Rehearings and Appeals Process

Under some conditions, rehearings and appeals are possible. Details of the conditions and of the process are presented here and are also available in the Dean’s Office.

Policy on Rehearings by the Student Performance Committee and the Appeal Process

Re-Hearings

  1. For actions of the Student Performance Committee (SPC) other than for dismissal:
    1. When the Dean accepts the recommendations of the SPC, the Chair of the SPC informs the student as soon as possible of the action. A student may request that the SPC reconsider its action concerning the student by notifying the Chair of the SPC, in writing, within three (3) school days of (the student) being informed of the SPC action.
    2. Such a re-hearing may be called by the Chair of the SPC within five (5) school days after the student informs the Chair of the SPC of his/her desire to have a re-hearing.
    3. At this re-hearing, the student makes a presentation either in person or in writing or both. After the student (if present) leaves the meeting, and after any further discussion, the SPC votes on an action. With the exception of dismissal, this action becomes final and the student is informed of the action by the Chair of the SPC.
  2. For actions of the SPC recommending dismissal:
    1. When the Dean receives a recommendation for dismissal, the Dean (or his/her designate) informs the student, as soon as possible, of the recommendation. The student may:
      1. withdraw from school or
      2. request that the Chair of the SPC call together the Committee to reconsider its action. If the student desires a re-hearing, he/she should notify the Chair of the SPC, in writing, within three (3) school days of (the student) being informed of the SPC action.
    2. Such a re-hearing may be called within five (5) school days after the student has informed the Chair of the SPC of his/her desire to proceed in this manner.
    3. At such a re-hearing, the student makes a presentation either in person or in writing or both. After the student (if present) leaves the meeting, and after any further discussion, the SPC votes on an action and makes a recommendation to the Dean. If the SPC again recommends dismissal, and the Dean accepts it, the Dean (or his/her designate), as soon as possible, informs the student of the action.

Appeal

Within three (3) school days of (the student) being informed of a re-hearing action for dismissal, the student may make a written appeal of that dismissal to the Dean. If the student files such an appeal, the Dean shall refer the matter for hearing to the Student Appeals Committee. In this instance, the student may continue enrollment in the School until a final decision is reached unless, in the Dean's opinion, the student's continued enrollment would compromise the goals of the School (for example: patient care).

The Student Appeals Committee shall consist of the Dean, who will ordinarily chair the proceedings of this group and who will have a vote. The remaining four voting members will be the Assistant/Associate Dean for Research and three (3) faculty members elected near the end of the Summer Session or near the beginning of the Fall Term of the academic year. There will also be three (3) alternates elected from the faculty near the end of the Summer Session or near the beginning of the Fall Term of the academic year. Elected faculty members and elected alternate faculty members may not be members of the SPC and/or may not have been in attendance at any SPC meeting during the semester in which dismissal action(s) were taken regarding the student. A quorum will be at least four (4) voting members. At least one administrator and two (2) elected faculty members must be a part of this quorum. The Chair of the SPC, the Assistant/Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and School Chaplain will be available to the Dean's Appeal Group to answer questions but they will not be permitted a vote.

The student may be permitted a personal appearance before the Committee to elaborate on the appeal for dismissal. The Committee may hear and review testimony pertinent to the appeal and any material relevant to the student's performance.

After the student leaves the meeting (if present), and after any further discussion, the Student Appeals Committee will make a decision. All motions will be voted on by secret ballot and will require only a plurality to be passed. All decisions of this Committee will be made by motions that pass. The Dean (or his/her designate), as soon as possible, will inform the student of the decision of the Committee, which is the final action of the School. The decision of the Committee may be appealed to the University Provost if the Committee upholds the recommendation for dismissal from the School. Such appeals will be governed by the procedures set out in the University’s Student Handbook for appeals to the President. The decision of the University President shall be final.

Note: Elected faculty members and elected alternate faculty members are from the full-time faculty excluding officers of academic administration. ( )