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Policies and Special Opportunities
Enrollment Policies
Academic Mediation: Appealing a Grade
Students may appeal grades and evaluations on procedural
grounds. That is, they may question whether the grade was awarded
fairly, according to clear standards, and in a manner consistent
with Earlham's stated practices. An appeal should begin with a
conversation between student and instructor. If this discussion
leads to no conclusion, the student, possibly along with her or
his adviser, should contact the Associate Academic Dean. The Associate
Academic Dean may advise the student on the merits of the case
and shall, at the request of the student, mediate between student
and instructor. This may occur in a meeting among all parties or
in separate meetings of the Associate Academic Dean with each party.
Sometimes the Associate Academic Dean may recuse her/himself and
refer the case to another dean within the academic administration.
If this mediation does not lead to a result agreeable to the parties, either or both may request a mediation hearing before an ad hoc Academic Mediation Board. The Associate Academic Dean (or her/his designee) shall convene a board, comprising two faculty members and two students. The Associate Academic Dean shall choose two faculty members and invite the student members from a short list prepared by Student Government. Either the student appellant or the faculty member under appeal may reject nominations to the Board. Board hearings shall be recorded during the presentation and discussion of evidence with all parties present. The Board shall meet in executive session for deliberation.
The Board will review the documents of the case
and listen to both parties. It then meets by itself and frames
a recommendation. The Board shall consider itself charged to act
equitably and in the interest of both parties as it seeks to determine
if grading procedures were somehow faulty and if a remedy is feasible.
By Earlham's bylaws, grading is in the province of the faculty,
and a Board's recommendations may not infringe on the academic
freedom of the instructor.
If the Board finds itself unable to reach a consensus, or if either party is unwilling to accept the recommendation of the Board or the other party's response to it, then the Associate Academic Dean shall confer with the Academic Dean and the Clerk of the Faculty to devise a way forward. |