Student Appeal Procedures
Information Box Group
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 or B).
The timelines for submitting Forms A or B must be adhered to.
TIMELINES
Forms (A or B) must be submitted to the appropriate Office. Timelines are directly related to the Session in which the work was originally assessed. Forms must be submitted no later than:
July 31 immediately following the Fall/Winter Session
November 15 immediately following the Spring/Summer Session
Form C: Appeal to the Senate Board for Student Appeals
Certain appeals are directed to a hearing at the outset, for which a Form C must be filed:
- Academic Integrity Policy – a decision of a Faculty Adjudicator
- Form B Formal Inquiry decisions
- Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities – certain decisions of the Dean of Students.
Information Box Group
FORM A: RE-READ/RE-ASSESSMENT
A Re-Read 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. 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 Form A are final and cannot be appealed.
EXCLUDED FROM THESE PROCEDURES: Master’s theses, doctoral theses, Ph.D. comprehensive examinations, Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE), and supervisory committee reports.
FEES: The fee ($50) may be paid using online banking – make the payment to McMaster University and it will be posted to your student account.
ADJUDICATION PROCESS: The results shall be considered in accordance with procedures approved by the appropriate Faculty. In the absence of an established Faculty policy, the following shall apply: A grade change of three (3) points or greater (UP OR DOWN) on the McMaster twelve-point grading scale. For example UP: B to A, but not B to A- DOWN: B to C, but not B to C+
FORM B: FORMAL INQUIRY
There are two types of Formal Inquiry: – Academic Process, and Non-Academic Process
ACADEMIC PROCESS: A student questions his/her grade or the assessment of his/her performance on a piece of work or in a course, or his/her academic standing or status in a program, and alleges error or injustice on grounds other than the academic assessment of his/her 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.
For Undergraduate Students forms must be submitted to the appropriate Office from the list below.
- Form A and the receipt to the Faculty that offers the course.
- Form B to the Faculty that is responsible for the decision being questioned
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Arts & Science Program – contact the program
Faculty of Business – contact the Student Experience office
Faculty of Engineering – contact the Academic Advising office
Faculty of Humanities – contact the Academic Advising office
Faculty of Science, contact the office of the Associate Dean
Faculty of Social Sciences – contact the office of the Associate Dean
____________________________
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours), Attn: Associate Dean (Undergraduate Education)
Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization, Attn: Associate Dean (Undergraduate Education)
Midwifery, Attn: Associate Dean (Health Professional Education)
Nursing, Attn: Assistant Dean of Nursing
Physician Assistant Program, Attn: Associate Dean (Health Professional Education)
Undergraduate Medical Program, Attn: Associate Dean (Health Professional Education)
SUBMITTING FORMS
Contact the appropriate office to request instructions on how to file your form.
Some offices may accept forms electronically (e.g. via a secure upload link). If you wish to submit your forms electronically you must contact the appropriate Office to ask if that is an option.
_________________________
For Graduate Students and CCE Students, the Form A and Form B must be submitted to the relevant office listed below.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
School of Graduate Studies
Attention: Vice-Provost & Dean of Graduate Studies
CONTINUING EDUCATION STUDENTS
Centre for Continuing Education
Attention: Director
DEGREE PROGRAMS
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.