Editing Herzing Issues: Technology, LMS, and Platforms (section)

=== HU-075: Sherpath grade transfer failures caused actual course failures in Spring 2025 cohort; multiple students appealing failures attributable to platform errors rather than academic performance ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
! style="width:12em" | Severity
| High
! style="width:12em" | Status
| CONFIRMED
|-
! Issue type
| Platform-Caused Course Failures
! Date added
| 2026-05-05
|-
! Owner
| colspan="3" | IT Department / Vendor Management (Elsevier/Sherpath) / Academic Affairs
|}
'''Finding.''' The Sherpath platform's failure to correctly transfer grades to Canvas, combined with grades being changed in Canvas without explanation, caused multiple students in the Spring 2025 MSN-DE cohort to fail courses and be required to file appeals. This represents a substantial escalation of {{HU|HU-041}}: where {{HU|HU-041}} documented platform reliability failures and student anxiety, this issue documents actual academic harm (course failures) traceable to the same platform issues.

'''Evidence.''' Facebook post by Student D (Apr 26, 2025), Spring 2025 cohort student: constant issues with grades not transferring to Canvas, grades transferring incorrectly, and course grades frequently changed with no explanation, with several cohort members reporting a course failure attributable to the issue and pursuing appeals. Student D (Feb 20, 2025): described course grades changing daily due to technology problems, completed assignments recorded as zeros, and students spending an ungodly amount of time managing the failures to protect data integrity. Source group: Herzing Direct Entry MSN Facebook Group Export (Dec 2022 to May 2026): Topical/Keyword Review (Volume 6).

'''Reported statement.''' Student D described constant problems with grades not transferring to Canvas or transferring incorrectly, course grades changing with no explanation, and said several cohort members reported failing a class because of the issue and were pursuing appeals; Student D also described grades changing daily and completed assignments being recorded as zeros, requiring students to spend excessive time managing the technology failures to protect their academic standing.

'''Standards.''' ACEN Standard 5: technology resources must support student learning; institutionally caused platform failures cannot fairly be the basis for course failure. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. §794d): digital learning platforms must be accessible and functional. Handbook p.20 (grade appeal procedures). Due process principles in higher education (Dixon v. Alabama, 294 F.2d 150 (5th Cir. 1961)): students must have meaningful access to academic integrity in the grading system. 34 CFR §668.14: institutional administrative capability requires functional grading infrastructure.

'''Impact.''' Students who failed courses due to Sherpath grade transfer errors face academic probation, required course retakes (with $500 fees per {{HU|HU-060}}), delayed graduation, extended tuition costs, and potential financial aid eligibility impact ({{HU|HU-048}} GradPLUS rule, {{HU|HU-059}} aid cap). The institution's burden-shifting posture, requiring students to file appeals to correct institutionally caused failures, places the cost of platform errors on the students rather than the institution or vendor. The compound effect of Sherpath failures plus the {{HU|HU-074}} escalated HESI weighting (where 82% of course grade depends on HESI exams that themselves depend on Sherpath integration) means platform failures can cascade into course failures with no recoverable remedy.

'''Notes.''' This issue is a direct extension of {{HU|HU-041}} (Sherpath chronic platform failures) with new evidence of actual academic harm. The Spring 2025 cohort represents a particularly severe case because it coincided with the rollout of Sherpath as the primary platform replacing Realizeit ({{HU|HU-076}}). Verification: institutional records of Spring 2025 grade appeals, the categorization of those appeals (academic vs. platform-error), and resolution outcomes. The combination of {{HU|HU-041}}, {{HU|HU-057}} (duplicate Sherpath assignments), {{HU|HU-044}} (Sherpath teaching incorrect content), and this issue constitutes a comprehensive vendor management failure with documented student harm.

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