Academic Appeals
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:
- First consult with the instructor and if an agreement cannot be reached, appeal to the department head.
- 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.
- If you wish to pursue appeal further, you may appeal in writing to the dean of the college in which the department is located.
- 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