Recognizing that a trusting, positive relationship between students and instructors is vital to successful learning and teaching, the grade grievance process at Orange Coast College is intended to provide all parties with due process in the event of a disagreement or misunderstanding regarding grades. The grade grievance process determines if there was a violation of the California Education Code; it does not address personality, character, or styles of teaching.

Pursuant to California Education Code § 76224(a) and California Code of Regulations, Title 5 § 55025 the instructor of the course shall determine a student's grade and that grade shall be final in the absence of mistake, fraud, bad faith, or incompetency. California Code of Regulations, Title 5 § 55025 states, “In any course of instruction in a community college district for which grades are awarded, the instructor of the course shall determine the grade to be awarded each student in accordance with this article. The determination of the student’s grade by the instructor shall be final in the absence of mistake, fraud, bad faith, or incompetency.”

Students who believe they have a grade concern, they should make a reasonable effort to resolve the matter on an informal basis with the course instructor who assigned the grade. If the grade concern is not resolved, students may escalate their grade concern to the respective academic Dean. Students may submit a grade grievance petition if their grade concern is not resolved informally with both the course instructor and Dean. Grade grievance petitions must be submitted prior to the end of the sixth week of the subsequent semester, following the semester or summer session in which the grade was assigned. 

Inquiries about Orange Coast College's grade grievance process should be directed to:

• Shannon Quihuiz, Associate Dean, Student Relations & Title IX at (714) 432-5930 and squihuiz@occ.cccd.edu