How can instructors protect themselves legally when grading?
Publish, explain, and use explicit criteria in advance. Students are much more likely to accept grades based on criteria that they are made aware of in advance and that they understand. Document decisions as carefully as possible and be consistent. Keeping gradebooks secure and retaining them for some time after the course is over are also required by some departments. Instructors are advised to check with their departments for specific schedules concerning the maintenance of these records. Some instructors also protect themselves by keeping lines of communication open and taking the opportunity to prevent cheating when possible by making it hard to copy answers during exams, making it difficult to change corrections on returned papers, being careful to check off completed assignments, etc.
