All appeals of academic standing will be heard by the Academic Appeals Committee. The Academic Appeals Committee will be composed only of faculty members and appropriate administrators.

A student may appeal to the Academic Appeals Committee only once following each notification of academic standing.

For appeals, students must complete the procedures outlined on the appropriate Academic Appeals Form which is available in the Office of the Registrar. Appropriate documentation (i.e., medical bills, medical records, or funeral bulletins) should be provided. In addition to this written appeal, a student may request to address the Academic Appeals Committee during one of its regularly scheduled meetings if so desired (contact the Appeals Committee Chair). Requests for personal appearances must be submitted with the written appeal by the deadline (see Section D and the Appeals Form). Interviews with the Appeals Committee will not be granted after an appeal has been denied or if an appeal is late.

Appeals of suspension or dismissal from the University MUST be completed and submitted to the Academic Appeals Committee at least two (2) days prior to the first day of classes as published in the University Catalogue for the term (summer session/semester) for which the student is suspended or dismissed.

Appeals of dismissal will not be allowed without exceptional cause which must be supported with valid documentation.

Appeals of late withdrawal from courses or from the University MUST be completed and submitted to the Academic Appeals Committee no later than two (2) days before the next regular aca-

demic semester begins.

Appeals of a course grade MUST meet the deadline described in XXII.F.

Exceptions to the above deadlines may be granted if the student shows evidence that he/she was unable to submit an appeal before the deadline due to documented exceptional circumstances.

The Academic Appeals Committee shall meet two (2) days before classes begin as stated in the University’s Academic Calendar to consider appeals of academic suspension, withdrawal, or dismissal.

The Academic Appeals Committee shall meet on other occasions only if the appeal load is heavy, if new evidence is brought forth which affects an appeal already acted upon, and/or if there is any other special circumstance in which the welfare of a student is at stake.

The student must initiate his/her grade appeal by writing a letter of appeal to the course instructor. This letter must be completed and delivered to the instructor, along with a copy to the student's advisor, no later than the end of the third full week of classes during the next regular academic semester (Fall or Spring). No appeal of a course grade will be considered unless a written appeal is made to the instructor by the deadline date. After considering the student's appeal, the instructor must respond in writing to the student, stating whether or not the appeal is granted and stating the instructor's rationale for the decision. The written response must be completed by the end of the fifth full week of classes in the semester of the appeal. If the instructor is no longer employed by the University or is otherwise unavailable, the student must proceed as prescribed in step 2;

If the student is not satisfied with the instructor’s decision and wishes to continue the grade appeal, the student must pick up the Academic Appeals Form from the Office of the Registrar and follow the procedures described on the form for continuing an appeal of a course grade; and