Downloadable Grade Appeals Policy and Procedures PDF 368KB

VPA Grade Appeals Hearing Panel

  • Susan D’Amato
  • Julianna Sabol
  • Tom Sherman
  • Celia Madeoy
  • Marion Dorfer


The College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) follows the Syracuse University Grade Appeals process as outlined in Section 8.4.6 of the Academic Rules in the online Undergraduate Catalog.    

This grievance process designates that any grade appeal made by a student move through the following levels of authority:

At each level of review, Section 8.4.6 of the University’s Academic Rules should be consulted to maintain compliance with those guidelines. Prior to a case reaching the College Hearing Panel, actions which can be taken by administrators in the process (Chair/Director or Dean) are limited to the following options:

The College Panel, after reviewing the basic facts of the case may either decline to hear the case or decide to hear the case.  Upon hearing the case and after due deliberation, the Panel may deny the appeal or authorize the Registrar to change the grade, among other possible remedies.

At the beginning of each academic year, the associate dean for academic affairs solicits from each academic unit one tenured faculty member to serve as a sitting member of the college’s Grade Appeals Hearing Panel and one alternate member (also tenured). The associate dean forwards the list of potential committee members to the Chair of VPA’s Faculty Council for discussion and vote to approve the committee’s membership.  Faculty Council may alter membership of the committee by replacing one or more proposed members with the alternate in order to create a more diverse committee, but must retain the balance of one member from each academic unit of the College.

Once approved by Faculty Council, the membership of the panel will be communicated to College faculty, staff, and students, and posted on the College website. 

The associate dean for academic affairs convenes an organizational meeting of the Hearing Panel, and one member of the Panel is elected to serve as Chair for the academic year, calling meetings as necessary, and assuring that all procedures are followed properly.

For any given case, the Hearing Panel must have a quorum of at least three members, as per University guidelines, and no member of the panel shall hear a case in which s/he has been involved in a previous stage of the appeal.

The College Hearing Panel is charged with the responsibility to review and assess the validity of the written appeal and, if determining valid grounds, commence with a fair and thorough hearing of all views related to the case, and then render a final decision regarding the available evidence presented for or against the appeal. 

Approved by VPA Faculty Council, November 18, 2016           

From Syracuse University’s Academic Rules:

Normal Practice for Course Grade Appeals  The following set of general statements represents normal practice at Syracuse University* for a student seeking resolution to a grievance of a course grade.

* For further guidance, consult the bylaws of the individual school or college.

** These procedures do not apply for students in the College of Law.