Learning Outcomes:

• Students will understand the concept of result waving and result upgrade in Nigerian higher institutions.
• Students will learn the processes involved in addressing low grades through result waving or upgrading.

Overview: Result waving and result upgrading are practices that allow students to address poor or missing grades in specific courses. These mechanisms exist to provide flexibility in situations where a student’s performance may have been affected by valid reasons such as illness, administrative errors, or other exceptional circumstances. While these options can help students improve their academic standing, they are governed by strict institutional policies to prevent misuse. This lesson explores what result waving and upgrading entail, how students can request them, and the implications for their academic progress.

What is Result Waving? Result waving refers to a situation where a student’s poor grade in a specific course is “waived” or removed from their academic record. The course is essentially excluded from the calculation of the student’s Grade Point Average (GPA). Result waving is usually granted under specific circumstances, such as:

• Medical Issues: If a student is unable to perform well in an exam due to a documented medical condition, they may apply for result waving. This usually requires submitting medical records or certificates to justify the request.
• Administrative Errors: In cases where the student’s poor grade is the result of an administrative mistake, such as a missing test score or miscommunication about the exam schedule, the institution may waive the result once the error is confirmed.
• Personal or Family Emergencies: Universities may allow result waving if the student can prove that a personal or family emergency significantly affected their ability to perform in the exam.

Process for Requesting a Result Waving: To request a result waving, students usually have to follow a formal procedure, which may vary from one institution to another. This process generally includes:

• Submitting a Written Application: Students must write to the department or faculty, explaining the reason for the request and attaching any supporting documents such as medical reports or a letter from a counselor.
• Faculty Review: The application is reviewed by a committee, often including the Head of Department (HOD), Dean, and examination officers. They evaluate the student’s claim and determine whether result waving is justified.
• Approval or Denial: If the committee approves the request, the student’s grade for that course is waived, and it no longer counts toward their GPA. If the request is denied, the student may have to retake the course or accept the initial grade.

What is Result Upgrade? Result upgrading is a process where a student’s grade in a specific course is improved, either through re-evaluation or by completing additional work. Unlike result waving, upgrading directly improves the grade recorded for the course. Some common reasons for result upgrading include:

• Re-Evaluation: If a student believes their exam or test was graded incorrectly, they can request a re-evaluation. This involves a fresh review of the exam script or assignment by the lecturer or another appointed examiner.
• Completion of Additional Work: In some cases, students may be allowed to improve their grades by completing additional assignments, practicals, or projects. This is often granted when a student narrowly fails a course and has shown consistent effort throughout the semester.

Process for Requesting a Result Upgrade: Requesting a result upgrade also follows a structured process and requires valid justification:

• Submit a Petition: Students must submit a formal petition to the department, explaining why they believe their result should be upgraded. This may include highlighting specific areas of the exam that were misgraded or requesting an opportunity to complete additional work.
• Review by Examination Officer: The examination officer or department reviews the request and may consult the lecturer who graded the initial exam. If there’s evidence that an error was made or the student’s case is strong, the request may be approved.
• Result Adjustment: If the request is granted, the grade for the course is upgraded, and the student’s GPA is recalculated accordingly. If denied, the student must either accept the original grade or explore other options, such as retaking the course.

Institutional Policies and Limitations: It’s important to note that not all requests for result waving or upgrading are granted. Institutions have strict guidelines governing these processes to ensure fairness and academic integrity. For example:

• Limited Number of Wavings: Students are usually only allowed to waive results for a small number of courses throughout their academic program. This ensures that waving is only used in genuine cases.
• Grade Threshold for Upgrading: There is often a limit to how much a result can be upgraded. For instance, a student with a failing grade may only be upgraded to a passing grade, not to an “A” or “B.”

Conclusion: Result waving and upgrading provide students with opportunities to address poor or missing grades in legitimate circumstances. These processes ensure that students are not unfairly penalized for situations beyond their control, while still maintaining academic standards. However, it’s important for students to understand the limitations and follow the proper channels when requesting a result adjustment. By doing so, they can protect their academic standing and avoid potential delays in their academic progress.