Grade Appeals Details

Determining grades is among the important responsibilities of members of the teaching faculty. Although each school at Baruch has slightly different approaches, spelled out below, they all begin with the students reaching out to their instructor. This includes undergraduate and graduate students. The undergraduate processes are outlined below; for more information on the graduate student appeals processes, see further below. (The process in MSPIA is the same for graduates and undergraduates.) Please note that the relevant school is the one that houses the course: the student’s major is not relevant to appeals of grades.

Please note also that there are limitations to this process: for example, committee members cannot assess possible grade components like class participation, or unrecorded class presentations given during the semester. It is also worth noting that, after review, the course grade might go up, might go down, or it might remain the same, and that the determination made in the last level of appeal is final.

Marxe School of Public and International Affairs (MSPIA)

First Level of Appeal at MSPIA:
If students believe that the grade they have been given is the result of an error or is inconsistent with how other grades in the class have been assigned, they should appeal to their instructor. The student should be prepared to present evidence in support of their belief that the grade they have been given is incorrect, including graded materials such as exams, papers, homework, etc.

Second Level of Appeal at MSPIA:
If the faculty member and student can’t resolve the issue, students must file a Marxe Academic Appeals Form. The appeal will then be judged the school’s Committee on Academic Standing (CAS), which is made up of four faculty members, two students (one undergraduate and one graduate), and representatives from Advisement and the Registrar who have voice but no vote. The determination by the CAS is final. The Marxe appeals process is described further here.

Weissman School of Arts and Sciences (WSAS)

First Level of Appeal at WSAS:
If students believe that the grade they have been given is the result of an error or is inconsistent with how other grades in the class have been assigned, they should appeal to their instructor in writing for a change of grade within 30 days of the date when the grade was posted. The student should be prepared to present evidence in support of their belief that the grade they have been given is incorrect, including graded materials such as exams, papers, homework, etc.

Second Level of Appeal at WSAS:
If the faculty member and student can’t resolve the issue, the student may approach the relevant department chair. The student should be prepared to present evidence in support of their belief that the grade they have been given is incorrect, including graded materials such as exams, papers, homework, etc. The chair cannot change the student’s grade, but may be able to facilitate communication between the student and professor.

Third Level of Appeal at WSAS:
If the issue remains unresolved after discussion with the instructor and department chair, the student can choose to move forward with a formal grade appeal. To do so, the student must submit the syllabus, assignments, and all graded coursework (e.g., papers, homework, exams, and/or quizzes, etc.) to WSAS.CASAppeals@baruch.cuny.edu. The student must also attach a written statement explaining what grade they believe they should have been assigned, supported by the academic rationale. The student may include other supporting documentation thought to be relevant, such as email communication with the professor, assignments and prompts, etc. Appeals to Weissman must be filed within 90 days of the date when the grade was posted.

Once received, the materials will be forwarded to the department for review. The chair will be asked to convene a committee on academic standing comprising three to five full-time faculty members. The committee members will consult the student’s professor and, as experts in their field, will review the syllabus and graded work to decide if a grade change is warranted. There are, of course, some limitations to this process, because the committee members cannot assess possible grade components like class participation, or unrecorded class presentations given during the semester. It is worth noting that the course grade might go up, might go down, or it might remain the same, and that the committee’s determination is final.

Zicklin School of Business (ZSB)

First Level of Appeal at ZSB:
If students believe that the grade they have been given is the result of an error or is inconsistent with the grading policy outlined in the course syllabus, they may appeal to their instructor. The student should be prepared to present evidence in support of their belief that the grade they have been given is incorrect, including graded materials such as exams, papers, homework, etc.

Second Level of Appeal at ZSB:
If the faculty member and student can’t resolve the issue, the student may approach the relevant department chair. The student should be prepared to present evidence in support of their belief that the grade they have been given is incorrect, including graded materials such as exams, papers, homework, etc., with an articulation of any errors and/or inconsistencies with grading policies outlined in the course syllabus.

Third Level of Appeal at ZSB:
If the chair cannot help resolve the issue, the student may file a formal appeal with the Zicklin Undergraduate Committee on Academic Standing (ZUCAS). The Zicklin undergraduate student program office works with the department to collect any necessary documentation before the case goes to the CAS. The CAS may vote on an appeal without sending it back to the department, but if the committee needs additional clarifications or cannot decide with information provided, it sends the appeal back to the department. In some cases, the department may then put together a faculty committee to review the request and make a recommendation to the CAS. The CAS makes the final determination.

Appeals for Graduate Students

Although each school at Baruch has slightly different approaches, they all begin with the students reaching out to their instructor. The student should be prepared to present evidence in support of their belief that the grade they have been given is incorrect, including graded materials such as exams, papers, homework, etc.

MSPIA:
Same as the undergraduate process; see above.

WSAS:
The appeals process is the last button at: Graduate Student Academic Advisement

ZSB:
The student may file a formal appeal at: Graduate Committee on Academic Standing (Appeals). The Zicklin graduate student program office works with the department to collect any necessary documentation before the case goes to the Zicklin Graduate Committee on Academic Standing.