Academic Grade Appeals in Brief: April, 2015 Key Messages 
You are always encouraged to work with your instructor if you are concerned about the grade(s) you receive on your assignment(s). The grade appeal process applies only to final grades once issued. For full information, see the University’s ‘Academic Appeal’ [S1999‐03] policy. It is available via the University website: https://www.capilanou.ca/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=15980 
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The Academic Grade Appeal process is managed through the Office of Student Affairs. For more information, contact: [email protected] 
As set out in the Academic Appeal policy, the only grounds for an appeal are as follows:  Failure by instructor to follow the evaluation profile, grade assignment and operational details as stated in the Course Outline. Students must be notified in writing of any changes to the distributed course outline;  Failure of instructor to treat the student with fairness or the degree of equity extended to other students in the class;  Failure by instructor or departments/divisions to follow approved University policies and procedures. If your grade appeal relates to issues caused by the recent strike action, it is most likely to fall into the first category. However, this may not necessarily be the case, and other categories may be more applicable. If your situation does not fall into any of these categories, then it does NOT constitute grounds for an appeal. Alternatively, it may constitute an ‘Extenuating Circumstance’ which you should discuss with your instructor. If you have questions, contact the Office of Student Affairs at [email protected].  You must meet the timelines identified in the process. If you do not, the appeal will be dismissed. You must initiate an appeal within two weeks of the date the grade was posted.  The Office of Student Affairs will deal with all Academic Grade Appeals as quickly as possible and, if necessary, will establish an expedited process. Please be advised that the volume of appeals, as well as the availability of the Grade Appeal Committee members, may affect timeliness of response. Academic Grade Appeals in Brief | Office of Student Affairs | Capilano University Academic Grade Appeal Process Step 1: INITIATION (NOTE: grade appeals must be initiated within two weeks of the date the grade was posted) To initiate an appeal, make an appointment to meet with a University Counsellor in one of the following ways: Phone: 604‐984‐1744 or E‐mail: [email protected] When making an appointment, be ready to provide your full name, student number, contact information and the date on which you received the final grade. At the appointment, the Counsellor will provide guidance around the appeals process. If you wish to go ahead with an appeal, the Counsellor will refer you to the mediation stage. Step 2: MEDIATION The Counsellor will refer you first to the relevant instructor and then to the Department Coordinator or Division Chair, if necessary, to discuss your concerns with the final grade. Step 3: RESOLUTION Meeting with your instructor, Department Coordinator, or Division Chair may result in: a) Confirmation that the final grade is not correct; in which case the instructor will submit a CHANGE OF GRADE form to the Registrar’s Office and an adjustment will be made. b) Explanation to you of how the final grade was reached and finalized with no change of grade. Step 4: APPEAL If you are still not satisfied with the outcome reached in Step 3, contact the Counsellor who will provide a STUDENT GRADE APPEAL form and will help you to to complete and submit it. You will need to provide your personal information and details about the course for which you are appealing the grade. You must identify which of the three specific grounds for the appeal applies in your case (see over). Submit the form to the Office of Student Affairs within two weeks of being issued with the form. If not, the appeal will be dismissed as ‘out of time.’ Step 5: FACULTY RESPONSE The Administrator for Student Affairs will forward your submission to the relevant Faculty member who will be asked to complete a FACULTY REPORT & RECOMMENDATION form to respond to the items raised in your submission. Step 6: COMMITTEE REVIEW You will be advised when the Grade Appeal Committee will meet, including whether there are likely to be any delays in the Committee being able to do so. The Committee is independent and will usually be comprised of the Administrator for Student Affairs (Non‐Voting Chair), a Counsellor nominated by the Counselling Department (not the same one that helped with the submission), Two faculty representatives (selected by the Faculty Association), and two student representatives (selected by the Students’ Union). In some cases, both the Student and Faculty member may be invited to meet with the Committee. The Committee’s role is to consider all material submitted and decide whether there are sufficient grounds for appeal. As an outcome, the committee will decide whether the mark should be reviewed and potentially adjusted or should remain unchanged. Step 7: OUTCOME A letter outlining the outcome of the appeal will be sent to you, the instructor, and the Registrar’s Office. If the outcome requires a Grade Change, this will be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. The Committee’s decision is final and cannot be appealed. Academic Grade Appeals in Brief | Office of Student Affairs | Capilano University