Grade Accountability: Twin Cities, Crookston, Morris, Rochester

• Updated: December 2009
• Primary Contact : Tina Falkner

By the start of the term, every department must identify, for each course offering, the instructor responsible for the course.

1. Instructor responsibility
   1. The instructor who is in overall charge of a course offering is accountable for all grades given to students. Responsibility for grading or evaluating student work in a course may be assigned to a teaching assistant or grader but ultimate responsibility remains with the instructor for the course. All individuals who grade or evaluate student work in a course must have a formal affiliation with the course (e.g., as instructor of record, teaching assistant, paid grader).
   2. Instructors in charge of a course with multiple sections or laboratories must take reasonable steps to ensure that grading across sections or laboratories is consistent.
   3. In courses where the instructor in charge of a course is an adjunct faculty member who may be affiliated with the University for only a short period of time, the department or academic unit may assign a regular faculty member to be accountable for grades after the course has ended.
   4. Students in every course must be clearly informed about who is ultimately responsible for assigning grades in the course.
2. Student questions about grades
   1. Students have the right to request and receive an explanation for a grade during and after the course but have no right to challenge the academic merits of any grade.
   2. Students may seek an explanation for a grade until the end of the following semester (not including summer session). The instructor is obligated to provide an explanation for a grade within a reasonable time if a request is made by the end of the following semester. The instructor is not obligated to reconsider the grade.
   3. If a student does not receive an explanation for a grade from the instructor within a reasonable time of making a request, he or she may consult the director of undergraduate studies or department chair for assistance in obtaining an explanation. Students also may seek assistance from the campus student conflict resolution office.

Exclusions

This policy is not applicable to the Duluth campus.

This policy clarifies both the accountability and responsibility for assigning grades; and for responding to requests for explanations about the grades.

There are no procedures associated with this policy.

There are no forms associated with this policy.

Explanation of a grade

The criteria used to formulate a grade, not an automatic change of grade.

Department

Identify an instructor for each course offering by the first week of class.

Instructor

• Inform students in class who is ultimately responsible for assigning a grade.
• Respond to grade inquiries and provide explanations upon request.

There are no appendices associated with this policy.

There is no FAQ associated with this policy.

There is no related information associated with this policy.

Amended:

December 2009 - Policy now applies to Crookston.

Effective:

April 2009