Grade Appeals

You may appeal grades on the basis of one or more of the following grounds:

• A clearly unfair decision (such as lack of consideration of circumstances beyond the student’s control, e.g., a death in the family, illness or accident);
• Unacceptable instruction/evaluation procedures (such as deviation from stated policies on grading criteria, incompletes, late paper, examinations, or class attendance);
• Inability of instructor to deal with course responsibilities; or
• An exam setting which makes concentration extremely difficult.

To appeal a grade, you should take the following steps:

1. First consult with the instructor and if an agreement cannot be reached, appeal to the department head.
2. The department head will review the circumstances surrounding the assignment of the grade and determine if the grade should be changed. If the department head recommends that a grade be changed and the instructor elects NOT to do so, the department head will appoint a committee of no less than three faculty members to review the matter.
3. If you wish to pursue appeal further, you may appeal in writing to the dean of the college in which the department is located.
4. If the issue is still unresolved, you may initiate the formal Undergraduate Council appeals procedure by forwarding a written request to the appeals committee.

Submit request by letter addressed to:
Undergraduate Council Appeals Committee
Student Success Center
1817 Melrose Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37996-3551