5.7. Appeals and Grievances
PA Program Student Appeals Policy:
Appeals related to academic progression may be brought only on the following grounds:
1. Procedural error
2. Error of fact
3. Evidence of bias
4. Failure of faculty or designated committees to adhere to published standards.
Letters of appeal must state clearly and precisely the basis for appeal and provide supporting evidence of infringement of the student's rights. Medical problems, personal issues, or other extenuating factors do not generally constitute grounds for appeal.
Appeals must be submitted to the Chair of the Student Development Committee (SDC). The Chair of SDC reviews available documentation and may seek additional information. The student may be invited to provide additional evidence or to be interviewed by SDC. A recommendation is made by majority vote of the members of SDC and final decisions lie with the Program Chair.
Students who believe that the procedures, facts or policies have been misinterpreted or that the decision was made arbitrarily may, after receiving an unfavorable response from SDC, initiate an appeal at the Institute level.
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Student Appeals Policy:
It is the policy of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) that all students be treated fairly and that evaluations of their academic performance, standing, and progress are conducted objectively. The faculty in the SHRS are committed to grading and student evaluation practices that are fair, objective, and consistent with the standards required for successful health professions education and practice.
The SHRS believes, however, that its students should have access to an appeal process if they believe they were unfairly, unjustly, or erroneously treated in the determination of their academic performance, standing, or progress, including a final course grade or dismissal from a program of study.
In all circumstances, students are strongly encouraged to discuss concerns informally with the relevant faculty member(s), advisor, or program chair to seek satisfactory resolution of the concern. The Institute also provides students, who voluntarily seek it, access to an Ombudsperson who seeks to help students informally resolve conflicts. If these informal attempts to resolve the concern are unsuccessful, then students may follow formal appeals procedures that are outlined below.
Appeal Procedures for Dismissal:
Students have the right to appeal dismissal from a program of study, consistent with the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Appeals Policy. A request for appeal must be submitted in writing within 3 business days of notification of the dismissal decision.
Appeal Procedures for Cases of Alleged Improper Academic Evaluation:
Students have a right to appeal a grade or evaluation if they believe it is unjust or inaccurate, consistent with the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Appeal policy. A request for appeal must be submitted in writing within 3 business days of notification of the specific grade or evaluation. The request for appeal must be made to the SHRS Dean (or delegate) in writing. The decision of the Dean is final.
The procedure for submitting an appeal follows:
Initiating an Appeal:
To initiate an appeal, the student must submit a written request to the SHRS Dean (or delegate). The written request details the circumstances for the appeal, specifically the published standards that were, from the student’s perspective, not upheld, and the desired outcome.
An appeal request is reviewed by the Dean (or delegate), consulting with the student and the respective faculty member(s) involved with the grade or evaluation under review, to determine whether the grading or evaluation procedures were fair, equitable, and consistent. Both the student and the program will be given the opportunity to submit additional documentation to support their position.
The Dean (or delegate) may also appoint an Appeals Panel to provide guidance and recommendations. An Appeals Panel is comprised of 3 to 5 faculty from the SHRS with the expertise and experience to gather additional information, review the appeal request, and provide recommendations to the Dean. Members of an Appeals Panel must acknowledge they have no conflict of interest to serve, such as participation in the grading or evaluation of the student relevant to the appeal request. If an Appeals Panel is appointed, the panel must convene the hearing within 10 business days of the receipt of the appeals request. The student may bring one support person to the hearing, and the department chair/faculty/staff involved may also bring a support person. The person cannot be a legal representative or lawyer and may not speak prior to or during the hearing. The names and contact information of any support person who will attend the hearing must be provided three days before the hearing. The details and agenda of the hearing will be communicated to the student at least 5 business days before the hearing convenes.
The Dean of SHRS will communicate their decision in writing to the student within 5 business days of the hearing. The decision of the Dean is final.