I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish the framework in which a student may seek protection against unfair, prejudiced, or capricious academic evaluation in the New York Medical College (“NYMC”) Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (“GSBMS”).
II. POLICY
It is the policy of the NYMC GSBMS that all appeals must be initiated prior to the award of the student’s degree. A student may appeal a grade if the student believes the final course grade was issued in error or inconsistent with the grading policy indicated in the course syllabus or with respect to the grading of other students enrolled in the course.
III. SCOPE
This policy applies to students in GSBMS M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs.
IV. DEFINITIONS
A. GSBMS: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
B. M.S.: Master of Science Degree
C. Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy Degree
V. PROCEDURES
A. Any student who wishes to appeal a grade must first discuss the matter with the course director.
1. This discussion should be initiated as soon as possible after the grade is received.
2. The course director will listen to the student’s reasoning and will provide the student with an explanation of how and why the grade was assigned.
3. The course director, in consultation with others who oversee administration of the course (i.e., departmental chairs or co-directors) will be receptive to the possibility of changing the grade if the student provides a compelling reason for doing so.
4. Special treatment that is not afforded to the other students in the class will not be considered.
5. In most cases, the issue should be resolved at this point. If the course director or co-director is unavailable, the department chair can appoint another faculty member or an assistant dean to discuss the appeal. If the course is not connected to a department (indicated by a BMSM (interdisciplinary) course number), the appeal can be discussed with one of the assistant deans.
B. If the student’s concerns are not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student may then bring the appeal to the attention of the Dean within a 2-week timeframe after the informal discussion between the student and course director. If the Dean determines the complaint has merit, the Dean or one of the Assistant Deans will discuss the issue further with the course instructor or director as appropriate. If that approach does not yield a resolution satisfactory to the student and/or the individuals who oversee administration of the course, the Dean will refer the appeal to the Academic Standards Committee.
C. The Academic Standards Committee will review the grade appeal.
1. The student must submit a written appeal clearly stating the basis of why the grade is being appealed.
2. The Academic Standards Committee will require documentation about the course from the course director, including, but not limited to, the syllabus, the course objectives, course’s grading policy, and the student’s exams and/or written assignments.
3. The Academic Standards Committee will interview the student and the individuals who administer the course, in addition to other persons as it deems appropriate.
4. If the nature of the appeal and the course are such that some specific scientific expertise is required that is not represented on the Academic Standards Committee, the Dean may appoint an appropriate ad hoc member from the graduate faculty.
D. After reviewing the arguments and evidence on both sides, and deliberating the issues and merits of the case, the Academic Standards Committee will choose either to uphold the instructor’s original grade assignment, or to determine that the original grade should be changed to some specific alternative grade. The Academic Standards Committee will provide a brief explanation of its decision, in writing, to the student, course director, and to the Dean.
E. If the course director(s) wish(es) to appeal the Academic Standards Committee’s decision, a written argument must be provided to the Committee within one week of receiving notice of the decision.
1. The Academic Standards Committee will consider the appeal and decide whether to reverse its original decision, let it stand, or re-open its deliberation.
2. In most cases, unless the instructor offers relevant new information, the Academic Standards Committee’s original decision will stand.
F. At any level discussed above, if the final recommendation is to grant the student’s appeal and final course grades have been submitted and need to be changed, the GSBMS dean will instruct the NYMC Registrar to change the grade on the basis of the Academic Standards Committee’s review. The Dean will also inform the student, the course director, the student’s program director, and the department chair of the final decision.
VI. EFFECTIVE DATE
This policy is effective immediately.
VII. POLICY MANAGEMENT
Executive Stakeholder: Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Oversight Office: Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Dean’s Office
