Grade Review Process

Any student who is dissatisfied with any decision by PCL administration or faculty affecting the student’s enrollment, status as a student in good standing or grade, or who is dissatisfied with the conduct, performance, or teaching methods of any instructor, may submit a written grievance. The grievance can dispute a grade based on the student’s belief that the examination or course grade resulted from unfairness, a departure from established grading policy, or a clearly shown mistake, or some other legitimate reason. The student should present credible evidence in support of a grade dispute if such evidence is reasonably available. The student shall state in the grievance whether or not the student consents to allow other students to participate in the functions of the FCC and other committees and bodies in connection with the grievance. Those functions are described below.

Step 1: If the grievance involves an instructor, the complaint should first be submitted to that instructor, who must have an individual discussion with the student or, if brought by a group of students, with the group, in a good faith effort to resolve the matter.

Step 2: If unresolved in Step 1, the student must submit the grievance to the FCC, or if the grievance does not involve an Instructor, to the Dean or the Chair of the Community Board. The FCC, the Dean, or the Chair, as the case may be, must engage in a good-faith effort to resolve the matter.

Step 3: If unresolved in Step 2, the FCC, the Dean, or the Chair, as the case may be, must submit the matter to the Community Board for final resolution. The Community Board may delegate this function to the Executive Committee. The Board and the Executive Committee may receive recommendations for this function from the Executive Committee, the FCC, the Dean, and others.

No student (including student members of the FCC, the Community Board, and the Executive Committee) shall participate in any of the functions, stated in this section, of the FCC, the instructor, the substitute, the Community Board, the Executive Committee, or any other committee or body unless, before participation by any student, the student who submitted the grievance consents in writing to participation by students in those functions. In addition, all persons, including students, who participate in those functions must have had one academic year of experience (at least nine months) in teaching or grading examinations in postsecondary education.