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University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Policy Name: Grade Appeals
Policy Number: LR 501.6
Original Effective Date: 03/21/1979
Most Recent Revised Date: 03/17/2026

Grade Appeal Form

Purpose

This policy explains criteria and procedures for appealing final course grades and other graded program requirements, including comprehensive and qualifying examinations, theses, dissertations, defenses, and other culminating experiences.

Instructors are responsible for:

  • Syllabi that are sufficiently detailed so that students can reasonably assess course expectations
  • Grading in accordance with their syllabus

Students are responsible for:

  • Bearing the burden of demonstrating arbitrary grading
  • Filing appeals in in good faith
  • Abuse of the process may result in referral to the Dean of Students under the student conduct code.

Definitions

  • Instructor: The instructor of record responsible for issuing the grade. For non-course program requirements, this may be the program coordinator or designated faculty evaluator.
  • Class days: Monday through Friday of any academic term, excluding university breaks and holidays for which the University is closed.

Scope and Eligibility

Students may appeal:

  • Final course grades
  • Capstone or culminating experiences
  • Comprehensive and qualifying examinations
  • Theses, dissertations, and defenses

Appeals are permitted only for arbitrary grading, defined as grading based on standards substantially different from those announced in the syllabus or program documents. Appeals are not appropriate for general disagreement with an instructor’s professional evaluation.

A student may consult the Student Government Association or the Graduate Student Association president or designee at any time for guidance and support. This individual may advise the student, assist with documentation, and attend hearings as a non-participating supporter.

Process of Redress for an Arbitrary Grade

Instructor-Level Review

Step 1: Student Initiation of Instructor-Level Review (Within 15 Class Days)

Within fifteen class days of receiving a final grade a student must:

  1. Complete the Grade Appeal Form, which must include:
    • Basis for the appeal
    • Course syllabus or program guidelines
    • Supporting documentation
  2. Submit it electronically to the instructor
  3. Request a meeting about the grade.

Pending Academic Offense or Grievance Cases

  • A grade appeal cannot proceed while an academic offense or related grievance is under review.
  • The 15-class-day appeal window restarts when that process ends.

Step 2: Instructor Meeting

  • The instructor must verify that the appeal was filed within 15 class days. If the deadline has passed, a grade appeal process may not be initiated.
  • The instructor may not delay resolution by refusing to meet, except for documented reasons such as illness, emergency, or official absence.
  • If the instructor is unavailable or unresponsive, the department chair (or equivalent) will appoint a qualified full-time faculty member to act in their place.
  • If resolved, the grade may be changed with written consent of both student and instructor.

Department-Level Review

Step 1: Chair (or their equivalent) or Dean

If not resolved with the instructor, within 5 class days of that meeting the student must submit the appeal to:

  • The department chair (or equivalent), or
  • The college dean if the instructor is the chair (or equivalent)

The submission must include the instructor’s written denial of the grade appeal and its rationale.

Step 2: Chair Verification

  • The chair (or equivalent) must verify the appeal was originally submitted within the 15-day deadline. If the deadline has passed, a grade appeal process may not be initiated.

Step 3: Chair Meeting and Attempted Resolution

Within 5 class days of receiving the student’s Grade Appeal Form etc., the chair (or equivalent) will:

  1. Meet with the student and instructor
  2. Attempt to resolve the dispute
  3. May approve a grade change with the instructor’s written consent
  4. Document the meeting and outcome on the Grade Appeal Form
  5. Send to the instructor and student electronically the Appeal Form with signatures of student, instructor and Chair or equivalent
    • The Grade Appeal Form must include scanned or electronic signatures.

Step 4: AVCAA

If unresolved, within 3 class days, the student must forward all materials to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (AVCAA) or a designee.

Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (AVCAA) Review Stage

Step 1: AVCAA Meeting

The AVCAA or designee will meet with the student to:

  1. Confirm prior steps were properly followed (or redirect if not).
  2. Review the valid grounds for appeal.
  3. Explain the next steps.

Step 2: Referral Decision

After consultation with the AOGAC chair, the AVCAA or designee will decide whether the appeal will go to:

  • The Academic Offenses and Grade Appeals Committee (AOGAC),
  • The Provost, if the case is outside AOGAC jurisdiction, or
  • An appropriate body in the case of a grievance

The decision will be provided to the student in writing.

Academic Offenses and Grade Appeals Committee (AOGAC)

AOGAC is a Faculty Senate committee governed by Faculty Senate Bylaws. It appoints hearing panels for grade appeals.

The procedures described below guide all hearings. Reasonable deviations in timing or procedure will not invalidate decisions unless the deviation causes significant prejudice to the student.

Formal Hearing: AOGAC Hearing Procedures

Step 1: Scheduling

  1. AVCAA/designee will forward the appeal for scheduling.
  2. The AOGAC Coordinator will schedule the hearing within 15 class days of receipt of the student written appeal
    • If there are multiple students associated with the misconduct, hearings will be held separately for each individual
  3. Instructor and student schedules will be considered
    • If the instructor cannot attend within 30 class days of the first attempt at scheduling, a chair or designee may represent them
    • If the student cannot attend within 30 class days of the first attempt at scheduling, the appeal may be dismissed.
  4. Once the date and time are set, a formal communication is sent to the two parties and panel members detailing:
    • the date
    • start time
    • estimated length of the hearing
    • location (or modality) of the hearing. If the hearing is virtual, the link to the virtual location will be included.
  5. After a hearing has been scheduled, it will go forward even if one of the parties does not appear at the hearing.

Step 2: Panel Selection

  1. The AOGAC Coordinator will poll the members of the committee to identify the general pool that can serve on the dates and times identified by the instructor and the student
  2. Only after the pool is identified will the AOGAC Coordinator reveal the names of the parties in the appeal.
  3. If panel members have a conflict of interest with either of the parties, they must recuse themselves at this time.

Step 3: Pre-Hearing Submissions

At least 5 class days before the hearing, each party must submit:

  • Written arguments
  • Supporting documentation
  • Witness names

Late materials are excluded from review before or during the panel hearing.

Attendance of witnesses and non-participating supporters must be disclosed at this stage.

Step 4: Dissemination of Materials

No less than 5 class days before the scheduled hearing, the all materials must be disseminated to:

  1. Panel members
  2. Student
  3. Instructor

Rights and Limits of Instructor and Student

Each party may:

  • bring witnesses
  • question opposing witnesses
  • attend all phases except deliberations
  • bring up to two non-participating supporters

Legal counsel is not permitted.

Panel Composition

  • Panel must include:
    • 3 voting faculty (one serves as chair) and
    • 2 voting students
  • Graduate cases require at least one graduate faculty member and one graduate student
  • Members may recuse themselves and be replaced

Step 5: Hearing Procedures

  • Attendance is limited to the two parties, supporters, witnesses, designated observers and panel members
  • If the panel meets in person, remote participation may be permitted with notice
  • Proceedings are recorded except deliberations
  • Witnesses normally appear live; written statements are rarely accepted and are at the chair’s discretion

Decision Rules

The AOGAC panel:

  1. Will deliberates on whether arbitrary grading occurred
    • The decision is based solely on university policy, documents submitted prior to the hearing and the testimony of the two parties and their witnesses
  2. Will render its decision is by a majority vote
  3. Can only support or reject the appeal
  4. Cannot assign a new grade

Decision Documentation

  1. The findings will be formalized by the signatures of all panel members.
  2. Within 3 class days of the hearing, the chair of the panel will forward to the AVCAA/designee:
    • its findings,
    • the recording of the hearing

Step 6:  Notice of Decision

The AVCAA will:

  1. send written results within 5 class days to student, instructor, chair, and the dean of the college in which the class was taught
  2. provide instruction regarding appealing  the panel’s decision

Provost Appeal

Step 1: Appeal to Provost or designee

  • Within 10 class days of receiving the decision, either party may appeal the panel decision
  • Appeals are submitted in writing
  • At the same time as submitting the appeal to the Provost, the appealing party must send copies of their appeal to the non-appealing party.

Provost Authority

The Provost or designee may:

  • Approve the panel decision
  • Remand to the same panel
  • Remand to a new panel
  • Reverse the decision

Provost Review Timeline

  • Decision issued within 10 class days.

Step 2: Final Notification and Recordkeeping

  • Both parties are notified of the Provost’s decision
  • Records are returned to the AVCAA for filing and action.
  • The Provost’s decision is final.

Revised Dates: 03/2026; 09/2025; 11/2024; 12/2024; 11/2022; 08/2018; 11/1994; 04/1989; 04/1985; 02/1981
Source: UA Little Rock Faculty Senate Minutes
Status: Active
Originator: UA Little Rock Faculty Senate
Custodian: UA Little Rock Faculty Senate