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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
political bias; grade challenge department
Purpose
Establishes the Grade Challenge Department (Department) within the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) to hear challenges from Arizona public university students alleging a grade was awarded due to political bias. Authorizes the Department or ABOR to require a faculty member to regrade or reevaluate a student's assignment or overall grade as outlined.
Background
The Arizona Constitution establishes ABOR to act as the governing body of Arizona's public university system (Ariz. Const. art. 11 § 5). ABOR exercises the powers necessary for the effective governance and administration of the institutions under its control. ABOR may adopt, and authorize each university to adopt, regulations, policies, rules or measures that ABOR deems necessary. Statute outlines ABOR's responsibilities, including: 1) establishing curricula and designate courses at the institutions under the jurisdiction of ABOR that, in its judgment, will best serve the interests of Arizona; and 2) awarding diplomas on the completion of course and curriculum requirements (A.R.S. § 15-1626).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes the Department within ABOR to hear challenges from Arizona public university students regarding grades received in any class or on any assignment if a student alleges a grade was awarded due to political bias.
2. Determines that the Department must be composed of volunteers selected by ABOR to provide a hearing for Arizona public university students to challenge a grade awarded on an assignment or an overall class grade.
3. Requires ABOR to provide staff to support the Department as necessary.
4. Authorizes the Department, if the Department determines that a student's grade was awarded due to political bias, to require an Arizona public university faculty member to regrade the student's assignment or reevaluate the student's overall class grade consistent with the Department's guidance.
5. Allows a student, if the student believes the Department wrongly dismissed the student's challenge or did not adequately consider the facts of the challenge, to appeal the Department's decision to ABOR.
6. Authorizes ABOR to order an Arizona public university faculty member to regrade a student's assignment or reevaluate a student's overall class grade consistent with ABOR's guidance.
7. Requires the Department to have a location at each Arizona public university.
8. Defines public university.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 12, 2024
MH/LB/mg