Being a medical student at the University of Michigan Medical School (UMMS) is difficult. You’re in a competitive environment, and the stress can feel overwhelming. You’re doing the best you can, but you’ve gotten to the end of the semester and are surprised to see you’ve received a subpar grade. You know that every single grade matters, not just for your career at UMMS, but beyond as you match for residency, competing with medical students throughout the country.

Medical students can’t risk sitting back and letting a low grade slide; more and more medical students are filing grade appeals to ensure they are in the best possible position for residency and beyond. If something doesn’t feel right about the grade you received, you need to trust your gut. Whether you struggled with some aspects of the course or felt like you were a model student, any concerns about your grade should be acknowledged.

At the LLF National Law Firm, we can help you do just that. Our Education Law Team is well-versed in UMMS grade appeals and can help you fight for the grade you deserve. Connect with us today by calling 888-535-3686 or reaching out online.

The Grade Appeal Process at the University of Michigan Medical School

The grade appeal process at UMMS is detailed in its Grade Grievance Policy. The University of Michigan Medical School permits appeals only under certain circumstances: when a student believes they have been discriminated against, or when there is an issue with the process used to assign the grade. Only in these cases will the Grievance Committee or Competency Committee have the authority to change a UMMS student’s grade. The grade appeals process at UMMS will follow this trajectory:

Submission of Written Concern

If you intend to file a grade appeal, your first step will be submitting a written concern to your course, clerkship, or CCA director. Your written request must be submitted within 30 days of your grade being posted, and you should attempt to schedule a meeting to discuss the issue.

Ideally, you will be able to resolve your concern with the appropriate UMMS director, and your grade will be changed. This outcome hinges on approaching the situation carefully and presenting a strong defense without appearing hostile or rude. Our LLF National Law Firm attorneys have coached countless students in these “informal” meetings. It can make all the difference in whether you will proceed with a formal appeal and face the associated consequences that go along with that process.

Formal Submission of Written Concern

Unfortunately, not all UMMS medical students are able to get the relevant director to bump up their grade with just a meeting. If you are unsuccessful at the meeting and want to pursue a formal grade appeal, you will need to notify the Grievance Committee with a written explanation of your reason for the grade appeal. You will also need to reach out to any of the following relevant bodies to tell them about your intent to file an appeal:

  • The Assistant Dean for Early Medical Education for Scientific Trunk Courses

  • The Assistant Dean for Clinical Medical Education for Clinical Trunk Courses or Branch Courses

  • The Comprehensive Clinical Assessment Director

The Grievance Policy outlines in detail who you can expect to see on the Grievance Committee. It specifically states the following authorities will be present:

For Scientific Grade Grievances:

  • A Scientific Trunk Block Director who did not assign the grade (or their designee) who serves as chair

  • A faculty member from the course (chosen by the chair of the grievance committee)

  • Another faculty member (chosen by the chair) drawn from the faculty not directly involved with the course

For Clinical Trunk and Branches Course Grade Grievances:

  • The Department Chair or designee (if the course falls outside a department

  • The Associate Dean for Medical Student Education will designate this member

  • The Clinical Trunk or Branches Director (unless from the same department, in which case a course director from another department will be designated by the Associate Dean for Medical Student Education)

  • A faculty member from the department (chosen by the Clinical Trunk/Branches Director, not the course director)

For Comprehensive Clinical Assessment (CCA) Grade Grievances:

  • The Clinical Trunk or Branches Director

  • Two faculty members (chosen by the Clinical Trunk or Branches Director

Once your written explanation is submitted, you will have an opportunity to meet with the Grievance Committee. This will be your last chance to make your argument for why the grade your director assigned was inconsistent with the grade you deserved. You can’t just go into this meeting and recite what you conveyed in your written explanation. Your LLF National Law Firm attorney will thoroughly prepare you to ensure you put forward the best possible case and can handle any curveballs the Grievance Committee sends your way.

Grievance Committee Report and Recommendation

Taking into consideration your written explanation and meeting, the Grievance Committee will draft a final report with its recommendation. It will send the report to the Associate Dean for Medical Student Education. You will also receive a copy. 

Appealing the Grievance Committee’s Decision

If the Grievance Committee doesn’t alter your grade, you can file an appeal with one of the two Competency Committees. The Competency Committee you file your appeal with depends on your class’s matriculating year. If your year is an even year, your committee will be Competency Committee-Even (CC-E); if it’s an odd year, you will file with Competency Committee-Odd (CC-O). There are nine members of each Competency Committee, which comprises:

  • A trunk leadership representative

  • A branch leadership representative

  • A member of the doctoring faculty

  • A Graduate Medical Education representative (this cannot be a Residency Program Director)

  • A member of the Scientific Trunk teaching faculty

  • A member of the Clinical Trunk teaching faculty

  • A member of the Branches teaching faculty

  • A faculty member from the Paths of Excellence or Improving Health Systems course

  • An interprofessional faculty member (for example, faculty from the nursing, dental, or social work schools)

During this appeal process, you will have one or more meetings with your Competency Committee. Like all other interactions with UMMS authorities, you should consult with your LLF National Law Firm attorney before going into any of these meetings.

UMMS officials are busy people, tackling countless allegations of unprofessionalism and more. Their role on the Competency Committee, as you can see from above, is just a small fraction of their job at UMMS. This means their tolerance for their time being spent on a grade appeal isn’t particularly high. You will need to have a strong argument for why it’s appropriate to be in front of this committee, why previous efforts to resolve your case failed, and why it was so important for you to fight this battle to the end. Our Education Law Team will help you do just that so you can present a clear and convincing case.

Weighing the Risks of a Grade Appeal

Filing a grade appeal doesn’t come without consequences. Like others in the medical field, UMMS faculty don’t like to be second-guessed, and filing an appeal can make waves, especially if you go far into the process.

It can be uncomfortable to file an appeal. You’re questioning a person of authority, perhaps even someone you were expecting to get a letter of recommendation from or will be working with again in the future. News of your grade appeal won’t necessarily stay confidential. Professors will talk, students will talk, and that can impact your reputation at UMMS. No one wants to be labeled as the difficult medical student.

Your appeal may even impact your Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE). Anyone at UMMS can submit a comment on your MSPE. There is no guarantee that mention of your grade appeal won’t be included and perceived as a red flag. 

Deciding if Filing a Grade Appeal is the Right Choice for You

The University of Michigan Medical School is unique in that you have 30 days to file a grade grievance; most schools require it within 10 days of receiving your grade. This gives you more time than the average medical student to decide if filing a grade appeal is the right choice for you. You have the time to weigh the pros and cons. This can include reaching out to mentors for advice. Or, ask other students who have gone through the grade appeals process about their experience.

You may also want to reflect on the following questions:

  • Is the poor grade in question important to the specialty you want to pursue?

  • What evidence do you have to back up your grade change request?

  • Does requesting a grade appeal call your instructor’s integrity into question, and if so, how much? Or is the poor grade a result of external factors?

Part of this process should be using the LLF National Law Firm as a resource. Our Education Law Team isn’t only there for you if you decide to file a grade appeal. We are here to talk to you about the process and outcomes we have seen with our other UMMS clients.

Your Best Resource is the LLF National Law Firm

If you’re considering a grade appeal at UMMS, the LLF National Law Firm can help you make an educated decision on whether to file. If you choose to pursue a grade appeal, our Education Law Team will be with you every step of the way. Call us today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online to learn more about how we can help you.

University of Michigan Medical School - Academic Misconduct Defense

Tell About Your Case

Understanding Illinois’ Exhaustion of Interventions Mandate

Facing disciplinary action at school can be incredibly stressful for students and their families. When a school threatens long-term suspension or expulsion, academic futures hang in the balance. In Illinois, however, thanks to a landmark law, the state’s priority is keeping students in the classroom. Illinois’ “Exhaustion of Interventions” mandate […]

When Academic Discipline Turns Into Litigation

A recent Idaho case shows how academic disputes can escalate when fairness is in question, particularly where allegations of racial discrimination are raised under federal civil rights law. According to the Idaho Capital Sun, a jury awarded $160,000 to a doctoral pharmacy student who alleged racial discrimination after being removed from […]

When the SRO (School Resource Officer) is Involved: Why “Educational Discipline” Just Became “Legal Defense”

In the name of student safety, schools are installing School Resource Officers (SROs) on campus. But SROs’ involvement in campus problems also means that incidents at school can now turn directly into criminal investigations. What parents need to know is this: If your child faces discipline because of an incident […]

Can Schools Punish Students for Social Media Posts? The Mahanoy Standard

A frustrated high school cheerleader walks into a convenience store on a Saturday afternoon. She snaps a photo with a friend, raises her middle finger, and posts a profanity-filled message to Snapchat complaining about school and cheerleading. By Monday, she’s suspended from the cheer squad. Most students would assume that’s […]