Grade Appeal

STEP ONE: Appeal to the Professor

You should write to your professor after the first day of the following semester, but no later than the end of the fourth week of that same semester.

The letter should be addressed to the professor; send a copy sent to the chair of the department and to the dean of the school. 

The professor will review the merit of the appeal and your academic performance in the course.

The professor should respond in writing within ten (10) business days of receiving the appeal letter.

* If the professor is no longer an FIT faculty member, you should send your appeal directly to the department chair.

STEP TWO: Appeal to the Department Chair

If you are not satisfied with the professor's response, you may appeal to the department chair.

The formal appeal to the department chair should be made in writing within ten (10) business days of receiving the professor’s decision.

You should send your initial letter of appeal and the professor’s response with the appeal to the department chair.

The department chair will consider the merit of the appeal.

The department chair should respond to you in writing within ten (10) business days of receiving your appeal. 

STEP THREE: Appeal to the School Dean

An appeal should be made to the dean of the school only if you believe the department chair has not acted in a timely or appropriate manner.

The formal appeal to the school dean should be made in writing within ten (10) business days of receiving the department chair’s decision.

The school dean will only evaluate whether the appeal process has been followed properly—not the merit of the appeal, academic performance, your grade, or the chair’s recommendation.

The school dean should respond to you within ten (10) business days of receiving your appeal.

STEP FOUR: Appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs

An appeal is made to the Vice President for Academic Affairs only if you believe the school dean has not acted in a timely or appropriate manner.

The formal appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs should be made in writing within ten (10) business days of receiving the school dean’s decision.  Click on this link to submit your appeal to the Office of Academic Affairs.

The Vice President for Academic Affairs will evaluate whether the appeal process has been properly followed and that no procedural errors have occurred. He or she will not re-evaluate the merit of the appeal, the student’s academic performance, the professor’s grade, or the chair’s and/or dean’s recommendations.

The Vice President for Academic Affairs should respond to you within ten (10) business days of receiving your appeal.