A grade isn’t a final decision. If and when a student disagrees with the grade that a professor assigns them, they have the option to appeal.

As a medical student, you know how important every grade is for your future career. Your academic standing can affect the opportunities you get in medical school and the all-important residency match.

A bad grade can derail your goals. Grading can be arbitrary. Professors can make mistakes or target a student via grades. Professors may be harder on some students than others.

If you disagree with the grade a professor has assigned to you, you have ways to appeal the decision. Getting to medical school requires years of concentrated effort. Don’t let one arbitrary grade derail your education and career.

The University of Minnesota Medical School (UMMS) has a grading policy that includes the procedure for appealing a grade. Students only have limited opportunities to challenge a grade, and it’s important they craft a persuasive appeal.

If you’re a UMMS student who wants to appeal a grade, contact the Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out an online form.

Grading at the University of Minnesota

UMMS is accredited by LCME. This means its grading rubric and appeals policies must meet that committee’s requirements.

UMMS defines grades as a reflection of a student’s mastery of content and their level of performance. Students should have access to defined grading criteria for each course as well as guidelines that explain how students will be assessed in each course.

Different courses and educational opportunities use different grading rubrics. Foundation phase courses and some clinical experience use pass/fail. For foundation phase courses, anything about 70 percent earns a pass.

Graded clinical experiences assign H (Honors), E (Excellent), S (Satisfactory), or N (No Pass) to students. Other courses and circumstances may use other definitions, such as NG (No Grade) or I (Incomplete).

Foundations Phase Review

If a student’s score in a foundations phase course is below 70 percent and within one standard error of measurement, their score must be reviewed. All reviews are anonymous and completed by the Foundations Phase ad hoc committee. The Course Director makes the final decision, and all decisions and rationales should be documented.

Students will be notified of the final decision in writing, including the reason for the committee’s decision. If the decision does change a student’s grade, a student’s record will be updated.

Grade Changes

While grand changes and grade appeals sound similar, they have different meanings at UMMS. Grade appeals are a type of grade change.

After a grade has been posted on a student’s official transcript, it’s rare that the grade can be changed. The medical school allows changes only in limited circumstances.

Grades may be changed when:

  • A student completes work in a course that had an incomplete grade.

  • A student completes a course or clerkship that was listed as in progress.

  • A student notices an error with the grade entry.

  • The Committee on Student Scholastic Standing (COSSS) authorizes a grade change.

  • Note that this can be any change, including from pass to fail.

  • After a review by the Foundations Phase ad hoc committee, a course grade may be adjusted.

  • A student successfully appeals a grade.

The general procedure for requesting a grade change is that the Course Director, Course Coordinator, or the COSSS must submit a written request to the UMMS Registrar. The grade change must fall into one of the above categories.

Grade Appeals

When a student disagrees with the grade they received, they can appeal. UMMS recognizes two types of grade appeals:

  • In-class components, such as assignments that are part of a course

  • Course or clerkship summative grades, which are course’s overall grades

The two have different procedures that students must follow to contest a grade.

UMMS cautions students that appeals that focus on subjectivity or a difference of opinion with an instructor are unlikely to be successful. The medical school emphasizes that all grading carries a certain level of subjectivity, and appeals should generally be based on other grounds.

The Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm can help students craft appeals that follow UMMS’s guidelines and focus on objective, rule-based rationale.

In-Class Component Appeals

If a student disagrees with the score they receive on a graded in-class component, the student must contact the Course or Clerkship Director. Communication must be made in writing and within ten days of receiving the grade. Student must explain their reason for appealing the grade.

A Course or Clerkship Director may take the following actions following a student’s appeal:

  • Directly addressing the appeal

  • Requesting additional information from faculty members and instructors

    • This may extend to faculty members beyond the instructor who is leading the course.

  • Requesting a meeting between the student and the instructor

This isn’t an exhaustive list. Directors may take other action if they believe it’s more appropriate.

The director will make a decision within ten days of receiving a student’s written appeal. Students will receive written notification of that decision. Directors’ decisions are final.

In situations when changing the score or grade of an in-class component changes a student’s final grade after grades have been posted, the director will notify the UMMS Registrar about the change to make sure the student’s official academic record reflects the correct grade.

Course or Clerkship Final Grade Appeals

UMMS doesn’t allow students to directly appeal a final grade. What students can do is request an explanation from a Course Director about the grade they received. After receiving an explanation, a student may file a complaint if they believe the course instructor unfairly evaluated them.

Students must base their complaints on alleged violations of UMMS rules, policies, or established evidence. All complaints should also include evidence that:

  • A Course Director didn’t follow the grading policy in the syllabus.

  • Based on available information, the student’s assigned grade was unreasonable.

  • The student’s grade was determined by an inconsistent method of evaluation or otherwise differed from comparable situations.

Students must first pursue an informal resolution. If that is unsuccessful, they can next move on to a formal resolution.

Informal Resolution

Students must first attempt to resolve the grading issue with a Course or Clerkship Director. The informal resolution process is as follows:

  • The student submits a written request to the director. This request should include:

    • The student’s concern

    • The alleged violations

    • Evidence that supports the student’s claim

    • What action the student wants taken

  • All requests must be submitted within 10 business days of grades being posted. If a student doesn’t submit a written request within this time period, they lose any right to appeal the grade in question.

  • The student and director will meet to discuss the student’s request for a grade change.

  • The director provides a student with a written decision. This decision should include the director’s reasons for their decision.

  • Directors should send the written decision to students in a timely manner, which is usually within ten days of receiving a student’s written appeal.

If a student agrees with the director’s decision, both the student’s written request and the director’s written decision will be forwarded to the UMMS Registrar. The UMMS Registrar will change the grade on the student’s official academic record.

If a student disagrees with the director’s decision, their next step is to pursue a formal resolution. The Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm can assist students throughout the appeals process, including the informal written request or pursuing a formal resolution.

Formal Resolution

When students disagree with a director’s decision, the next step is an appeal through UMMS’s formal resolution process. Students have the burden of proof for showing that a grading decision violated a university or medical school rule, policy, or established practice.

The formal resolution process generally follows these steps:

  • After receiving the director’s decision, students must submit a written complaint to the UMMS’ Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education. Written complaints must include:

    • Information on the informal resolution outcome

    • The student’s reasons for challenging the director’s decision

  • The Senior Associate Dean reviews all materials to decide whether to accept or reject the appeal.

  • If the dean accepts the appeal, they will forward the decision to the Course or Clerkship Director and the UMMS Registrar to adjust the grade.

All decisions made by the Senior Associate Dean are final. Students don’t have an additional avenue for appeal.

Protect Your Education

Creating a strong case from the start is crucial for succeeding on a grade appeal. The Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm works with medical students to build evidence-based appeals that rely on university rules and policies.

You’ve worked hard to get to medical school. Don’t let a single grade derail your goals and future.

If you’re a UMMS student who disagrees with a grade, contact the Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out an online form.

University of Minnesota Medical School

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