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Sometimes, when someone says, “That professor was so unfair. I should have had a better grade,” what they really mean is, “I didn’t do the work and I got what I deserved, but I’m blaming someone else.” Other times, though, it’s true: You can read a professor’s reviews before signing up for their class, go over the syllabus, turn in all your assignments on time, and still get a grade below what you think you deserve. When you believe you should have done better than you did, there is recourse, though not many people know about it: Most colleges have a grade-appeal process you can employ at the conclusion of a semester if you think you can make the case for a better mark.
When can you appeal a final grade?
If you just didn’t do your work through the semester, you’ll have a hard time convincing the powers that be that you deserve a better grade. But there are other reasons that a grade can be disputed. Per Best Colleges, these include:
- The professor applied unfair or unequal standards.
- The professor didn’t outline their grading policies.
- The professor made grading decisions based on something besides academic performance (like behavior, personal feelings, or discrimination).
While the best course of action is addressing these issues directly with your professor during the semester, it’s not always possible. You’re busy, they’re busy, and some professors don’t input grades until the very end—meaning you might not know you have a problem until you think it’s too late.
Talk to the professor first
The actual appeals process at most schools is weedy and serious, meaning you and your professor will have to deal with paperwork if you go through with it. It’s in both of your best interests to try to come to a resolution privately together first, so set up a meeting if you can. Provide documentation, like the syllabus that’s lacking a clear outline of the teacher’s grading policies, or emails you sent regarding late or misgraded assignments throughout the semester; then ask directly if your grade can be changed.
For the most part, professors can change grades on their own, and forums like Reddit are full of students and teachers saying they’ve seen it happen. Usually, the instructor has to provide some justification internally, but the grade should change quickly once they submit it.
The formal appeals process
If talking it out doesn’t work, you have a more nuclear option in most cases. The first step to pursuing a formal grade change is to familiarize yourself with your school’s policy. Google the name of your school and “grade change policy.” Some schools, like the NYU Tisch School of the Arts, have a deadline in place for when you have to appeal by. Some are really streamlined, like North Dakota State, which provides you with a form to fill out upfront. Some, like Emerson, need you to submit your petition with written support from a faculty member or advisor. Others, like UCLA, have strict rules about the kinds of grades you can appeal (one assigned “for other than academic reasons”) and the kinds you can’t (one “you disagree with”).
Knowing the exact process your school requires is key, but almost every university has one. Compile your documentation and evidence again, including any correspondence wherein the professor has refused to change the grade on their own, and reach out to your department chair before submitting. It’s their job to mediate disagreements between faculty and students, so if they see you’re serious about filing, they may intervene before you have to.
If all else fails, file the paperwork. Try to do this as soon as possible after receiving the unsatisfactory grade, as some universities only allow it for a certain amount of time after the semester ends. Be professional and courteous in your correspondence, and keep in mind that even if this appeal fails and your board rejects your claim, some schools allow you to also appeal that rejection to the provost.
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