OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

70 Sip Ave., 4th Floor, Jersey City, New Jersey 07306 | 201-360-4010 | academicaffairs@hccc.edu

Office of Academic Affairs Webpage

A final grade represents an instructor’s evaluation of how well a student has met the course learning outcomes.  Students have the right to dispute a grade using the following process.

A grade can only be changed by the instructor who awarded it (if still employed by the College) or by the Chief Academic Officer, who may only do so after reviewing the findings and recommendations of an Academic Appeals Committee.  

A student may dispute a grade for the following reasons:

1. The instructor manifestly does not follow the grading policy published in the course syllabus.

2. The instructor has made an error in evaluating one or more graded submissions (e.g., marked correct answers as wrong).

3. The instructor has made a clerical error in tabulating or averaging grades.

4. The instructor has manifestly evaluated a student’s submission(s) in a manner different from that of other students.

5. The instructor failed to provide accommodations for disabilities that had been documented per college policy

   prior to the award of the grade, and that failure adversely influenced the grade awarded.

A student who disputes a grade in a course may appeal it through the following process.

Step One (1) Within 30 business days of the grade being posted by the registrar, the student must discuss the grade with the instructor. This may be done in person, over the phone, or via email. If after that discussion, the student still wishes to dispute the grade, or if the instructor fails to respond to the student within seven calendar days, the student may proceed to step two. 

Step Two (2) The student may, within 14 business days of the instructor’s response (or failure to respond timely), appeal the grade in writing to the appropriate School Dean or Academic Program Director.  A written appeal must explain why the grade is in dispute and provide all relevant materials (e.g., the syllabus, attendance reports, graded assignments, examinations, quizzes, papers, or lab reports). The School Dean will also request an explanation and any relevant materials from the instructor, the registrar, or other relevant parties.  After review, the School Dean may recommend a grade change or decline to do so.  With approval of the Dean of Instruction, the School Dean may direct a grade change if the faculty member is no longer employed by the College. The School Dean will communicate his or her decision to the instructor and to the student in writing within 7 business days.

Step Three (3) If the instructor or School Dean declines to change the grade, the student may, within 14 business days of receiving the School Dean’s decision, appeal in writing to the Dean of Instruction, who, upon review, may dismiss the appeal, informing the student and the instructor involved, or convene an Academic Appeals Committee. The Committee shall consist of a School Dean or Academic Program Director, who shall serve as Chair, an advisor, and three faculty members, two of whom instruct in the subject involved (or a closely related subject, to be determined by the Chair) and one who teaches a different subject. The Dean or Director of the School from which the appeal emanates may participate in the committee without a vote. The Committee’s charge is to determine whether there is clear and convincing evidence that an incorrect grade was awarded, and, if so, to recommend a remedy. After reviewing the relevant evidence presented by the student and the instructor, the Chair shall submit the Committee’s findings and recommendations in writing to the Dean of Instruction, who will furnish them to the Chief Academic Officer for final review.  The CAO’s decision will be communicated to the instructor and the student in writing by the Office of Academic Affairs.