Appeals

Review of Assigned Standing in a Course

Occasionally, students have concerns about an academic judgement made by a member of the department’s instructional staff and would like to request a review of their assigned standing in the course. A student’s assigned standing in a course is determined by a course instructor in accordance with the grading scheme indicated in the course syllabus, and may take the form of a final grade (e.g., 75%), or one of the other standings assigned by the University (e.g., pass/fail).

See Grading Practices for more information about grades and other assigned standings. The reason for a RAS process is to respond to a student’s belief that the assessment was flawed thus resulting in an unfair or unreasonable decision regarding their performance. It is not enough for a student to feel they should have received a higher mark (an academic judgement), but rather some evidence is needed to support a student’s belief.

In all cases of disagreements between instructors and students, the student should raise the concern directly with the instructor who is obligated to listen to the concern and provide a timely, respectful response to the concern raised.

If the student wishes to proceed with a RAS, then the process described below should be followed. Before starting this process, however, it is highly recommended that the student takes their concern to the next level within the department to state their case and get advice and support on how to proceed.

This could include one of the following:

• undergraduate or graduate course coordinator,
• program area coordinator,
• peer academic advisor, or
• a supervisor.

Procedures for Review of Assigned Standing:

1. A student who disagrees with their assigned standing as determined by a course instructor (in accordance with the grading scheme indicated in the course syllabus) is encouraged to first discuss the matter informally with the instructor(s) of the course, when possible. Should the instructor believe the original assigned standing was in error, at their discretion, may change the standing by submitting a change to academic record form.
2. If the matter remains unresolved, it is recommended that the student discuss their concern with the someone in the department in which the course is held, for example, the undergraduate or graduate course coordinator, the program area coordinator, peer academic advisor, or their supervisor, to get a “third party” opinion and/or help on the matter.
3. If the matter remains unresolved following the initial conversation with the instructor and the student believes that some or all of the material contributing to the assigned standing has been incorrectly evaluated, the student may submit a Request for Review of Assigned Standing to according to the University Calendar. The process and requirements to apply for an RAS can be found at: RAS Application Information.  The result of such a review is the final academic evaluation of a student’s performance in a course.

A Review of Assigned Standing is distinct from an Appeal on Academic Standing; the latter addresses procedural errors or irregularities as opposed to errors in assigning standings based upon academic judgment.

Appeal on Academic Standing

Occasionally, students have concerns about their academic standing based on procedural errors or irregularities made by an instructor and would like to request an appeal of this decision. The appeal should be made initially as near the matter of consideration as possible, presumably an instructor, and progress to the course or area coordinator, and then to the head of the department concerned.

Should the matter not be resolved to the student’s satisfaction it can then be taken to either the Faculty of Education’s Committee on Curriculum, Admissions, Standings and Appeals (CCASA) for undergraduate course appeals (through the Associate Dean of Teacher Education) or to the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) for graduate appeals (through the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies) who renders a final decision for the Faculty.

Finally, if the student considers that there was a procedural error made in deciding on their appeal at CCASA or GPS, the student may file an appeal to the Senate Committee on Student Appeals on Academic Standing. For more information on an Appeal on Academic Standing, see the calendar entry at www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=3,53,0,0

Procedures for an Academic Standing Appeal:

1. Students who wish to appeal decisions relating to their academic studies based on procedural errors or irregularities may do so. The informal appeal should be made initially as near the matter of consideration as possible, presumably the instructor, within 3 weeks after a grade is first available on the Student Service Centre. The student should explain the procedural errors or irregularities that are the basis of this appeal. Should the instructor find that there were procedural errors or irregularities that affected academic standing, the instructor may, at their discretion change the standing by submitting a change to academic record form.
2. If the matter remains unresolved, the student should discuss the procedural issues of concern along with a summary of the meeting with the instructor, with the course or area coordinator (within two weeks of meeting with the instructor). Should the course or area coordinator find that there were procedural errors or irregularities that affected academic standing, they will approach the instructor to request a change in academic standing for the student. The instructor may, at their discretion change the standing by submitting a change to the academic record form.
3. If the matter remains unresolved through this informal process, the student should summarize in writing the procedural error or irregularity that is the basis for the appeal, and the process followed and outcome of any effort made to resolve the matter with the instructor and course or area coordinator. If the procedural error or irregularity concerns a grade on an assignment or in a course, the course outline should be provided along with the assignment(s) of concern. This summary and related materials should be submitted to the Head of the department within two weeks of the effort to resolve the matter with the course or area coordinator. The Head will review the information provided and consult with the instructor and others as necessary.  The Head will make an initial determination of the merits of the appeal and then meet with the student to discuss it within two weeks of the appeal being submitted. This discussion may include options available to resolve the concern if the appeal is judged to have merit.
4. If the matter is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction by the Head and the student wishes to pursue the appeal further, they can submit their appeal documents to either the Faculty of Education’s:
   • Committee on Curriculum, Admissions, Standings and Appeals (CCASA) for undergraduate course appeals (through the Associate Dean of Teacher Education) or
   • Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) for graduate appeals (through the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies).
5. Once the Faculty final decision is issued by either CCASA or GPS, a student has 10 days after the date of the decision to file an appeal on academic standing to the Senate Committee on Student Appeals on Academic Standing, the senior academic authority in the University. Appeal procedures to Senate can be found at: Academic Standing Appeals Procedure

Summary of Procedures

Review of Assigned Standing (RAS)

If a student believes the standing in the course is in error based on academic judgment of their performance they should take the following steps:

1. Discuss issue of concern about standing in the course with course instructor (where possible).
2. If unsatisfied with the result, it is recommended that the student reach out to someone else within the department in which the course is held, (e.g. Undergraduate or Graduate Course Coordinator, Program Area Coordinator, Peer Academic Adviser, or Supervisor) to get a “third party” opinion and/or help on the matter.
3. If unsatisfied with result, submit required documentation for an Application for a Review of Assigned Standing as set out in the University Calendar at RAS Application Information.

Note: The result of the RAS is the final academic evaluation of a student’s performance in the course.

Appeal on Academic Standing

If a student believes their standing in a course is incorrect based on procedural errors or irregularities, a student is advised to follow steps 1-3 below. If the matter is unresolved, the student may submit an Academic Standing Appeal to the Senate Committee on Student Appeals on Academic Standing (#4 below).

1. Discuss procedural issue of concern with course instructor.
2. If unresolved, submit required appeal documents to the Head of the Department in which the course is held.
3. If unresolved, submit required appeal documents to either the Faculty of Education’s:
   • Committee on Curriculum, Admissions, Standings and Appeals (CCASA) for undergraduate course appeals, or
   • Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) for graduate appeals.