Graduate Policies & Petitions

All students should refer to University of Washington Bothell policies on graduate grading, student education records, and academic standards.

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SES Policies & Petitions

UW Graduate School Policies

SES Policies

Add Code Policy

Students seeking add codes to B EDUC courses must submit a request via the form linked above and seek course instructor approval to register for the course. Students must complete the form and provide course information as well as documentation (screenshot, copy of email) of course instructor approval. Requests without instructor approval will not be considered. Students can expect a decision in 1-2 business days.

Add Code Request Form

Elective Course Petition

CECL & ESOL students are required to take at least 5 credits of course electives. Students may petition for courses outside of the School of Educational Studies to count towards this requirement. The course content of the petitioned class must directly relate to the M.Ed.’s learning goals, and must be a 400- or 500- level course. 

Students may search for courses from other UW Bothell departments or other UW campuses (Seattle and Tacoma). It is a student’s responsibility to determine if the course has special registration instructions, restrictions, or requirements.

SES Course Petition

Alternate Quarter Dossier Petition 

Petitions are due the Friday of Week 5 during Winter Quarter.

CECL & ESOL students may consult with their faculty advisor to discuss completing the Dossier in Spring Quarter, as opposed to Summer Quarter. This decision is based on the individual faculty member’s availability and the student’s ability to secure a second reader. 

It is important to note that completing the Dossier in Spring will add a significant workload to students who are also finalizing other coursework. Because the Dossier is driven by work completed in courses throughout the program, students will need to complete their final projects in their spring courses in advance, if they plan to use them as artifacts in their dossier. As such, students will consult with Spring course instructors to ensure that Dossier plans are compatible with their respective course schedules.

Alternate Quarter Dossier Petition

Grade Appeal

The School of Educational Studies (SES) is committed to an ethic of care for its students, staff, faculty and community members. Our grade appeal policy and process supports students in resolving concerns related to course grading. The SES Grade Appeal Policy is aligned with UW Scholastic Regulations Ch. 110 Section 2B Written Appeal of Grade Error.

What is a Grade Appeal?  

A grade appeal is UW’s process for students to dispute a course grade. A grade appeal may be appropriate if the student has evidence (or they believe evidence exists) that: 

  • They were improperly graded based on criteria outlined in the syllabus
  • A grade recording error or omission occurred
  • The instructor’s grading was arbitrary and capricious

Complaints regarding the issues below have specific protocols which should be followed instead of or in addition to the grade appeal process. Information about these specific issues and their protocols are linked in the following list:

SES academic services staff are available to assist students in understanding and navigating the grade appeal process and identifying the best way to proceed. All conversations relating to grade appeals will be treated as confidential. 

Grade Appeal Process

Before a student raises a concern about their grade, they first must carefully review the course syllabus and any instructions or information related to specific assignments and grades. Additionally, students should be aware that Canvas may not contain all information related to final grades.

Before submitting a grade appeal, students must attempt to resolve grade concerns directly in a face-to-face conversation (in-person or video conference) with the course instructor before the end of the following academic quarter (not including Summer Quarter). Most questions about grades can be resolved at this stage.  

If the instructor is not responsive to a student’s request for a meeting, the student should contact an SES advisor. The advisor will then bring the issue to the SES Student Support Team. 

Circumstances may warrant an exception to this step, in which case the student can, when necessary, directly advance to Step 3: Preparing a Grade Appeal.

In cases where a student and the instructor cannot come to an agreement about the grade issue and the student has evidence (or they believe evidence exists) that they were improperly graded, the student may submit a grade appeal no later than ten business days after the student’s discussion with the instructor. 

Submitting a grade appeal will not impact a student’s academic record. Information recorded on the Grade Appeal Form will be treated as confidential and will be retained in the student’s advising file once the appeal is resolved.

Within ten business days of receiving the grade appeal, the Dean will review the appeal and consult with the instructor to determine whether the evaluation of the student’s coursework was fair and reasonable, or if the instructor’s conduct in assigning the grade was arbitrary or capricious. The Dean may also request a meeting with the student and/or instructor to gather additional information. The Dean will inform the student if the appeal has been denied, or if next steps are necessary to move forward with the review. This timeline may be extended by the Dean in exceptional circumstances. 

Should the SES Dean believe the instructor’s conduct to be arbitrary or capricious and should the instructor decline to revise the grade, the Dean will refer the student’s case to at least two of the three members of the elected faculty council (in the case that one of the EFCs members is the instructor in question) to evaluate and assign a grade. The VCAA will be informed of this action.

Grade Appeal Form

Grievance Policy

The School of Educational Studies (SES) is committed to an ethic of care for its students, staff, faculty and community members. Our grievance policy and process support our community in resolving concerns related to academic, School, or university policies or processes. The SES Grievance Policy is aligned with UW Executive Order No. 58 Student Academic Grievance Procedures and the UW Graduate School Policy 3.8: Academic Grievance Procedure. 

What is a Grievance?

A grievance is an allegation of unfair treatment, inappropriate behavior, or substantive injustice in the conduct of academic or university policy, practice, or business. A grievance could be a complaint regarding: 

  • An SES academic policy or process 
  • Difficult communication with an SES faculty member, staff member, cooperating teacher, or field instructor  
  • SES faculty, staff, cooperating teacher, or field instructor performance or behavior 
  • Course content or teaching methodology 
  • Academic advising or placement coordination 

Complaints regarding the issues below have specific protocols which should be followed instead of or in conjunction with the grievance process. Information about these specific issues and their protocols are linked in the following list:

SES academic services staff are available to assist students in understanding and navigating the grievance process and identifying the best way to proceed. All conversations relating to grievances will be treated as confidential. 

Grievance Process

Students are encouraged to resolve concerns or difficulties informally and directly in a face-to-face conversation with the person(s) concerned. Most conflicts can be resolved at this stage. 

Students should follow the appropriate process: 

  • Undergraduate & Post-Baccalaureate students: either the student or the person(s) involved may request another person to be present during this discussion. Persons appropriate to this intermediary role could include a faculty member, an academic advisor or staff member, or a field instructor or cooperating teacher. All parties must be notified by email a minimum of two business days in advance if an intermediary will be present. 
  • Graduate students: students must initiate informal resolution within three months of the incident and the student should request that the SES Director or Dean conciliate the grievance.

Additionally, undergraduate and graduate students may request assistance through the UW Office of the Ombud. The Office of the Ombud has been established to assist in the protection of the rights of all members of the UW community. To facilitate early and informal resolution of grievances, the ombud will be available, at the request of any party concerned, to act as an impartial conciliator. The Office of the Ombud may be called upon to intervene at any stage of the grievance process. 

Circumstances may warrant an exception to the Informal Resolution step, in which case the student can directly advance to Step 2: Preparing a Formal Grievance when necessary. 

If attempts at informal resolution are unsuccessful, or if circumstances make discussion inappropriate with the person(s) most directly involved, then students should proceed to filing a formal grievance. 

When filing a formal grievance, students should follow the appropriate process: 

  • Undergraduate & Post-Baccalaureate students: a student should submit the SES Grievance Form. Submissions will be directed to the SES Student Academic Grievance Committee, an ad hoc committee comprising faculty, staff, and students appointed by the Dean.
  • Graduate students: a student should submit a formal complaint with the dean of the Graduate School, following UW Graduate School Policy 3.8: Academic Grievance Procedure 

Submitting a formal grievance will not impact a student’s academic record. Information recorded on the Grievance Form will be treated as confidential and will be retained in the student’s advising file once the grievance is resolved. 

University policies that guide the SES Grievance Policy and Procedure 

Grievance Form

WEST-E Petition

Students who take, but do not pass the WEST-E in ELL are eligible to submit a WEST-E Petition, also called Case-By-Case, to request an alternative assessment of their ESOL content knowledge. The WEST-E Petition allows SES to review teacher candidates’ content knowledge using multiple forms of evidence.

Petition Timelines

The WEST-E Petition will be sent out to ESOL students directly via email. WEST-E Petitions are reviewed by SES faculty at the end of Spring Quarter, with decisions sent to students in mid-July. 

M.Ed. alumni who completed their ESOL endorsement coursework at UW Bothell may submit a WEST-E Petition and should plan to follow the petition timeline outlined above. Please contact the graduate program advisor to be sent the petition form. 

UW Graduate School Policies

Degree Requirements

Policy 1.1: Graduate Degree Requirements

In order to earn a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree from the University of Washington Bothell, students must: 

  • Complete the required coursework and credits according to their chosen concentration. Students must follow the course plan as outlined by their academic advisor.  
  • Earn a minimum grade of 2.7 for each required course, or a CR in a CR/NC course. 
  • Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. 
  • Complete the degree within 6 years. 
  • Maintain registration throughout the duration of the entire program (unless approved for On-Leave Status) 

Policy 1.2: Graduate Certificates 

Students who are pursuing the LEDE concentration as a stand-alone certificate must: 

  • Earn a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 for courses applied to a graduate certificate, and a minimum of 2.7 in each course that is counted toward a graduate certificate. 
  • Complete the required coursework and credits. Students must follow the course plan as outlined by their academic advisor. 

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements 

Submit Master’s Degree Request 

In order to earn a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree from the University of Washington Bothell, students must: 

  • Maintain registration as a full or part-time graduate student during the quarter the degree will be conferred. 
  • Submit a master’s degree request during their final quarter. The request becomes available on the first day of the quarter and should be submitted by the last day of the quarter. 

Your advisor will send you periodic reminders and submit degree recommendations to the Graduate School the week after the end of the quarter.

On-Leave Status

On-Leave Status Policy 

Graduate students must maintain registration as a full or part-time student throughout the entire program. Students who wish to take a quarter (or multiple quarters) off must apply for on-leave status. Failure to do so requires going through the reinstatement process. Please visit the On-Leave Status Policy page for full eligibility requirements and instructions. 

UW Bothell’s M.Ed. program is structured as a cohort model, with classes only being offered in specific quarters. Students approved for on-leave status should understand that this may delay their course plan for up to a year and are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor prior to requesting on-leave status. 

Reinstatement Policy

Reinstatement Policy 

Graduate students who were previously enrolled in the M.Ed. program, but failed to maintain graduate status must submit a reinstatement request to resume their studies in the School of Educational Studies.  

Process for students seeking reinstatement: 

  1. Review eligibility requirements and detailed instructions on the Graduate School website. 
  1. Contact the graduate program advisor to determine your eligibility and choose your quarter of reinstatement. 
  1. Submit your request through MyGrad for the current or upcoming quarter. 
  1. If your reinstatement is approved by SES, pay a $250 Reinstatement Fee. 
  1. Register for the quarter of reinstatement to maintain active status.

Transfer Credits

Policy 1.1.2.1 Coursework that may be applied towards master’s degree requirements 

Transfer credits must be approved by M.Ed. program faculty. Only courses directly related to the M.Ed. concentration content will be evaluated. Transfer credit limits are as follows:  

  • Up to 12 approved credits derived from any combination of UW Graduate Non-Matriculated credits and transfer credits can be applied to the total credits for the degree.   
  • Up to 6 approved graduate-level quarter credits can be transferred from other academic institutions to count towards the total credits for the degree. 

Please contact the graduate program advisor for additional information. 

Additional Resources