The Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University (CMU COM) professes to produce “mission-driven physicians.” Before it graduates those physicians, though, the university’s mission should be to assign fair grades that accurately portray a student’s performance—because a student’s career could depend on it.
Considering the cost of tuition at CMU COM, and the opportunities a student can lose when they are assigned a substandard grade or evaluation, a student’s right to appeal a grade is a priceless resource. However, many students hesitate to appeal a grade, and that hesitation is not misguided.
When you appeal a grade, you are questioning something about the person who assigned it—their judgment, attention to detail, or possibly even their objectivity. You should not take such an appeal lightly, but you may ultimately determine that pursuing the appeal is worthwhile.
The LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team is sensitive to students’ relationships with their instructors. We don’t take appeals lightly, either. When an appeal is necessary, though, we help students present the most compelling appeals possible.
Our team will help you decide whether to appeal. If you choose to do so, we will guide you through every step of CMU COM’s grade appeals process. Call the LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team right away at 888-535-3686 or contact us online, and let’s take the next steps together.
To Appeal or Not to Appeal? That’s The Question We Will Help You Answer
Our Student Defense Team is made up of counselors, first and foremost. We counsel students about the potential benefits of pursuing a grade appeal, which can be necessary because:
- Fairness is a fundamental right for medical students: If a student cannot rely on receiving a fair grade for work done, the promise of medical school is broken. Fairness is the most fundamental tenet of medical education, and students have every right to demand fair, objective evaluations of their coursework and clinical performance.
- You deserve to get maximum value out of your investment in your medical education: Medical school is among the most costly forms of schooling. When you invest substantial financial assets, as well as years of your life, you deserve to get a fair reward for those investments. When you receive a grade that is less than what you earned, it unjustly diminishes your return on investment.
- Grading discrepancies can be deal-breakers: The market for residency positions and jobs in medicine is fiercely competitive. A single grade can determine whether you receive the position you seek or are passed over.
These are just a handful of the many compelling reasons why medical students routinely pursue grade appeals.
We are also realistic about the potential drawbacks of appealing a grade, which can include:
- Offending the person whose grading decision you are appealing: Appealing a grade necessarily means questioning the person who assigned the grade. You’re right to assume that the person who assigned the grade might be offended by your appeal. However, many instructors recognize that an appeal is rarely personal—except when the student alleges discrimination.
- Potentially losing the benefit of a strong relationship with a course or clerkship director: If your appeal does rub the course or clerkship director the wrong way, they may be less willing to provide a letter of recommendation, references, or other help that they may have otherwise extended.
- Receiving an even worse grade, should the appeals process unfold unexpectedly: In some cases, a re-evaluation of a student’s grade can actually result in an even lower mark. This is why you should be confident that you deserve a higher grade before pursuing an appeal.
A risk-benefit analysis is in order. Allow our Student Defense Team to help you think through a possible grade appeal. If you want to move forward, we will lead you through CMU COM’s appeals process.
How to Seek a Change of Grade at Central Michigan College of Medicine
The document titled “Review of a Course or Clerkship Grade” brings us to Central Michigan University’s Grade Grievance Policy. This policy outlines a three-step process a student can follow if they wish to appeal a grade:
Step One: Speaking with the Course or Clerkship Director
In a comparatively informal move, the student will first approach their course or clerkship director about the grade they believe is unfair or inaccurate. The student must initiate this conversation within 30 days of the grade in question being posted—one of several reasons to contact our Student Defense Team as soon as possible.
During your conversation with the instructor or course director, it’s generally expected that:
- The student will present their reason for disagreement with the grade in question, as well as any evidence supporting their assertion(s)
- The instructor will respond, possibly explaining their rationale for assigning the grade
- The instructor will decide whether a change of grade is warranted (and if so, what new grade should be assigned)
The policy states that “Ordinarily, the student should accept the course/clerkship director’s decision.” We don’t necessarily agree with this assessment. If the course or clerkship director’s decision is not fair or just, we would likely encourage you to move on to Step Two in the appeals process.
Step Two: Submitting a College Committee on Review of Change of Grade Appeal
This is where the formal appeals process begins. If the student believes they received an unfair (and capricious) grade but the course or clerkship director does not offer an acceptable resolution, the student may then submit a formal appeal form that includes:
- A copy of the course syllabus
- A statement explaining the basis for the appeal
- Any supporting evidence
The committee will review the submission. If the submission is not dismissed, the committee should consult the course or clerkship director who assigned the grade. The director should then submit a written response to the committee for the student to review.
The committee may arrange a meeting between the student and the course or clerkship director if the issue can be resolved through such a meeting.
Step Three: The Committee Proceeds with a Fact-Finding Session and Decision on the Appeal
If the appeal is still unresolved (whether or not a second meeting between the student and the director takes place), the committee will conduct a fact-finding meeting.
Both the student and the course or clerkship director can attend, making their respective cases, including any evidence they believe supports their case.
After reviewing the case, the committee may:
- Order a re-grading
- Offer the student a chance for a re-examination
- Assign any other corrective action it deems appropriate
The committee cannot assign a new grade except in “extraordinary circumstances.” The committee’s decision is considered final.
If the student is not satisfied with the clerkship or course director’s re-grading, they could presumably restart this process from Step One.
What Grades May Be Eligible for Appeal at CMU COM?
The CMU Grade Grievance Policy refers explicitly to a “course grade” being the subject of the grievance. It suggests that students are most likely to appeal a final grade, but our team will also help you determine if you are eligible to appeal:
- Assignment grades
- Final course grades
- Clerkship grades
- Narrative evaluations
- Procedural grades (such as an Incomplete)
- Grades resulting from alleged academic misconduct
If you feel that you have been unfairly or inaccurately evaluated in any way, you should speak with our Student Defense Team as soon as possible. We will review all relevant policies and, if necessary, speak with CMU COM officials to determine whether you have grounds to appeal.
Do I Need to Have Specific Grounds for Appeal?
Yes, CMU COM students must have grounds to appeal a grade successfully. The Grade Grievance Policy cites “capricious grading” as the primary grounds for filing such an appeal, and it defines a “capricious” grade as one that:
- Is not based on the student’s performance in the course (which should be the sole, objective basis for a grade or evaluation)
- Is not consistent with the grading standards applied to other students (suggesting discriminatory, or at least unfair, treatment)
- Does not reflect the instructor’s stated standards for grading on the assignment (or in a course)
Determining if a grading practice qualifies as “capricious” requires a rigorous evaluation. Our Student Defense Team will evaluate your course or clerkship director’s policy, grading criteria, your work, and any other materials that can help us assess your appeal.
The LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team Will Be an Asset as You Consider Appealing a Grade
Simply deciding whether to appeal a grade requires careful consideration. If you choose to proceed with the appeal, the undertaking will require even more strategic planning and effort.
Our Student Defense Team will help you make the best decision for you. If that decision leads to a formal appeal, we will help you maximize your opportunity to demand a fair grade. If we need to take the matter directly to CMU’s general counsel, we will.
Call the LLF National Law Firm Student Defense Team right away at 888-535-3686 or contact us online about any unfair grades you’ve received and how we might help you seek a re-evaluation of those grades.