Overview

The University is committed to promoting excellence in its learning and teaching. The final grade a student is awarded through this learning and teaching is a reflection of their performance against the stated aims and objectives of a unit of study. It is a permanent record of the performance of the student. It is imperative that the University has in place policies and procedures to ensure that the grade that is awarded is appropriate and correct. The emphasis is on procedural fairness – that is, on the procedures used in the grade appeal process, rather than the actual outcome of the appeal. It requires a fair and proper procedure be used when making a decision.

The University expects students to take an active role in their learning and to assimilate and incorporate feedback received throughout their studies. Students are encouraged to discuss their progress with relevant teaching staff and to reflect on their expectations against the stated learning outcomes of each unit they attempt.

Scope

This policy applies to any student enrolled in a Macquarie University coursework unit.

It is relevant to all undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students; research students enrolled in coursework units; academic and professional staff involved in the teaching, assessment, management and review of units.

Policy

The University will operate a quality assured system for the recording and awarding of a final grade for each student officially enrolled in a coursework unit of study.

A student who has been awarded a final grade for a unit has the right to request a review of that grade.

Coursework units involve continuous assessment. A student is to have sought feedback on individual assessment tasks prior to the award of a final grade.

• Each Faculty will establish processes to manage requests from students for a review of their final grade.
• Where a unit includes an examination, the Grade Review process will allow a student to review their examination paper.

The Grade Review process will ensure, at a minimum, that there has been no clerical error in the determination of the student’s final grade.

• the Unit Convenor did not provide the Unit Guide as required
• the assessment requirements as specified in the Unit Guide were varied in an unreasonable way
• feedback was not provided as specified by the Unit Convenor or as detailed in the Unit Guide
• due regard was not paid to the evidence of illness or misadventure that was submitted by the specified date
• the student has been disadvantaged in some way due to the conduct of an assessment task
• the assessor’s judgement was not objectively applied because of prejudice against the individual*

*Appeals claiming prejudice will be reviewed by at least two members of the academic staff, including either the Head of Department or the Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching.

• Step 1 - Written submission by the student to the Head of Department responsible for teaching the unit. The submission must include detailed evidence for the Grade Appeal. The Head of Department will review the submission and notify the student in writing of the outcome.
  
• Step 2 - Where the student believes there has been a procedural irregularity in the consideration of their Grade Appeal, they may submit a written appeal to the University Grading Appeals Committee. A Step 2 submission is limited to procedural grounds only.

FORMS AND DEADLINES
The absolute deadline for submission of a Grade Appeal will be six months from the published result date for the relevant unit.

The University will publish deadlines, details and forms associated with the Grade Appeal process.

The Coursework Studies Committee will approve Grade Appeal submission and response dates for each study period. These will take into account enrolment deadlines for subsequent study periods.

A Grade Appeal must be submitted on the relevant Grade Appeal form.

A Grade Appeal will be acknowledged and the student notified of the outcome in accordance with its agreed procedures.

Each Grade Appeal will be considered on its own merits.

OUTCOME
A Grade Review or Grade Appeal may result in no change, an increase or a reduction to the awarded Standardised Numerical Grade

The University will ensure the absolute minimum number of staff will have access to the documentation related to a Grade Appeal.

• the number and type of Step 1 Grade Appeal submissions received during the last calendar year, by unit and Faculty.
• the outcome of each application.
• how this compares with previous years.
• the issues raised through the Grade Appeal process and the strategy to be implemented to address these issues.

The University will implement quality enhancements strategies to reduce the number of Grade Appeals received.

Assessment Policy / Procedure / Guideline