Grade Changes Committee

Grade Change Guidelines

The Grade Change Committee (hereafter, "the Committee"), reviews all retroactive and grade change requests not unambiguously justified by the Regulations of the Academic Senate and of the Davis Division; the Committee is governed by Davis Division Bylaw 79. The Committee is dedicated to the academic standards, educational mission, and Principles of Community of UC Davis, and will review all petitions on a case-by-case basis to determine appropriate action. Petitioners to the Committee should understand that even in cases when the Committee may be sympathetic, the Committee is still required to abide by its own published Guidelines (below) and the Regulations of the Academic Senate. Approval authority to make certain determinations on the behalf of the Committee is delegated to the Deputy to the Committee in the Office of the University Registrar (hereafter, "Grade Change Deputy"), as noted below. The Committee reserves the right to determine when a petition warrants an exception to the below Guidelines.

Petitions for Retroactive/Grade Change should be made in writing and submitted to the Office of the University Registrar; careful writing and documentation is advisable, because petitioners do not attend meetings of the Committee.  Questions regarding the Committee or the Retroactive/Grade Change process should be directed to the Grade Change Deputy in the Office of the University Registrar, who may be contacted at GradeChanges@ucdavis.edu.

Please note that petitioners are NOT permitted to contact Committee members directly regarding their petition. Doing so may result in denial of the petition or other action.

1. Any retroactive petition must be submitted within three academic quarters in residence. Petitions submitted after this time period must explain and document why the retroactive action being sought was delayed.
   1. If the Committee defers a petition for more information, the petitioner has until the end of the following regular academic term to respond to the deferral before the petition is denied.
2. If a petition is denied by the Committee, a student may appeal one time, within one academic quarter, with substantial and new information.  To appeal a denied petition, petitioners should submit a letter of appeal to the Office of the University Registrar with any additional documentation attached.  A denial of an appeal is considered to be the final decision of the Committee; a second appeal will ordinarily not be considered by the Committee.
   1. Bona fide appeals of final decisions made by the Committee may be referred to the Student Petitions Subcommittee of the Executive Council of the Academic Senate. However, appeals are limited to confirming that the Committee did not act in an arbitrary or capricious manner in making its determination and that the final decision was based on substantial evidence. The Student Petitions Subcommittee will not substitute its judgment on the substantive merits of the case for the judgment of the Committee.
3. After a degree has been awarded to a student, his or her record is closed. The Committee will consider requests only when they concern clerical or procedural error. The Committee will not consider retroactive drops or withdrawals after a degree has been awarded. Petitions made outside of the timeline specified in paragraph one will only be approved in exceptional cases.
4. Clerical or Procedural Errors.  The Grade Change Deputy may approve all petitions that involve clerical or procedural errors. Such petitions must meet all other standards set forth by the Committee and the Academic Senate.
   1. "Clerical or Procedural Error" is generally interpreted by the Committee to imply that an error made by someone other than the student (e.g. instructor or staff adviser).
   2. Ignorance on the part of a student regarding university policy is not generally considered valid justification for retroactive action.
5. Petitions to change grade modes retroactively (i.e., to or from P/NP or S/U grading) will not be approved by the Committee except in cases of clerical or procedural error, even if based on academic need.
   1. Grade mode changes needed for graduation.  The Committee may authorize a retroactive change of grade mode if the grade mode change is the only thing preventing him or her from satisfying graduation requirements.  In such cases, the student is expected to provide documentation of this situation, including that an exception by the graduation certifying authority is not possible.  The Committee expects students to pursue grade mode changes for this reason only as an avenue of last resort.
   2. Grade mode changes will not be granted for the reason of raising a student's GPA, even if such a change would allow the student to graduate.
6. All grades except Incomplete or In Progress are final when filed by the instructor in the end-of-term course report (see DD Regulation A540E). The Committee, like the instructor, has no authority to reassess or re-evaluate student work; only if it can be documented that a clerical or procedural error was made will the Committee have authority to alter the grade.
   1. All requests for a change of grade involving Incomplete must be accompanied by a copy of the Incomplete form filed with the original grade report, or documentation that the Incomplete grade agreement was made during the term. An instructor may not assign an Incomplete grade after a grade has been submitted, except in cases in which the Incomplete grade was not assigned due to clerical or procedural error or a documented emergency prevented the student from asking for the Incomplete until after grades were submitted.
   2. Petitions to drop an 'F' grade (or equivalent) because the student never participated in the class should include documentation about why the course was not dropped by the normal deadline or was not dropped after that deadline through a petition to the appropriate Dean's Office. Mistakes in registration do happen, but this Committee's presumption will be that the student could have checked their registration electronically and with minimal inconvenience. It is the student's responsibility to check their schedule and be aware of the deadlines by which they can make adjustments in a timely manner.
7. If a student petitions to drop or withdraw retroactively because of a disability, the Committee will consider the disability aspect of the petition only if the student has first contacted the Student Disability Center ("SDC," http://sdc.ucdavis.edu) and the SDC has determined that the student has a qualifying disability and is eligible to receive reasonable accommodations. The Committee will consider only the time period (generally, no more than one quarter) before the SDC disability determination. Once SDC has determined that a student is eligible to receive reasonable accommodation, the Committee assumes that such accommodations have been sought by the student and provided through SDC.  The Committee will work with SDC and a student to implement any reasonable accommodations that are necessary to allow the student equitable opportunity to participate in the petition process.
8. The Grade Change Deputy may approve the following petitions to add courses retroactively, without referring the petition to the Committee:
   1. If the student was on the waitlist for the course and this can be documented; if the student was issued a Permission-to-Add ("PTA") number for the course; if it can be reasonably verified that the student intended to add the course to his or her schedule during the quarter. Such petitions must meet all other standards set forth by the Committee and the Academic Senate.
   2. For the following courses, even if the conditions above are not met: PE Activity courses (PHE 1 and 6); music rehearsal courses; internship units; and research units. Such petitions must meet all other standards set forth by the Committee and the Academic Senate.
9. Petitions to drop or withdraw retroactively are the most difficult cases for the Committee to evaluate. All petitions to drop or withdraw retroactively must show evidence that a hardship occurred at a crucial time in the academic calendar (e.g., the week of final examinations), extended over a significant period, or offer sufficient justification as to why action was not taken to drop the petitioned course during the quarter.  Similarly, evidence that the student attempted to rectify the situation within a few weeks is more compelling than evidence that no help was sought for months or years. The Committee will be very reluctant to grant any retroactive action for more than one quarter. The majority of requests for retroactive drops and withdrawals will offer as justification one of the following reasons, some of which are more convincing than others:
   1. Financial Hardship. Ordinarily the Committee will grant such a petition only if there has been a sudden change in the student's financial situation during the quarter. The student must provide documentation of the financial hardship.
   2. Health Problems.  In some instances health problems may be grounds for granting a request for a retroactive action even without a disability determination from the Student Disability Center (see paragraph 7 above on disabilities).  These health problems must be well documented.  To be persuasive, medical documentation should come from a physician or similarly licensed professional and describe the severity, timing, and duration of the health problem.  Medical bills and receipts are generally not sufficient.
   3. Disability.  See paragraph 7 above.
   4. Family Hardship. The death or severe illness of an immediate family member may be considered grounds for retroactive drop or withdrawal.
   5. Sexual Trauma. Exposure to any sexually abusive behaviors may justify a retroactive drop or withdrawal.
   6. Personal Problems. Breaking up with a romantic partner will not generally be considered sufficient justification for a retroactive drop or withdrawal. Difficulties with landlords or roommates will not generally be considered sufficient justification for a retroactive drop or withdrawal. The Committee will consider legal entanglements or other time consuming procedures that may arise from such problems, but these must be well documented.
   7. Problems with drugs, alcohol, or violent behavior. Generally, these are not considered sufficient justification for a retroactive drop or withdrawal.
   8. Academic Need. Retroactive drops or withdrawals for reasons of academic need will not be approved.  That the quality of a student's work does not represent the student's academic potential is not a valid reason, in and of itself, for retroactive action.  The following are some common reasons for petitioning to the Committee that are frequently cited by petitioners but routinely denied: retroactive drops or withdrawals so that a student can improve their record for applying to graduate school or other program; the retroactive drop of a course in which a student did poorly but is no longer required for degree completion; retroactive drops or withdrawals so that a student may circumvent campus repeat rules; and the retroactive drop of course for the reason that the student did poorly.
10. Requests to retroactively drop one or two courses, but not the entire quarter, will ordinarily be regarded as "selective" and will not be granted. The Committee will consider the possibility that one particular course was adversely affected more than other courses by situations as described in paragraph nine, but the Committee will require strong evidence.
    1. Incomplete Grades. A course in which a student has received an Incomplete grade notation will not normally be dropped, except in situations outlined in paragraph nine. In accepting the Incomplete grade, the student does obligate herself or himself to complete the work.  The Committee does not drop Incomplete grades because too much time has passed.  The Committee will not drop Incomplete grades that have become permanent (see DD Reg A540C http://academicsenate.ucdavis.edu/bylaws_and_regulations/regulations.cfm?#A540-)
    2. ENWS Notations. The Enrolled - No Work Submitted ("NS") notation cannot be dropped unless a documented clerical or procedural error has occurred (NOTE: this notation has been eliminated as a grading option as of Fall 2012). The NS notation will not be dropped for the reason of refunding a student's fees for a past term.
    3. Repeats. A course in which a student has received a passing grade will not be dropped for the purpose of allowing the student to retake the class for a higher grade.  A course will not be dropped in order to allow the student to repeat the course counter to campus rules.
    4. Y Grades. Current/prior Y grades will only be considered for retroactive drops and withdrawals under exceptional circumstances. Y grades that have converted to an F will not be approved for a retroactive drop
11. Retroactive action will not be taken by the Committee for reasons of academic need or for the purpose of refunding a student's fees. The Committee does not make decisions relating to fee refunds, admission, readmission, or dismissal/reinstatement; statements regarding these matters should not be made in petitions to the Committee.
12. If a petition to add a course retroactively is approved by the Committee or on its behalf for a course in the regular quarter or during summer session, the student is required to pay all necessary fees.
13. For retroactive petitions that concern the Education Abroad Program (EAP), a recommendation from the Committee on International Studies and Exchanges may be sought. In most situations the Grade Change Committee will support those recommendations. Because of the time involved for routing EAP petitions, said petitions are first on the agenda.
    1. Requests to retroactively change grade modes for a class taken while on an EAP or equivalent program will be held to the same standards for this type of change as those taken on-site at UC Davis.
14. The Committee will review all retroactive petitions, also including grade changes for UC Davis Extension students enrolled in UC Davis classes. The UC Davis Extension student should provide a copy of her or his Extension transcript along with the petition.
15. Grade Disputes, Discrimination, and Arbitrary Treatment:
    1. Challenging an instructor's grade. If the Committee finds that a clerical or procedural error has resulted in a student receiving an incorrect grade, it may authorize a change even if the faculty member who awarded the grade is opposed, if an appropriate grade can be determined. Generally, the Committee will require the student to have discussed the matter with the faculty member and the department chairperson. The Committee, like the instructor, has no authority to reassess or re-evaluate student work; only if it can be documented that a clerical or procedural error was made will the Committee have authority to alter the grade. The student will be expected to bear the burden of proving that a clerical or procedural error occurred and caused the incorrect grade to be assigned.
    2. Discrimination or Arbitrary Treatment. If a student petitions for a retroactive change due to alleged discrimination or arbitrary treatment (as defined by Policy and Procedural Manual 400-15, Section VI.H) the Committee will consider this aspect of the petition only after the student has first contacted Harassment & Discrimination Assistance and Prevention Program ("HDAPP," https://hdapp.sf.ucdavis.edu/contact-us). If the Committee determines that discrimination or arbitrary treatment was the cause of or motivation behind the assignment of an incorrect grade, it may authorize a change if an appropriate grade can be determined. The Committee may also determine if discrimination or arbitrary treatment rises to the level of a retroactive drop of the affected course. 
16. If a student cites an advising error by a university staff or faculty adviser in his or her petition to the Committee, the student should provide documentation of the advising error with the petition. Even in cases of documented advising errors, the Committee may deem it more appropriate that an exception be made by the adviser than for retroactive action to be taken by the Committee.
17. The Committee reserves the right to deny a petition, even if good cause for granting such a petition exists, if it determines that the petition represents a likely abuse of the retroactive petition process or attempt to circumvent other university rules and procedures.

Revised GCC 6-19-2023 dg

Previous versions

• September 2, 2014
• March 21, 2013
• December 9, 2010
• June 11, 2009

• Retroactive Grade Mode Changes for Courses Taken Spring 2020
• The Academic Senate is allowing  greater flexibilities for retroactive grade mode changes for courses taken Spring 2020. These flexibilities and instructions are limited to courses taken Spring 2020, and they only apply to undergraduate students. Courses taken any other quarter are subject to the standard policies and guidelines for retroactive grade mode changes outlined on this page.