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.
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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.
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Adjudication Process
Faculty of Humanities Faculty of Humanities procedure
For the Faculty of Humanities the results shall be considered in accordance with the Faculty’s procedure.
All Other Faculties / Programs grading scales - graduate and undergraduate
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+)
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
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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:
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the method of evaluation was not fair and reasonable in the circumstances; or
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the instructor was biased against the student; or
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the instructor deviated substantially from the course outline in contravention of applicable University policies; or
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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
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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 of the Dean of Students that impose a sanction of suspension, expulsion, or involuntary withdrawal (for violations that do not involve Sexual Violence, Discrimination, and/or Harassment.
Important things to know about filing an appeal
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.
Onus, burden of proof, and basis of decision
A prima facie case means a case which, after assuming the validity and credibility of the summarised testimony, otherwise meets the burden of proof for establishing a successful appeal.
In any appeal, the Appellant shall bear the onus of showing that an injustice or error has occurred at the level of the decision being appealed.
This means that the Appellant must present their arguments to support their belief that the Respondent’s decision was unfair, unreasonable or unjust, within the context of the relevant Policy under which the initial decision was made.
How long does an appeal normally take?
Hearings are normally scheduled ANYWHERE FROM THREE TO SIX MONTHS after receipt of the appeal. However, some Hearings may be scheduled beyond six months from receipt.
Why does it normally take 3-6 months to schedule a hearing? The Respondent must be sent the appeal and has to provide a response to the appeal, which usually takes a minimum of four weeks. The process of scheduling the hearing can only begin after both parties submissions have been received as:
- the number of witnesses being called by both parties determines how much time is required for the hearing; and
- if the parties are being represented by counsel, or accompanied by an Advisor, the availability of those individuals must also be considered in the scheduling process.
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Academic Integrity Appeals Summary of SBSA decisions for Academic Integrity appeals
Students are strongly advised to review the Academic Integrity Policy and the relevant sections when preparing their appeal. Specifically, students should review the definition of academic dishonesty, and Appendix 4: General Penalty Guidelines.
Students must provide their arguments explaining why they believe the Faculty Adjudicator decided the matter and/or applied the penalty guidelines in the Academic Integrity Policy in an unfair, unreasonable or unjust way.
Students should be aware that an appeal that only contains a request for leniency, and fails to advance any arguments to support their belief that the Faculty Adjudicator’s decision was unfair, unreasonable or unjust, may result in a summary dismissal.
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THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE HEARING
ELECTRONIC HEARINGS: Electronic Hearings are the default method for hearings before SBSA tribunals. Zoom is the online platform that the SBSA uses for conducting electronic hearings.
CALLING WITNESSES: Parties are responsible for contacting their own witnesses and for making all arrangements for witnesses to attend the hearing.
TESTIFYING: Any person appearing before the tribunal as a witness (including the Appellant and the Respondent) shall be required to give evidence under affirmation. They will be asked to state their name for the record. The witness will then be asked: “Do you solemnly affirm that the evidence that you are about to give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?”
DURATION: Hearings usually scheduled for a half-day (4 hours) or a full-day (8 hours). Some hearings may require multiple dates.
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SUBMITTING YOUR APPEAL FORM C - Appeal to the SBSA (pdf)
Your appeal may be submitted to the HEARINGS EMAIL. Or you may request an upload link (before the due date).
The appeal must be submitted to the University Secretariat within three (3) weeks of receipt of the decision being appealed.
YOUR APPEAL SUBMISSION MUST INCLUDE
- a statement (description) of the grievance;
- the precise GROUNDS for the appeal;
- the relief sought;
- preference for closed or open hearing;
- the name of Appellant’s advisor or counsel, if applicable (include the contact form);
- a COPY OF THE DECISION being appealed;
- the names of witnesses to be called;
- will-say statements for each witness – will-says are written by the Appellant and are a brief summary (typically a few sentences) identifying the relevant information that the witness is expected to testify to; and
- any documents the Appellant wishes to submit as evidence in support of the appeal.
Advisor / Legal Counsel ADVISOR/COUNSEL CONTACT 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)
The Advisor/Counsel Contact Form would need to be completed if the Appellant has chosen to be represented/accompanied.