Policies & Petitions

All students should refer to University of Washington Bothell policies on undergraduate grading, grade appeal, student education records, and academic standards.

School of Business Grade Appeal Procedure

General Policy on Grade Changes

Once submitted to the Office of the Registrar, final grades may only be changed in cases of documented error. Grades cannot be changed after a degree has been granted. Students are not automatically notified of grade changes and are responsible for monitoring their unofficial transcript for updates.

Eligibility for Appeal

Students may submit a formal grade appeal if they believe an error, omission, or misjudgment occurred in the assignment or recording of a grade. The appeals process must begin no later than the third Friday of the following quarter in which the grade was assigned.

Grade Appeal Procedure

1. Initial Discussion with Instructor

The student must first discuss their grade concern directly with the instructor. This discussion must occur no later than the Friday of the third week following the end of the term in which the grade was assigned.

The instructor must respond within one week of being contacted.

• If the instructor agrees that a grade change is warranted, they must notify the student via email and submit the change to the Registrar no later than two weeks after the student’s initial contact.
• If the instructor does not believe a change is warranted, they must inform the student via email within one week.

If the student wishes to appeal the instructor’s decision, they may proceed to the next step.

2. Written Appeal to Area Coordinator

If the issue is not resolved through discussion with the instructor, the student may submit a written appeal to the Area Coordinator for the academic unit in which the course resides. Students may contact the School of Business at uwbb@uw.edu to obtain the Area Coordinator’s contact information.  If the instructor and Area  Coordinator are the same person, the student should contact the Director of Academic Success (or designee) for guidance on the appropriate next step.

• A copy of the appeal must also be sent to the instructor.
• The appeal must be submitted within one week of the instructor’s decision.
• The appeal must include relevant documentation (see definition below).

3. Review by Area Coordinator

The Area Coordinator will consult with the instructor to determine whether the grade was assigned fairly and reasonably, or whether it was arbitrary or capricious (see definition below).

• The review must be completed within two weeks of receiving the student’s written appeal, or three weeks if an academic break occurs during that time.
• If a grade change is warranted, the Area Coordinator will notify both the student and the instructor via formal email. The instructor (or school designee) must submit the grade change within one week of this decision.
• If no grade change is warranted, the student will be notified via formal email.

If the student wishes to challenge the Area Coordinator’s decision, they may move to the next step.

4. Further review

If either of the following conditions apply:

• The instructor refuses to change the grade despite a finding of arbitrariness or capriciousness by the Area Coordinator, or
• The student challenges the Area Coordinator’s decision not to change the grade, the case may be referred to the Director of Academic Success, Tracy Gojdics (or designee).

• In collaboration with the Associate Dean of Programs, the student’s performance will be reviewed using all relevant documentation.
• A final grade decision will be made, and the student will be notified of the outcome.
• This review must be completed within two weeks of referral or submission, or three weeks if it overlaps with an academic break.

Record of Appeal

Once a written appeal is submitted, all documentation—including the appeal, supporting materials, and actions taken—will be retained in both the student’s academic file and the School of Business course files.

Appeals Involving Discrimination or Bias

If a student believes a grade was given because of discrimination or bias, they should file a formal complaint with the appropriate University office. The following offices are responsible for reviewing such complaints:

• Civil Rights Investigation Office
  (includes University Complaint Investigation & Resolution Office and Title IX Investigation Office)
• Organizational Excellence & Human Resources
• Student Conduct Office
• Office of the Ombud

For guidance on how to proceed, students are encouraged to contact their academic advisor.

If the course is cross-listed and the School of Business is the owning department, the appeal will be handled by the School of Business.

Definitions

Relevant Documentation
Includes all materials related to grade determination and the appeal process. Examples include syllabi, graded work, grading rubrics, grade reports, and email correspondence.

Arbitrary or Capricious
Refers to grading that is inappropriately subjective, inconsistent, or lacking a reasonable basis.

UWS and UWT Student Registration Policy

UW Bothell School of Business courses are open to UW Tacoma and UW Seattle students in Registration Period III.
Students should send an email to our Centralized Advising at uwbadvis@uw.edu.