Student Academic Appeals

Graduate students have the right to appeal certain academic decisions through established university procedures. This page explains the available appeal processes, eligibility requirements, timelines, and steps for submitting an appeal.


Student Grade Appeal 

This policy outlines the procedures and timeframes for handling undergraduate and graduate student academic appeals. Graduate students, faculty, and staff who are interested in learning about the appeals processes should review University Policy 4-412 Student Academic Appeals. 

What is it?   

 Before beginning the formal process, students must first contact the course instructor to initiate an appeal of a final grade within 20 business days of the grade posting. 

Why is there a formal process?   

The goal is to have all concerns resolved at the lowest, most informal level. When that is not possible, a formal process provides a consistent and fair process for students to seek resolutions for potential errors in grade concerns.   

Appeals are not considered if:   

  • The formal grade appeal is made beyond 40 business days of the final grade posting or 10 business days of receiving a decision from the instructor, whichever comes sooner.
  • Student is arguing to change specific, individual coursework/assignment grades (only final grades can be appealed).
  • Students may not appeal the professional judgement of a professor.  
  • The reason for the appeal is dissatisfaction with the course. 

Reasons to Appeal a Final Grade 

There are 3 reasons you may appeal:   

  1. Alleged deviation from established grading policy and/or procedures as per the course syllabus, posted in Webcourses, following requirements of UCF 4-403 Required Elements of the Course Syllabus. 
  1. Alleged deviation from the university syllabus policy that could have impacted the resulting grade. 
  1. Alleged lowering of grades for non-academic reasons. 

Sometimes more than one of these reasons applies. The key is providing evidence to support your claim(s). 

Student Grade Appeal Process  

Grade Appeals should not be initiated until after final grades are posted on myUCF. 

Informal Grade Appeals 

Step 1 (Course Instructor Level) – You must initiate contact with your professor “within 20 business days of the final grade being available in myUCF”. The course instructor is afforded 10 business days (from the day they receive your informal appeal) to respond in writing. 

Formal Grade Appeals 

Step 2 (Unit Level – Department Chair / Director of a School) – Upon receiving a response from your professor, you may initiate a formal grade appeal within 10 business days of receiving a decision from your instructor or 40 business days of final grades posting, whichever comes sooner (Step 1). The unit head is afforded 10 business days (from the day they receive your formal appeal) to respond in writing. 

Step 3 (Provost Level) – If a student has new information to present and/or can show that a procedural error occurred, they may appeal to the provost within 5 business days of receiving a response from the unit head (Step 2). The provost is afforded 10 business days (from the day they receive your formal appeal) to respond in writing. 

The following form must be completed when appealing at Step 2 – Unit Level (Department Chair / Director of a School) and Step 3 – Provost Level: 4-412 Student Academic Appeal – A. Student Grade Appeal. 

You may download the guide which outlines the Grade Appeal Process. 

Questions about this process should be submitted to gradappeals@ucf.edu. 

Grade Appeal Process flow chart: Linked file

Academic Program Appeal 

What is it? 

Academic program appeals apply to students seeking to appeal a program decision. Students must initiate contact with the program director within 10 business days of being notified of the program action being taken. Probations or dismissals may result from failure to progress through the degree (academically, milestones), academic or behavioral misconduct, or inability to meet professional standards. 

Why is there a formal process? 

The goal is to have all concerns resolved at the lowest, most informal level. When that is not possible, a formal process provides a consistent, fair, and enforceable process for students to seek resolutions for errors/miscalculations or non-academic disputes.  

Appeals are not considered if: 

Academic Program Appeal Process 

Informal Program Appeals 

Step 1 (Program Level) – You must initiate contact with your program within 10 business days of being notified of the program action being taken. The faculty administrator is afforded 10 business days (from the day they receive your informal appeal) to respond in writing. In the event the faculty administrator is unavailable or does not respond within the timeframe stipulated, or if the student has new information to present, or can show that a procedural error occurred, the student may pursue a formal appeal. 

Formal Program Appeals 

Step 2a (Dean Level) – If a student has new information to present and/or can show that a procedural error occurred, they may appeal to the dean or dean’s designee of the college housing the program within 5 business days of receiving a response from the faculty administrator (Step 1). The dean or dean’s designee is afforded 10 business days (from the day they receive your formal appeal) to respond in writing. 

Step 2b (Provost Level) – If a student has new information to present and/or can show that a procedural error occurred, they may appeal to the provost or provost’s designee in the College of Graduate Studies within 5 business days of receiving a response from the dean or dean’s designee (Step 2a). The provost or provost’s designee is afforded 20 business days (from the day they receive your formal appeal) to respond in writing. 

The following form must be completed when appealing at Step 2(a) – Dean Level and Step 2(b) – Provost Level: 4-412 Student Academic Appeal – B. Academic Program Appeal. 

You may download the guide, which outlines the Program Appeal Process. 

Questions about this process should be submitted to gradappeals@ucf.edu. 

Academic Program Appeals: All Other Academic Program Actions flow chart