade.

 

  1. The chair of COA will distribute materials for review and convene and schedule a grievance panel meeting to deliberate and render a decision within 45 business days from notification. The grievance panel will be comprised of three (3) faculty, the chair of COA, and the Vice Dean of Education as the ex-officio, none of whom have direct involvement with the grievant or course. If the chair of COA is the faculty of record, the Vice Dean will appoint an interim chair. 
  2. The panel will have two (2) weeks to review the materials prior to meeting to deliberate and render a decision.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The Chair of COA may reach out to the Vice Dean of Education for clarification on policies and procedures. If the panel has questions after review of the documentation, a request for additional information (in writing) will be made to the Vice Dean of Education, who will obtain and distribute additional materials as needed, prior to the decision. 

There is no meeting between the student and the panel. The decision is based on a review of the documentation provided. This is not a legal proceeding. 

  1. The Vice Dean of Education notifies the student and faculty of the decision within three (3) business days of the decision. 

The student has the right to appeal the grievance panel’s decision to the Dean of the School of Nursing. The grounds for appeal are: 

  1. A procedural error in the grievance process affecting the findings or determinations
  2. New information that was not available at the time of the grievance that may change the determination.

The appeal must be submitted in writing within seven (7) business days of when the student is notified of the grievance panel’s decision. The appeal must clearly state the grounds for the appeal and provide supporting documentation.

Appeal packets are sent to the Chief of Staff in the Dean’s office: (son_deansoffice@cumc.columbia.edu)

In addition to the student’s appeal packet, all materials submitted to the grievance panel and the grievance panel’s decision will be provided to the dean for review. The appeal is solely based on the written submissions.

The dean will notify the student of the final decision in writing within ten (10) business days of receipt of the student’s appeal packet.

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