Professional and Academic Decisions: Student Appeal Procedure
Students in schools with specific regulatory and/or accreditation guidelines will follow that school’s student handbook for the specific student appeal policy and procedure. For all other students who use the process below, all communication in the appeal process will be through Spalding e-mail addresses. Decision notifications to the student will be sent with a read receipt. The student is required to use the read receipt to confirm receipt of all messages. Failure to confirm receipt ends the appeal process.
- Within 5 business days following the confirmed delivery of the written email stating the faculty member’s perspective and decision regarding a disputed grade or the outcome of an investigation into breaches of professional and/or academic integrity, the student shall email their appeal to the Chair or designee.
- Within 5 business days, the Chair or designee will email and discuss the appeal with the respective faculty member.
- The faculty member will then submit a written response to the chair or designee within 5 business days. In cases where the Chair or designee may be a part of the complaint; the final decision will be rendered by the Dean of Undergraduate or Graduate Education, depending on the student’s academic level.
- Within 5 business days of the receipt of the faculty member’s response to the student appeal, the Chair or designee will render a decision to either uphold the original decision or overturn the original decision in favor of the appeal. The decision notification will be sent via Spalding email with a read receipt.
- If the student desires to appeal further, within 5 business days of confirmed delivery by email of the Chair or designee’s written decision, the student will request in writing to the Chair or designee that all documentation be forwarded to the Dean or designee. No additional information may be added to the appeal by any party unless requested by the Dean or designee.
- The Dean or designee’s decision in the matter will be final and will be rendered within 5 business days of the receipt of the final appeal. The decision notification will be sent via Spalding email. In cases where the Dean or designee may be a part of the complaint; the final decision will be rendered by the Provost.
- Copies of all documentation will be maintained on file in the academic program of the respective faculty member for 3 years. Resulting disciplinary actions taken will be recorded in the student’s official file in the University Registrar’s Office and reported to the Provost.
NOTE: In instances when a student earns a course grade in a designated prerequisite course that prohibits the continuation in a course sequence, the student will not register or attend any postrequisite courses. In instances where the grade results in termination from a program and/or dismissal from the University, the student will not register or attend any further classes and will be withdrawn from current courses. Should an appeal that impacts postrequisite courses, program termination, and/or dismissal from the University be resolved in the student’s favor, that student may enroll in the courses from which they were prohibited at the next available opportunity.
STEPS | ACTION | RESPONSE TIME | DECISION |
1 | The student should email an appeal to the Chair or designee of the department. | Within 5 business days from receiving the faculty member’s decision or findings | No decision needed |
2 | Chair or designee emails and discusses the appeal with the faculty member. | Within 5 business days from receiving the student’s appeal | No decision needed |
3 | Faculty member responds to Chair or designee | Within 5 business days | No decision needed |
4 | Chair or designee renders a decision | Within 5 business days of receiving the faculty member’s response, a decision is communicated in writing via email to student | Y/N |
5 | If student disagrees with the Professional or Academic decision made by their Chair or designee, student request in writing to forward the appeal with documentation to the appropriate Dean (Undergraduate or Graduate) or designee | Within 5 business days of receiving the email from the Chair or designee | No decision needed |
6 | Dean of Undergraduate or Graduate Education or designee renders a final decision via email to the student | Within 5 business days of receiving the student’s final appeal via email | Y/N |
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