Students who wish to appeal a decision related to Code of Conduct violations are advised to first pursue less formal channels for conflict resolution before filing a formal written appeal or grievance.

1. Students with concerns involving academic decisions related to professional conduct or academic dismissal may pursue an academic appeal through the appeals process outlined below.
2. Students with concerns involving the university’s nondiscrimination, nonharassment, or educational access policies are encouraged to first report their concerns to their associate dean or the associate dean’s designee to allow for appropriate review and investigation of the concerns. If this process does not adequately resolve the issue, the student can then proceed with filing a formal written grievance under the grievance process outlined below. Often these types of concerns can be resolved without pursuing the formal grievance process.
3. Decisions of the associate dean or associate dean’s designee related to academic integrity violations (other than academic dismissal), change of grade, Program of Study, or other decisions related specifically to the program or specialization curriculum cannot be appealed.

Appeals Process
Students with concerns involving academic decisions related to professional conduct or academic dismissal may pursue an academic appeal to the chief academic officer through the appeals process outlined below.

To appeal, the student must submit the electronic Student Academic Appeal Form located on the chief academic officer's Web page . The form requires a statement of the decision that constitutes the subject matter of the appeal, the grounds on which it is being challenged, and the reasons why he or she believes that the decision was improperly made. The submission must also include a description of the remedy sought, and the informal efforts taken to date to resolve the matter. The appeal must include an allegation of any adverse effects on the student, known to her or him at the time of filing. This appeal must specifically address the following:

• Were the proper facts and criteria brought to bear on the decision?
• Were improper or extraneous facts or criteria brought to bear that substantially affected the decision to the detriment of the student?
• Were there any procedural irregularities that substantially affected the outcome of the matter to the detriment of the student?
• Given the proper facts, criteria, and procedures, was the decision one that a person in the position of the decision-maker might reasonably have made?

This appeal may not be made on the basis of general dissatisfaction with the decision of the associate dean or associate dean’s designee.

The appeal must be submitted to the chief academic officer of the university. An appeal and all related materials or documents must be submitted electronically within 30 days of the last day of classes of the academic term in which the adverse decision occurred or should reasonably have been discovered. A delay in filing an appeal may, taking all circumstances into account, constitute grounds for its rejection.

The chief academic officer may remand the matter for further consideration to a lower administrative level (including the level at which the original appeal arose) or to the university ombudsperson, unless the ombudsperson has been previously involved in addressing the issue that gave rise to the appeal. The chief academic officer may attempt to resolve the matter informally, provide a decision on the appeal, or refer the appeal, or any issue therein, to a three-person panel consisting of individuals not associated with the school or college in which the original appeal was filed. This panel shall consider the matter and report to the chief academic officer as the latter directs.

Should the chief academic officer resolve the matter informally or decide the appeal, he or she shall notify the student (and the party against whose decision the appeal has been filed) in writing of the disposition made of the appeal. Should the chief academic officer refer the appeal, he or she shall inform the student (and the party against whose decision the appeal has been filed) in writing of any referral of the matter and shall specify the matters referred and the directions to the committee or person to whom the referral is made (including the time frame within which the committee or person is to report back to the chief academic officer).

Normally no more than 45 days should elapse between the filing of the appeal and the disposition by the chief academic officer. If, because of absence of key persons from the university or other exigencies, the chief academic officer judges that prompt disposition is not possible, he or she shall inform the student (and the party against whose decision the appeal has been filed) of this fact in writing, and provide them with an estimate of when a disposition can be expected. The disposition of the appeal, as reported by the chief academic officer, shall be final and not subject to further appeal.