Academic Appeals Procedures

The Appeals Committee holds hearings the first Wednesday of each month from 1:00-4:00 PM. It may be beneficial for you to schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to discuss your appeal prior to the hearing. Generally, appeals are granted only in situations in which an extenuating circumstance is present.

Instructions for appealing academic regulations and policies (PDF)

What constitutes extenuating?

Here are a few examples:

1. lengthy illness that incapacitates you for an extended period of time
2. recently diagnosed or recurrent illness
3. death in your immediate family
4. unexpected and grave financial problem (e.g., theft of household belongings or loss of your house in a fire)
5. unexpected surgery
6. relapse from a diagnosed addiction or compulsive behavior (e.g., gambling, alcohol, or drugs)
7. recently diagnosed learning disability
8. harm that was done to you (e.g., an assault)
9. other traumatic event

If you have experienced academic difficulty due to any of the circumstances identified above, you are encouraged to schedule an academic appeal hearing.

Undergraduate Grievance / Appeal Procedure

Follow these steps if you wish to file an appeal/grievance for matters such as a disputed grade received in a class or denial of admission to a program or major. For assistance with this process, please contact your academic advisor.

1. File the grievance/appeal with instructor

   In cases concerning academic matters, such as a disputed grade for a course, the student must file the grievance/appeal to the course instructor within 15 business days from the date the grade is posted on the students’ transcript. The student who has a grievance/appeal which does not concern an academic matter should go immediately to Step 2, within the 30 day time limit referred to above.

2. Appeal to the program director or coordinator

   If dissatisfied with the Step 1 decision, the student may appeal to the program director or coordinator within 10 business days from the date of the Step 1 decision. If still dissatisfied, the student proceeds to Step 3. If the director is also the chairperson of the department, the student proceeds immediately to Step 4.

3. Meet with department chairperson

   The student meets with the department chairperson within 10 business days from the date of the Step 2 decision. If still dissatisfied with the decision, the student proceeds to Step 4.

4. Appeal to the Scholastic Appeals Committee

   The student may then appeal to the Scholastic Appeals Committee, which is a subcommittee of the Faculty/Student Affairs Committee, within 10 working days from the date of the Step 3 decision. In the case of a grade appeal, if the Committee concludes that the student’s grade was based on arbitrary or capricious grounds, it will recommend to the Dean of the College of Health Sciences that the grade be changed. The Dean has the authority to implement the recommendation as per faculty Document 1243.

5. Appeal to the Dean

   If the Scholastic Appeals Committee does not recommend a grade change, the student may appeal to the Dean within 10 business days from the date of the Scholastic Appeals Committee’s decision. The Dean’s decision is final.