ULIB Grade Appeal Process

The Appeal Process for Failure to Meet Academic Requirements or Standards

Steps in the Appeal Process

The following is a summary of the steps in the appeal process for failure to meet academic requirements or standards. In addition, a detailed list of the steps involved in each type of appeal is available on the Academic Standards Resources webpage on the Detailed Appeal Procedures tab to assist students, instructors, and administrators in managing the appeal process.

Students are notified of final grades and other academic penalties.

Students are informed of final grades for courses at the end of each academic term through the WVU Portal accessible at https://portal.wvu.edu.

Prior to filing an appeal, students are required to contact the individual who reported a final grade or imposed an academic penalty to express their concerns and attempt to resolve the issue. The individual, or another informed individual, must meet with the student to provide information and evidence forming the basis for the grade or penalty.

Level 1 appeal (for final grades and other academic penalties):

The student may begin an appeal by submitting a written appeal via WVU e-mail to the Level 1 appeal reviewer, the Head of WVU Libraries’ Student Success and Instruction unit, within the time limit provided below. The student’s appeal must include the documentation and evidence forming the basis of their appeal.
The individual or committee that gave the grade or imposed the penalty must provide all relevant documentation (including the criteria for determining the student’s final grade in the case of a final grade appeal) to the Level 1 appeal reviewer upon their request.
The Level 1 appeal reviewer assesses the available evidence and makes a decision about the appeal based on that evidence. The sanction(s) under review may be upheld, lessened, or dismissed entirely, but not aggravated, by the Level 1 reviewer.
The reviewer communicates the decision in writing via WVU e-mail to the student and other individuals or committees that have been involved in the grade, penalty, or appeal to that point. The reviewer retains all documentation related to the appeal for 5 years. In the case of a final grade appeal, the Level 1 appeal reviewer ensures that a grade modification is submitted if necessary.
If the student accepts the Level 1 appeal decision, the appeal is concluded.

Level 2 appeal (for final grades and other academic penalties):

If the student does not accept the Level 1 appeal decision, the student may continue their appeal by submitting a written appeal via WVU e-mail to the Level 2 appeal reviewer, the Associate Dean of WVU Libraries, within the time limit provided below.
The Level 1 appeal reviewer forwards all materials included in the appeal to the Level 2 reviewer and the student upon request from the Level 2 reviewer. Both the student and other individuals or committees may provide additional information if they wish.
The Level 2 appeal reviewer assesses the available evidence and makes a decision about the appeal based on that evidence. The sanction(s) under review may be upheld, lessened, or dismissed entirely, but not aggravated, by the Level 2 reviewer.
The reviewer communicates the decision in writing via WVU e-mail to the student and other individuals or committees that have been involved in the grade, penalty, or appeal to that point, including the Level 1 appeal reviewer. The reviewer retains all documentation related to the appeal for 5 years. In the case of a final grade appeal, the Level 2 appeal reviewer ensures that a grade modification is submitted if necessary.
If the student accepts the Level 2 appeal decision, the appeal is concluded. If the appeal concerned a final grade or an academic penalty other than program dismissal, the appeal is concluded.

Time Limits for Steps in the Appeal Process:

Level 1 appeal (for final grades and other academic penalties):

The student files an initial appeal based on the Timeline for Appeals on the Office of the Provost webpage, after the grade is posted. The timeline on this webpage will indicate the last date the final grade appeals can be filed for each academic term in the current academic year.
The decision about the appeal is communicated to the student within 10 academic days* after the student submits the appeal.
Academic Penalty

The student files an initial appeal within 10 academic days* after the penalty is sent to the student.
The decision about the appeal is communicated to the student within 10 academic days* after the student submits the appeal.

Level 2 appeal (for final grades and other academic penalties):

The student files a continuation of the appeal within 10 academic days* after the decision at Level 1 is sent.
The decision about the appeal is communicated to the student within 10 academic days* after the student submits the Level 2 appeal.

*Academic days are defined as days during which the University is open and on-campus classes are officially in session. If classes are canceled for the entire campus, for any portion of a day, the day will not be deemed an academic day.

Appeal of a Final Grade

Level 1 Appeal

The student may begin an appeal by submitting a written appeal via WVU e-mail to the Level 1 appeal reviewer before the appeal deadline listed above. The student’s appeal must include the documentation and evidence forming the basis of their appeal.
The course instructor/coordinator must provide all relevant documentation and criteria for determining the student’s final grade to the Level 1 appeal reviewer upon their request.
The Level 1 appeal reviewer assesses the available evidence and makes a decision about the appeal based on that evidence.
Within 10 class days after the student has submitted the appeal, the Level 1 appeal reviewer communicates the decision in writing via WVU e-mail to the student and the course instructor/coordinator.
Depending on the outcome of the appeal, the Level 1 appeal reviewer submits a grade modification.
The reviewer retains all documentation related to the appeal for 5 years.
If the student accepts the Level 1 appeal decision, the appeal is concluded.

Level 2 Appeal

If the student does not accept the Level 1 appeal decision, the student may submit a written appeal via WVU e-mail to the Level 2 appeal reviewer within 10 class days after the decision at Level 1 is sent.
The Level 1 appeal reviewer forwards all materials included in the appeal to the Level 2 reviewer. Both the student and the course instructor/coordinator may provide additional information if they wish.
The Level 2 appeal reviewer assesses the available evidence and makes a decision about the appeal based on that evidence.
Within 10 class days after the student has submitted the appeal, the Level 2 appeal reviewer communicates the decision in writing via WVU e-mail to the student, the course instructor/coordinator, and the Level 1 appeal reviewer.
Depending on the outcome of the appeal, the Level 1 appeal reviewer submits a grade modification.
The reviewer retains all documentation related to the appeal for 5 years.
The appeal is concluded.
This concludes the grades appeal process; there are no further appeals.