College Policies at College of San Mateo - Informal Resolution for Grade Grievances

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College Policies

Informal Resolution for Grade Grievances

Any student who has a grievance shall make reasonable effort to try to resolve the matter on an informal basis prior to pursuing a formal grievance, and shall attempt to solve the problem directly with the instructor. The student may bring a person of his/her choosing who is only an observer to meet with the instructor. The observer may not be an attorney.
If the grade grievance is not resolved with the Instructor, the student may meet with the appropriate division dean.
The student should be prepared to provide a written statement to the division dean to include the following information:
1. A statement describing the nature of the problem and the action which the student desires taken.
2. A statement of the steps initiated by the student to resolve the problem with the instructor.
3. A description of the general and specific grounds on which the grievance is based. The student must be able to demonstrate mistake, fraud, bad faith or incompetency in accordance with Education Code 76224. In the absence of mistake, fraud, bad faith or incompetency, the grade issued by the instructor may not be changed.
A written notice of the division dean’s decision shall be provided to the student within twenty (20) days* of the student’s meeting with the division dean or as soon as the division dean has completed his/her investigation. The written notice shall be accompanied by the procedures for filing a formal grievance.