Grade Dispute Resolution Guide.

There are only three official reasons that a reported grade can be changed by the University or Professor.

1. Clerical Error

2. Subjective grading criterion or use of alternative grading criteria other than previously stated.

3. Personal Bias.

With respect to clerical error, double check each assignment and redo the math. The easiest way to avoid problems at the end of the semester here is to double check the math. Make sure that the number of points on the graded assignment matches what you get when you do the math. If there is an error, report this to the professor immediately in writing. If you do so, the chances are greatly diminished at the end of the semester that a misreported grade has been entered.

With respect to #2, make sure that you understand the grading rubric attached to your graded work. Do not assume that you know or understand how this is being applied. Ask me throughout the semester should you not understand why you received the grade that you did. Make an appointment to meet with me in my office to do so. This is out of respect for your privacy, and it is the law.

With respect to #3, make sure that should there be some personality conflict, and these sometimes arise, that you discuss this with me prior to the end of the semester so that it does not influence the outcome. I grade all assignments blind. That means that I don't look at the name on the assignment until after I have already graded it. One of the reasons for insisting on a cover sheet for assignments is to prevent any personal bias from entering into the grading process.

What to do if you have a grade dispute or if you want further clarification about your grade?

1. Make sure that you have all of your graded assignments available. We will need these to go over the final grade for the course. Without these graded assignments, it, frankly, is a waste of both of our time to schedule a meeting.

2. Schedule a meeting with me. Know in advance what your schedule will be prior to emailing me about this. Typically, I set aside the first two weeks of the following semester to discuss grade disputes. The reason I do not set these up just after the semester is over is simple. The buildings are often locked, most people leave for home just as soon as their last final is over, I have other administrative and professional obligations scheduled during this time, and whenever I have made an appointment just after the completion of the semester, most of those have been cancelled at the last minute or the former student does not even bother to arrive for the appointment. Becaue of these reasons, I do not and will not schedule grade dispute appointments until the subsequent semester.

3. Send an email to me at the appropriate time. Make sure that you include in your email the following:

a. your availability.

b. the class and section (e.g., PHI 238 @ 8:00 a.m. MWF) you actually took.

c. a brief discription of what you would like to discuss or which exam in particular you have additional questions about.

If you have all of this information in your email, you will greatly speed up the process. At the end of the semester, each class's administrative file is archived. Under Illinois Law, this file must be available for no less than two years. I keep these files for no less than 5 years. These files are in a secure area, and access to them is limited for security reasons. I need advance notice in order to obtain these records.

4. Prepare what you want to discuss with me prior to the meeting.

Remember, there are only three reasons I can legitimately change a grade after the grade reports are submitted. If your dispute does not fall under one of those three reasons, I cannot change the grade. Come to the meeting on time with your graded assignments, and politely and gracefully discuss your concerns with me.

5. Do not expect an immediate answer to your dispute.

Under university and departmental policy, there is a procedure I must follow in order to change a grade if warranted. In brief, I must prepare a letter, and other such materials, and attach these to the change of grade form. This form requires no less than 4 signatures from various university officials. Because of this, you will be notified in writing (mail) the results of the meeting. Make sure that I have a current address to mail this to. Because of State and Federal law, I cannot and will not email or discuss grades by phone. You should receive a letter from me no less than one week after our meeting.

What to do if you are still unsatisfied with the results of our meeting?

1. Wait to receive the result letter from me. Doing anything else prior to receiving this letter will only add to your frustrations. My superiors cannot answer your questions fully until the results are in.

2. There is a hierarchy of overlapping officials that handle grade disputes. If you are still unsatisfied with the results of our meeting, schedule an appointment to meet with the Chair of the Department of Philosophy. You will need all of the same documents you brought to our meeting in addition to the letter I sent you.

3. If you are still unsatisfied, ask the Chair what the next step is.

Remember, most of this can be avoided if you are pro-active during the semester. Check your grade. Re-do the math. Ask questions about how an assignment is graded. Schedule appointments to meet with me throughout the semester. That is the purpose of office hours. If you do not take advantage of these resources and simply remain passive throughout the semester, your chances of misunderstanding why you received the grade that you did will greatly increase.