Grade Grievances and Complaints to the Program, Universities, CAPTE

Grieving a Grade

Students should not grieve grades if they simply disagree with the grade, but may request review by the instructor if they feel the grade posted on their transcript is not a fair representation of the work completed. The request must be made during the quarter/semester of attendance or immediately following the quarter/semester in which the grade was assigned, and within 4 weeks of when the grade is assigned. If the instructor and the student reach an agreement, a petition for a grade change may be submitted.

If an agreement is not reached between instructor and student, the student should consult the formal SFSU Graduate Grade Appeal Practices and Procedures for SFSU courses and the following steps for UCSF courses: 1. A student may request the instructor enlist a “second opinion” in a timely manner from a faculty member with expertise in the evaluation of the course or experience (e.g., a course instructor may ask another instructor to review the grading of an examination, or a Clinical Instructor (CI) asks the Director of Clinical Education (DCE) to review a student’s clinical performance evaluations. 2. If the student is dissatisfied with the outcome, they may only further appeal the grade in the following instances:

  • The evaluation or grade is perceived to be an act of discrimination. A grievance of an alleged act of discrimination as expressed through a summary evaluation or grade will follow the Divisional Procedure for Student Grievance in Academic Affairs.
  • The student’s academic freedom is perceived to have been infringed upon (e.g., a student feels a faculty member graded them lower based not on their performance but on their expressed opinions or academic positions that differed from the faculty member). A grievance of an alleged infringement of academic freedom as expressed through a summary evaluation or grade will be reviewed by the Dean of the Graduate Division and/or an appointed designate.

Complaints Against the Program

Complaints to the Program or Universities

Any individual or organization that has a complaint against the program is advised to file a written complaint. The procedure for handling complaints is as follows.

  1. When possible, the Program Directors or Director of Clinical Education (DCE) will discuss the complaint directly with the party involved within 14 business days. If at all possible, the matter is reconciled at this point. A letter from the Program Director acknowledging resolution of the complaint will be saved with the complaint in the program’s files and a copy will be sent to the complainant. Program Leadership: 
    1. Theresa Jaramillo, Associate Program Director, UCSF 
    2. Amber Fitzsimmons, Program Director/Chair, UCSF
    3. Jeanette Lee, Program Director/Chair, SFSU
    4. Jo Bergh, Interim Director of Clinical Education (DCE)
  2. If resolution of the complaint is not achieved, or if the complaint is against the Program Director, the involved party may submit a written complaint to the Dean of the SFSU College of Health & Social Sciences or the Dean of the UCSF Graduate Division. The Program Director will also forward a written summary of any previous discussions when appropriate. The Dean or Dean’s designate may meet with each party separately or with both parties jointly to reconcile the complaint. A letter outlining the resolution by the Dean or Dean’s designate will be saved with the complaint in the program’s files.
    1. Nicquet Blake, Dean, Graduate Division, UCSF
    2. Andreana Clay, Dean, College of Health and Social Sciences, SFSU
  3. If satisfactory resolution is not achieved, the involved party may submit a written complaint to the Provost or Chancellor of the University. A letter outlining the resolution by the Chief Academic Officer will be filed with the complaint in the program’s files for a period of five years.
    1. Sam Hawgood, Chancellor, Office of the Chancellor, UCSF
    2. Amy Sueyoshi, Provost, Office of the Provost, SFSU 

Additionally, should a student wish to file a complaint against the University, they should follow either the Complaint Process Policy for UC Students or the Student Complaints about Actions Taken on Behalf of San Francisco State University policy.

Complaints to the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)

The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) is a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. CAPTE grants specialized accreditation status to qualified entry-level education programs for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. The only mechanism through which CAPTE can act on an individual’s concerns is through a formal complaint process. For more information, please visit the CAPTE website.