Academic Appeal Policy

AC-REG-POL-001 Academic Appeal Policy
Department	Academic/Registrar
Approval Date	June 11, 2024
Effective Date	September 3, 2024

Organizational Scope

All Michener full time and part time students have the right to an academic appeal, regardless of their academic record.

Purpose

To provide students with a timely, respectful, and thorough review of an academic decisions they perceive to be unfair.

Definitions

Academic Appeal – The process by which a student may challenge an academic decision they received.

Academic Appeals Chair – An academic administrator designated by the Associate Head of Academic Affairs and/or the Registrar to facilitate and oversee academic appeal hearings.

Academic Appeals Committee – A group of designated faculty members, academic administrators who listen to, analyze, and decide the outcome of an academic appeal hearing.

Academic Appeal Hearing – A confidential meeting in which the appellant and respondent take turns explaining their case and providing evidence to the Academic Appeals Committee to support or deny the grounds for academic appeal.

Academic Chair – For purposes of the policy, “Chair” refers to the academic administrator with responsibility for the program from which the academic appeal has arisen.

Appellant – A student who has filed an Application for Academic Appeal.

Business Day – Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays or any other day in which Michener has publicly announced that it is not open for business.

Grounds for Academic Appeal – The reason(s) for the appellant’s challenge of an academic decision.

Policy

1. General Principles
   1. Michener is responsible for maintaining standards that promote academic integrity and student success. It is expected that faculty members will make academic judgements that are consistent and fair, and that students’ academic records will reflect their demonstrated abilities and accomplishments.
   2. Students are entitled to know their rights under the Academic Appeals Policy. It is expected that faculty members and Academic Chairs will inform students of their right to academic appeal and enable students to access the academic appeals process.
   3. It is expected that students, faculty members, and Academic Chairs will work to resolve academic issues at the program level in a timely fashion, beginning with the individual who awarded the grade or made the academic decision. Documentation of such interactions is encouraged.
2. Academic Issues that may be Appealed
   1. Students may initiate Academic Appeals in relation to the following types of academic decisions:
      • Academic suspension or program withdrawal decisions
      • Graduation decisions
   2. Academic decisions that are not appealable included but are not limited to:
      • Grade Point Average (GPA)
      • Incomplete grades
      • Academic expulsion
      • Individual course marks
   3. Students with academic issues involving allegations of discrimination or harassment should contact the Dean of Students.
   4. Students with concerns about the quality of the educational experience – who are not looking for an academic decision – should consult with their Academic Chair first followed by the Head of Academic Affairs and Operations or designate if the issue cannot be resolved.
3. Grounds for Academic Appeals
   • Academic appeals must be based on one or more of the following grounds (see Appendix I)
     • Illness and /or Disability
     • Compassionate Grounds
     • Policy Violation
   • Steps of Academic Appeal
     • Michener maintains a two-step academic appeal procedure
       • Step 1 – The academic appeals chair reviews the appeal request and will inform the Registrar if the grounds have been met for the appeal hearing to move forward.
       • Step 2 – The Registrar will arrange for an appeal hearing to be convened.
4. Rights and Responsibilities
   1. At any stage in the academic appeals process, students may bring a support person, including a representative from the Student Success Network (SSN) to meetings relating to their academic issues.
   2. Students awaiting academic appeal hearings may register in the next semester of their program and enroll in all regular courses. Where an appeal involves academic performance in clinical placement, the student will not be permitted to enroll in the subsequent field placement course while awaiting the hearing.
   3. If a students enrolls in the next semester  of their program while awaiting a hearing and the appeal is subsequently denied, the students will be required to withdraw from the course or program they are no longer qualified to attend.
5. Academic Appeal Committee and Appeal Chair
   1. Michener will appoint one Academic Appeal Chair to preside over the academic appeal hearing process and will appoint an Academic Appeal Committee to hear each individual academic appeal.
   2. The mandate, composition, and responsibilities of the Appeal Chair, Academic Appeal Committee, and the Hearing procedures will be described in the Academic Appeal Hearing Procedure.
   3. The decision of the Academic Appeal Committee is final.

Supporting Documentation

Appendix 1: Grounds for Academic Appeal (see below)

Appendix 2: Academic Appeal Form

Appendix 3: Chair Review Form

Related Policies

Academic Integrity Policy

Academic Standing Policy

Grading Policy

Michener Community Rights and Responsibilities

APPENDIX 1

GROUNDS FOR ACADEMIC APPEALS

1. Illness and/or Disability
   • An illness or disability that significantly affected the students academic performance. Disability may include medical, mental health, physical, and other as defined by the Ontario Human Rights Code.
     • Required Documentation:
       • Medical Form or equivalent documentation completed by a registered health professional
2. Compassionate
   • Unforeseen events or circumstances that may have seriously impacted the student’s academic performance (including ability to complete course requirements and meet deadline). This may include the death or a family member, a legal issue, or other life circumstances.
     • Required Documentation (some documents might include):
       • Death Certificate
       • Funeral notice
       • Legal notice (e.g., eviction notice)
3. Policy Violation
   • An academic grade or decision that the student believes is invalid because a decision-maker failed to follow a policy, procedure, or established practice.
     • Required Documentation
       • Reference the policy, procedure, or established practice and the alleged error. Explain how this has affected academic performance.