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Academic Appeals

You can appeal your final official grade(s) and/or academic standing when one or more grounds for appeal exists.

You must notify your Instructor(s) or the Student Advisor when circumstances that can impact your academic performance arise. It is also your responsibility to try to resolve all course-related issues with the Instructor as soon as they occur and, if needed, with the Chair/Director of the teaching department. Failure to do so may jeopardize your appeal.

Appeals are submitted at the Department level, where the Chair/Director is the decision maker. If you choose to appeal the Department's decision, you can appeal to the Dean/Associate Dean of the Faculty. Subsequently, Faculty-level decisions can be appealed at the Senate-level. The decision of the Senate Appeals Committee is final and cannot be appealed. 

Students can submit two (2) types of Appeals:

  • Grade Appeal: must be submitted to the teaching department that offers the course being appealed.
  • Standing Appeal: must be submitted to your program department. 

Grounds for Appeal

Appeals are governed by Policy 168: Grade & Standing Appeals. You may appeal on any of these four (4) grounds: 

  • Extenuating Circumstances - You believes that there have been occurrences of reasonable significance that (a) are outside of your immediate control; (b) could not have been reasonably foreseen or avoided; and (c) significantly impact your ability to fulfill the academic requirements. 
  • Prejudice - You believes that their final grade or standing has been impacted by prejudice based on a ground protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code
  • Procedural Error - You believes there has been an error in the procedure followed in the application of either this policy or any applicable policy of the University that has impacted your grade or standing
  • Course Management - You believes that a final grade has been adversely affected because an instructor or supervisor has deviated significantly from Course Management Policies (Policy 166), the course outline, or the instructor has demonstrated personal bias or unfair treatment (applicable only to grade appeals).

Steps to take before submitting an appeal

  1. Informal Resolution
    • Before initiating a grade appeal, you must attempt to resolve all grade-related issues informally with your instructor(s).  

  2. Grade Reassessment (for issues related to individual assignment grades)
    • Request to have a graded course component reassessed if you believe that the grade does not reflect the academic merit of your work, or request a recalculation if you believe an error or omission has been made in calculating grades. Your requests for a grade reassessment must be based on sufficient academic grounds and be supported by evidence and documentation (e.g. from the course outline, course notes, textbooks, assignment grade rubric). 
    • Contact your instructor within ten (10) business days of the date when the graded work is posted. Grades not questioned within this period may not be reassessed.

For detailed information on grade reassessment procedures, refer to Policy 162: Grade Reassessment and Grade Recalculation.

Submitting an academic appeal

If you are unable to resolve the issue with your instructor or the director/chair, you may proceed with an appeal.

Undergraduate students must use the online appeals portal to submit their appeals. You have up to ten (10) business days after official grades/standing are posted to submit a first level (department) appeal. All other levels of appeal must be submitted within ten (10) business days of receiving your decision letter.

  1. Login to the online appeals portal using your TMU credentials. 
  2. Complete to fill out the required fields. Clear and concise points are recommended. 
  3. Upload any applicable documents you may have to support your appeal and submit them.

After submitting your appeal, you, the Decision maker, and the Senate Office are notified through their TMU e-mail. The decision maker will have up to ten (10) business days to assess and make a decision on your appeal. Once a decision has been made, you are notified and a Decision letter will be sent to your TMU email with ten (10) business days. 

On campus appeals resources

It is recommended that you seek assistance and advice when filing an appeal. For advice on your appeal, you may contact any of the following. 

Academic Advocacy at YourTMSU (external link) 
 advocacy@yourtmsu.ca |  416-979-5255

Office of the Ombudsperson
 ombuds@torontomu.ca |  416-979-5000, ext. 557450

TRSM Program Advsing & Student Success (PASS)
 trsmadvising@torontomu.ca |  416-979-5000, ext 555121

The Centre for Student Development and Counselling
 cdsc@torontomu.ca |  416-979-5195