Appeals Process

Student Academic Concerns and Grade Appeals

Purpose

The College shall provide procedures to assist students and faculty in resolving student academic concerns, including, but not limited to, grade appeals. The purpose of this procedure is to outline the steps to be followed to address student academic concerns and grade appeals. Ordinarily, a professor's grades are permanent once they have been submitted to the Enrollment Services Office, usually on the final day of the term. A student who asserts that there are grounds upon which to request a change in grade may file a grade appeal according to the procedure specified herein.

Grade appeals must be filed by the student before the expiration of the successive term in which the grade was received.

Procedure

1. Informal Conference: The student shall request a conference with the professor involved. This initial conference is an informal meeting at which the student may present information regarding his/her academic concern/grade change request. Every effort should be made by the student and the professor to resolve the issue at this level.
2. Written Appeal: If the problem has not been resolved within 10 college working days of the request for the initial conference, either because the student and professor have been unable to resolve the issue informally or because the professor is unavailable, the student may file a Written Statement of Student Academic Concern/Grade Appeal Form with the appropriate immediate supervisor(s) of the professor (Program Coordinator, Program Manager, Program Specialist, Director, Manager or Department Chair).
   
   The Written Statement of Student Academic Concern/Grade Appeal must document the initial conference or attempts to schedule an initial conference. The Written Statement of Student Academic Concern/Grade Appeal will be given to the professor by his or her supervisor at least five college working days before any further meetings are convened. A professor will not be required to respond to a Written Statement of Student Academic Concern/Grade Appeal, which does not have specific information regarding dates, times, materials involved or any other pertinent information necessary to clearly identify the basis for the academic concern or requested grade change.
   
   The immediate supervisor(s) shall review the Written Statement of Student Academic Concern/Grade Appeal and may meet with the student or professor individually or together to try to resolve the issue(s) raised in the appeal. If either party in the dispute wishes a further hearing beyond the immediate supervisor(s) of the professor, the grade appeal may be brought to the appropriate Dean by that party.
3. Review by Dean: If either party in the dispute wishes further appeal beyond the professor's immediate supervisor(s), the aggrieved party may request a hearing with the appropriate Dean within 10 college working days of the decision of the immediate supervisor(s). At such time, the Written Statement of Student Academic Concern/Grade Appeal shall be updated with an account of previous actions taken and sent to the appropriate Dean. Upon receipt of the Written Statement of Student Academic Concern/Grade Appeal, the Dean will work with the parties in an attempt to resolve the conflict within 10 college working days of the receipt of the written appeal.
4. Review by Vice President for Educational Programs
   If either party in the dispute wishes further appeal beyond the Dean, the aggrieved party may request a hearing with the Vice President for Educational Programs within 10 college working days of the Dean's decision. Documentation of actions taken at each prior level will be provided to the Vice President by the aggrieved party requesting the appeal. The Vice President for Educational Programs will review the previous actions, confer with the Dean and meet, as appropriate, with the student, professor, immediate supervisor(s) and Dean in an attempt to resolve the issues.
5. Final Disposition: If the student's academic concern/grade appeal remains unresolved after compliance with the steps outlined above, the Vice President for Educational Programs will conduct a timely final review of the student academic concern/grade appeal and issue a final written determination. The determination of the Vice President for Educational Programs shall constitute the final disposition of the student academic concern/grade appeal.

Every student has the right to appeal any academic action either in person or in writing. The appeal should be made either to the Admissions and Graduation Committee or the Petitions Committee.

The Petitions Committee

The Petitions Committee shall consider written appeals on such matters as suspensions, appeals for fourth-attempt exemption from full cost of instruction and administrative record changes resulting in a refund. To be heard by the committee, the student must file a written petition with the College Registrar, before the end of the following semester, who will arrange for the committee to consider the case. Recommendations of the committee shall be sent to the Vice President of Student Success, the President and appropriate personnel.

The Admission and Graduation Committee

The Admission and Graduation Committee acts on applications that may not be clearly defined by admission and graduation policies. Areas of consideration shall include readmission of dismissed students, problems faced by students with physical disabilities and fulfillment of graduation requirements. Petitions shall be addressed to the Dean, Adult Education (as Committee Chair), who will arrange for the committee to consider the case. Recommendations of the committee shall be sent to the Vice President of Student Success, the President and appropriate personnel.

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