Graduate Academic Appeal Policy

A student may appeal either of the following:

1. Failing final course grade
2. Program dismissal.

Students are responsible for meeting the standards of academic performance established for each course in which they are enrolled. The establishment of the criteria for grades and the evaluation of student academic performance are responsibilities of the course faculty. Grade appeal is available only for the review of allegedly capricious grading and not for review of the faculty's evaluation of the student's academic performance.

An appeal is initiated by submitting a typed statement to the Chair of the appropriate graduate committee, no later than seven (7) working days after documentation of the failing final course grade or recommendation for dismissal.

The typed appeal statement submitted by the student must include the following:

1. A statement of the issue;
2. Specific steps that have already been taken to resolve the issue with the course faculty, course coordinator and/or Specialty Track/Program Coordinator.
3. Evidence supporting why the student believes the decision made was inconsistent with existing university policy, school policy, or course policy, was arbitrary, or lacked sufficient evidence.