Foundations Grade Review, Challenge, and Appeal Process

Foundations Phase

Students have the right to review, challenge or appeal their grade in the event that they feel the performance was based on inaccurate information or was not evaluated by faculty with whom they worked. If the student is not satisfied after the block or course, the student may follow the process below. The full Academic Grievance and Appeal Policy can be found here.

Summary of process

Student requests to meet with block or course director for a guided review of grade and de-identified evaluative materials. Contact information can be found here.

Following a grade review, if the student still has concerns about their final grade, the student may submit a written request to the block or course director to challenge their grade. The director then reviews the relevant grading and evaluative materials to determine the uniformity and impartiality of the grade. After the director completes this review, the student and director will meet to discuss the challenge. After meeting, the director will contact the student in writing with the grade challenge decision.

After a grade review, if the student has a significant concern about their clerkship final grade or the summative comments, the student may submit a written request to the department to challenge their grade. The clerkship director then reviews the relevant grading and evaluative materials and elicits related materials from faculty or department resources to determine the uniformity and impartiality of the grade or summative comments. After the clerkship director completes fact finding, student and director meet to discuss student’s challenge. After the meeting, the clerkship director will contact the student in writing with the grade challenge decision.

Following grade review and grade challenge, if the student still has concerns about their grade, they can submit a grade appeal. The grade appeal committee will meet to review all materials related to the appeal and make the final determination to retain or revise the grade. Students can review their grade at any time, however please be aware that the grade challenge and appeal process must be completed within twelve weeks after the grade is posted. Please reachout to somchlng@uw.edu for specific timelines.

  • To initiate a grade review, set up a meeting with the block or course administrator for the block you wish to review. If after the grade review, you are unsatisfied, you may initiate the grade challenge process.
  • Students can review their grade at any time, however please be aware that the grade challenge and appeal process must be completed by the end of the following quarter.
    • All students are permitted under FERPA (Family, Education, Rights and Privacy act) to review educational records (e.g., exams and evaluations) upon request and any time after grade submission.

Steps to submitting your informal grade review

  • Contact the block or course administrator for the course to request a grade review.
  • Meet with block or course director to review evaluations (if any), exam scores, and/or final examination score.

  • Grade challenge must be submitted by week four of the following quarter. This allows the block a minimum of three weeks to meet with the student and process the challenge.
  • Within the three week window, the Block or Course Director must contact the student with the grade challenge decision. This allows the student one week to decide whether an appeal is necessary.
  • Deadlines below.

Steps to submitting your grade challenge

  1. Complete the grade challenge form (click here)
  2. Send completed form to Block or Course Director
  3. Meet with Block or Course Director

  • The grade appeal must be submitted by week eight of the following quarter. This allows the grade appeal committee a minimum of four weeks to meet and decide the student’s grade appeal.
  • Grade appeal must be completed by the end of the following quarter.

Grade appeal committee

  • The Grade Appeal committee consists of 8 foundation and clinical faculty across the WWAMI region and 2 student members. Bylaws for the committee can be found here.

Steps to submitting your grade appeal

  1. Complete the foundations grade appeal form (click here)
  2. Send completed form to somchlng@uw.edu 

 

*Contact somchlng@uw.edu for current timeline for grade appeals

Grade Review, Challenge, and Appeal Process FAQ – (click here)

Foundations Policies and Procedures