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SHRP POLICY

I.          PURPOSE

This policy establishes circumstances permitting review of academic decisions and grade assignments and procedures for the review. 

II.         ACCOUNTABILITY

The Program Director in consultation with the Program’s Committee on Academic Standing and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research is responsible for compliance with this policy.  The Assistant Dean for Enrollment Services is responsible for the implementation of this policy.

III.       POLICY

Academic decisions and grade assignments are not subject to formal appeal procedures, however students who wish to dispute an academic decision or grade are required to discuss the matter with the faculty member who made the decision or assigned the grade. If this discussion fails to resolve the matter, the student may request further review only if the student produces evidence of one of the following elements at each procedural step:

(1) Grade miscalculation or other technical error affecting the academic decision, or

(2)Failure by the faculty member to consider circumstances affecting the student’s performance, which were outside the student’s control and which the student disclosed to the faculty member prior to the academic decision or assignment of grade.

Procedural Steps:

1. A student who wishes to initiate a review of an academic decision or grade must request an opportunity to confer with the faculty member making the decision or assigning the grade within three working days of notification of the decision or grade and provide written evidence required in (1) or (2) above. The student and the faculty member must attempt to resolve the issu

When a student initiates an academic review pursuant to this procedure, he/she should ordinarily be allowed to resume the academic didactic course work pending the outcome of the review. A student’s continued participation in clinical experiences is prohibited, unless the Program Director determines that the clinical experience is necessary, that the student’s participation is safe and that the clinical experience cannot be readily rescheduled at the end of the review process.

2. If this attempt at resolution is unsuccessful, the student, within three working days, may submit a written request for further review to the Program Director, or to the Department Chair, if a Program Director is not the supervisor for the matter in question or is otherwise not available.  . The request shall include (1) the date the meeting was held with the faculty member, and (2) the written evidence previously submitted in Step 1. The student must obtain proof of receipt by the Program Director.

3. Upon receipt of the student’s request, the Program Director will attempt to resolve the issue, either independently or with the assistance of the Department Chair or his/her designee(s), and issue a written decision.

4. If the student wishes a further review, he/she must submit a written request to the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Services within three working days of receipt of the Program’s decision. The student’s request must contain a front page entitled “Request for Final Review of Academic Decision” and a copy of previously submitted evidence. The student must obtain proof of receipt by the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Services or designee. The Associate Dean for Academic and Student Services or designee shall request all pertinent evidence from the department.

5. The Associate Dean for Academic and Student Services will convene an academic review panel consisting of a the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Services or designee and two Committee on Admissions and Academic Standing faculty members who are not affiliated with the student’s Program. The academic review panel will review the evidence provided by the department and the student. The student and a department designee must be available for an interview by the panel, if requested. The panel will render a final written decision, which will be transmitted to the student and the department.

6.  When circumstances warrant, a Department Chair, Program Director, Associate Dean or Dean may request that an academic review panel be convened to review an academic decision or grade assignment concerning one or more students.