Graduate Students Rights and Responsibilities
7.1 Appeals and Policy Exceptions
A. Requests for Exceptions to Academic Policies
B. Appealing Academic Suspension
C. Appealing Dismissal from Academic Program
D. Appealing Admissions Decisions
7.2 Conduct Guidelines and Grievance Procedures for Students
7.3 Research Misconduct Policy
7.1 Appeals and Policy Exceptions
A. Requests for Exceptions to Academic Policies
Graduate students seeking exceptions from established Graduate School academic policies, such as age of courses or other degree requirements outlined in the graduate catalog, may do so by submitting a packet to The Graduate School for review.
The packet must include all the following before submission:
- A letter from the graduate student stating the policy (e.g., 5.1.1 Age of Courses) and the reasons you believe the policy should be waived.
- A letter from the graduate student’s committee chair stating either approval or disapproval of the request and reasons to support their recommendation.
- A letter from the graduate student’s Department Head stating either approval or disapproval of the request and reasons to support their recommendation.
Packets can be submitted to Graduate Student Success office. The final decision on Graduate School academic policy exceptions resides with the Vice Provost of Graduate Education.
B. Appealing Academic Suspension
Students may appeal an academic suspension by completing a Plan of Action form. A template is available on the form’s page of The Graduate School’s website. The Plan of Action can only be considered if supported by the graduate coordinator/advisor and the department head. A Plan of Action must enumerate the expectations to be completed including the courses to be taken for the student to return to good standing. The submitted plan can be accepted or denied. The final decision on a suspension appeal resides with The Graduate School.
C. Appealing Dismissal from Academic Program
Graduate Students may appeal decisions resulting in dismissal from their graduate program based upon:
- Failure of comprehensive exams (policy 5.2.8; policy 5.3.5);
- Failure of thesis and dissertation defenses (policy 5.2.9; policy 5.3.6);
- Unsatisfactory progress in a degree program (policy 6.3);
- Or sections of their published graduate program handbook.
This process does not apply in cases where a student has received due process through another University policy and process, e.g., Code of Student Conduct, Research Misconduct, or professional conduct in graduate programs that lead to licensure, etc.
These procedures are available only to review allegedly unfair academic decisions and not mere differences of opinion regarding the professional judgment of the graduate committee in evaluating a student's work or making an academic decision. The academic decision may be considered unfair if the decision is made:
A. On some basis other than performance and/or compliance with program requirements;
B. By more exacting or demanding standards than were applied to other students in the same degree program;
C. By a substantial departure from the committee’s, department's, college's, or University's announced standards as articulated in the graduate program handbook, graduate policy, or other written materials;
D. Without consideration of extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control that significantly impacted academic performance.
Graduate students wanting to appeal a decision made within the scope of this policy must comply with the following procedure:
- Initial Appeal to the Department Head
- Appeals must first be made to the student’s Department Head within 10 business days of the student receiving written notification of the decision. The appeal must include a signed letter from the student specifying the basis for the appeal and the requested outcome along with any relevant documentation.
- The Department Head will review the appeal and any relevant documentation. The Department Head must consult with The Graduate School about the dismissal, any policies related to the dismissal, and if the student has a graduate committee on file with The Graduate School, the Department Head must consult with the student’s graduate committee. The Department Head may also consult with the Assistant Dean of The Graduate School, or any other individuals with information relevant to the appeal. The Department Head may request additional documentation from the student or other individuals on campus with information relevant to the appeal, as appropriate.
- The Department Head will provide a written response to the appeal within 10 business days that includes a determination with a rationale for the decision. If the Department Head upholds the appeal, the student must complete a Plan of Action. The student must work with their committee chair to complete the plan of Action. The plan will include expectations of the student to continue in the program and must be approved and signed by the student, the student’s committee chair, Department Head, and The Graduate School.
- Appeal to the Vice Provost of Graduate Education
- Students that have already completed the Initial Appeal to the Department Head and that are not satisfied with the decision may appeal the decision to the Vice Provost of Graduate Education.
- Appeals to the Vice Provost of Graduate Education must be made within 10 business days of the student receiving the appeal response from the Department Head. The appeal must include a signed letter from the student, the Department Head’s determination, and any other documentation the student believes is relevant to the appeal.
- The Vice Provost of Graduate Education shall review the appeal request packet and any provided documentation. The Vice Provost of Graduate Education can request additional documentation relevant to the appeal from the student or others within the university. In conducting a review, the Vice Provost of Graduate Education must consult with the Dean of the academic college, the Department Head, and the graduate committee, and may consult with any other individuals with information relevant to the appeal. The appealing student has a right to meet with the Vice Provost of Graduate Education during this review process.
- After making a thorough review of an appeal packet and conducting the required consultations with parties relevant to the appeal, the Vice Provost of Graduate Education will issue a final decision on the appeal within 15 business days of first receiving it, unless good cause exists to extend the deadline. The decision will be sent to the student, the student’s committee chair, and the Department Head. The Vice Provost of Graduate Education has the final responsibility per the defined role and scope of the position.
- If the Vice Provost of Graduate Education approves the appeal, the student must complete a Plan of Action. The student must work with their committee chair to complete the plan of Action. The plan will include expectations of the student to continue in the program and must be approved and signed by the student, the student’s committee chair, Department Head, and The Graduate School.
If the appeal is upheld, outcomes can include re-instatement in the academic program with the opportunity to continue making progress towards degree completion, e.g. another semester to demonstrate research progress, or another opportunity to take a comprehensive exam or a thesis or dissertation defense.
Decisions made through this appeal process are final.
D. Appealing Admissions Decisions
The authority to make graduate admissions decisions rests with the academic departments and The Graduate School. As such, admissions decisions may only be appealed if a student believes the decision was unfair due to a procedural error, bias, or other improper consideration. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the admitting Department Head and must clearly state the basis for the appeal, including any supporting evidence.
Students that have already completed the appeal to the Department Head and that are not satisfied with the decision may appeal the decision to the Vice Provost of Graduate Education. The Vice Provost of Graduate Education will review the appeal packet in consultation with the relevant department. Decisions made through this appeal process are final.
7.2 See Conduct Guidelines and Grievance Procedures for Students
7.3 See Research Misconduct Policy
7.4 See Research Compliance
7.5 See FERPA/Privacy Rights
7.6 See Harassment/Title IX