Academic Appeals

Any appeal should begin where the difficulty originated. Students who feel they have been unjustly treated academically should discuss the grievance with the instructor and also with the academic advisor. The process includes both the informal and formal recourse. Informal recourse includes direct communication with the immediate faculty member, intercession of the student's advisor, and recourse to the dean of studies. At each step, a meeting shall take place at the request of the student.

In no agreement is reached the matter will, upon written request of the student, be referred to the academic review board by the dean of studies. The written request for the appeal must be made within sixty days of notice of the alleged grievance. The request must include a statement of the grievance and of the reasons for the appeal, and the resolution suggested at the formal meeting of the parties involved, as prepared by the student. All documentation supporting the appeal must be in order and accompany the written request.

The dean of studies will initiate the convening of the academic review board that will consist of four members of the academic faculty. The dean of studies and all parties involved in the earlier formal meeting shall be excused. The student may add a faculty member to the review board. The board will select a chair and a recorder for the meeting. The review board will review the documents presented, interview the party(ies) concerned and others deemed necessary, and render a judgment as a result of a simple majority vote.

The SHMS Grievance Policy is stated in the Student Resources section under Student Life.