Overview & Resources
The University has a responsibility to provide fair and equitable procedures for the lodging and hearing of student complaints arising out of University regulations, policies and actions that affect students directly. The procedures described in the Student Appeal Procedures are intended to provide a mechanism to fairly address alleged injustices.
Only students of McMaster University may appeal to the Board. A ‘student’ is defined for the purposes of these Procedures as any individual recorded by the University Registrar as enrolled in an educational course of study recognised by the Senate and for whom the University maintains educational records. This means that Non-Academic Certificates and Non-Academic Microcredentials are not appealable.
Other Offices / Resources for Students
Academic Integrity Office website
The Office of Academic Integrity strives to assist instructors and students with issues of academic integrity. The main purpose of a university is to encourage and facilitate the pursuit of knowledge and scholarship.
Human Rights and Dispute Resolution (HRDR) Program website
- Provides consultation on issues related to human rights.
- Acts as an Intake Office for formal complaints of discrimination, harassment or sexual violence.
Ombuds Office website
The Ombuds Office provides advice and assistance in the resolution of concerns and complaints.
The Ombuds Office assists with student-related academic and non-academic issues.
Office of Respectful Conduct in Clinical and Academic Environments (ORCCA) website
ORCCA functions as a community resource for all Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) members to educate, promote, support and address respectful conduct and behaviour across academic and clinical environments.
Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office website
- Inclusive and Trauma-Informed Response and Support
- Prevention Education and Response Training
- Community Consultation and Referral
Student Case Management Office website
The Student Case Management Office (SCM) provides support to students throughout their time at university, providing resources to manage issues as well as crisis prevention and intervention for students who may be experiencing difficulty on campus.
Form A: Re-Read / Re-Assessment
What is a Form A Re-Read/Re-Assessment?
A Re-Read/Re-Assessment is when a student questions their grade or the assessment of their performance on a piece of work or a program component and alleges error in the academic assessment of their work on the part of an instructor or a committee. The results of a re-read shall be considered in accordance with the Student Appeal Procedures.
In order to qualify for a re-read the piece of work or program component must be worth 10% or more of the final course grade.
The results of a Re-Read are usually issued within 7 weeks.
The results of a Form A re-read/re-assessment are FINAL and are not appealable.
Re-Read Fee
There is a $50 fee to file a Form A Re-Read/Re-Assessment.
Please note that each piece of work submitted requires a separate Form A and the payment of another $50 fee.
Important Information
Exclusions
Master’s theses, doctoral theses, Ph.D. comprehensive examinations, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE), and supervisory committee reports are excluded from the re-read procedures.
Please note that Non-Academic Certificates and Non-Academic Microcredentials are not appealable.
Timelines
Timelines are directly related to the Term in which the work was originally assessed.
The Form A must be submitted to the appropriate Office no later than:
- July 31 immediately following the Fall/Winter Term
- November 15 immediately following the Spring/Summer Term
Preliminary Inquiry
Students are expected to initiate a preliminary inquiry by going directly to the appropriate instructor, officer or University authority whose decision/action is being questioned. If the preliminary inquiry has not resolved the matter in a timely fashion, proceed to filing the Form A.
The timelines for submitting the Form A must be adhered to.
Adjudication Process
Faculties / Programs
A grade change (on the piece of work) of three (3) points or greater UP or DOWN on the McMaster twelve-point grading scale will result in a revision of the grade for the piece of work.
The course grade will be recalculated accordingly.
For example, a grade change on the piece of work:
- UP would be a B to A (not B to A-)
- DOWN would be B to C (not B to C+)
Faculty of Humanities
For the Faculty of Humanities the results shall be considered in accordance with the Faculty’s procedure.
Grade Point Chart
| Original Grade | Equivalent % | 3 point change | Equivalent % |
|---|---|---|---|
| B+ | 77-79 | A+ | 90-100 |
| B | 73-76 | A | 85-89 |
| B- | 70-72 | A- | 80-84 |
| C+ | 67-69 | B+ | 77-79 |
| C | 63-66 | B | 73-76 |
| C- | 60-62 | B- | 70-72 |
| D+ | 57-59 | C+ | 67-69 |
| D | 53-56 | C | 63-66 |
| D- | 50-52 | C- | 60-62 |
| F | 0-49 | D+ | 57-59 |
Submission Process
Undergraduate Students and McMaster Continuing Education Students 'Appeal a Grade’ Service Request in Mosaic
- Review the relevant section in the Student Appeal Procedures.
- Download the Form A Re-Read/Re-Assessment form.
- Complete the Form A and save it to your computer.
- THE FEE FOR A RE-READ IS $50. Pay the $50 fee via online banking to your McMaster student account. Your account will be charged accordingly.
- Submit an ‘Appeal a Grade’ Service Request in Mosaic and provide your online banking confirmation number in the comments.
- Attach the completed form to your Service Request.
- Your Faculty Office will follow up with you to let you know about the results of the re-read.
- If your grade is successfully increased, the $50 fee is refunded to your student account.
Graduate Students SGS Admin Email
- Review the relevant section in the Student Appeal Procedures.
- Download the Form A Re-Read/Re-Assessment form.
- Complete the Form A and save it to your computer.
- THE FEE FOR A RE-READ IS $50. Pay the $50 fee via online banking to your McMaster student account. Your account will be charged accordingly.
- Submit the completed Form A and payment receipt to the SGS Admin email.
- The School of Graduate Studies will follow up with you to let you know about the results of the re-read.
- If your grade is successfully increased, the $50 fee is refunded to your student account.
Faculty Offices
Arts & Science Program Website
The Arts & Science Program is responsible for INSPIRE courses.
Faculty of Business Website
Student Experience Office
Faculty of Engineering Website
Academic Advising Office
Faculty of Humanities Website
Academic Advising Office
Faculty of Science Website
Office of the Associate Dean
Faculty of Social Sciences Website
Office of the Associate Dean
Faculty of Health Sciences
Form B: Formal Inquiry
Information Box Group
Matters that are Directed to a Hearing at the Outset Learn More
- Academic Integrity Policy decision of a Faculty Adjudicator
- Form B Formal Inquiry decisions
- Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities – certain decisions of the Dean of Students
For these types of appeals, please visit the Form C: Appeal to the Senate Board for Student Appeals page.
Preliminary Inquiry
Before filing a Form B students are expected to initiate a preliminary inquiry by going directly to the appropriate instructor, officer or University authority whose decision/action is being questioned.
If the preliminary inquiry has not resolved the matter in a timely fashion, students should then proceed to filing the Form B.
The timelines for submitting a Form B must be adhered to.
Deadlines Form B
Deadlines to file a Form B are directly related to the Term in which the work was originally assessed.
The Form B must be submitted to the appropriate Office no later than:
- July 31 immediately following the Fall/Winter Term
- November 15 immediately following the Spring/Summer Term
Form B - Formal Inquiry Types
Please Note: Non-Academic Certificates and Non-Academic Microcredentials are not appealable.
Academic Process
A student questions their grade or the assessment of their performance on a piece of work or in a course, or their academic standing or status in a program, and alleges error or injustice on grounds other than the academic assessment of their work, such as:
-
the method of evaluation was not fair and reasonable in the circumstances; or
-
the instructor was biased against the student; or
-
the instructor deviated substantially from the course outline in contravention of applicable University policies; or
-
the application of University regulations governing program or degree requirements was not fair, just, or reasonable.
Non-Academic
A student questions as unfair, unjust or unreasonable, a decision or action of a University authority or official, which has negative material consequences for their University life, and which is unrelated to courses, or to program or degree requirements.
Adjudication Process
The matter will be investigated as per the Student Appeal Procedures and the Associate/Assistant Dean shall make a decision and respond in writing with reasons.
This response is normally provided within three weeks of receiving the formal inquiry.
Undergraduate Student Submissions
Undergraduate Students are to submit to the Faculty/Program that is responsible for the decision being questioned.
For students in degree programs not offered by a Faculty (e.g. the Arts and Science Program), the Program Director is equivalent to the Associate Dean of a Faculty.
Graduate Student and MCE Student Submissions
Graduate Students SGS Admin Email
Graduate students are to submit their Form B to the School of Graduate Studies
Form C Appeal to the SBSA
Form C: Appeal to the SBSA
An appeal to the Senate Board for Student Appeals (SBSA) is the final step a student may take within the University to secure a remedy. The decision from a lower level stays in effect unless and until it is overturned on appeal.
This means that submitting an appeal will not prevent the decision being appealed from being carried out. The Student Appeal Procedures do not apply to matters within the jurisdiction of the the Discrimination and Harassment Policy and the Sexual Violence Policy.
Information Box Group
Deadline to file the Form C
Students have three (3) weeks from receipt of the decision to file the Form C with the University Secretariat. Decisions that may be appealed to the SBSA:
- Academic Integrity decisions made by a Faculty Adjudicator
- Form B Formal Inquiry decisions
- Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities – decisions that impose a sanction of suspension, expulsion, or involuntary withdrawal (for violations that do not involve Sexual Violence, Discrimination, and/or Harassment.)
Preparing Your Appeal Submission Learn more
Before filing your appeal you should plan what evidence you will need to prove your case, and how you will present that evidence.
You will have to submit your evidence when you submit your Form C Appeal.
These documents will be given to the other party, who has the right to examine them and provide their own documents in response. This is called “disclosure”.
When will the Hearing be scheduled?
Hearings are usually scheduled between three (3) to six (6) months after receipt of the appeal. Most hearings are scheduled in the Fall and Winter Terms. They are rarely scheduled in the Spring/Summer Term.
Why does it take this long to schedule a hearing? The Respondent must provide a response to the appeal, which usually takes at least four (4) weeks. Scheduling can only begin after both parties’ submissions have been received because the number of witnesses testifying determines how much time is required for the hearing; and if the parties have Legal Counsel/Advisor, their availability will also affect the scheduling process.
Information Box Group
Advisor / Legal Counsel PDF Form
Appellants have the right to be represented by Legal Counsel or be accompanied/assisted by an Advisor (e.g. friend, family, member, or colleague).
