Students have the right to appeal decisions on academic matters. An appeal must be made within thirty days after receiving the written ruling, and students should ask the department head what procedures are used. Grades are appealed within the department or college in which they are earned rather than in the student’s major department or college, and appeals should begin at the level at which the decision was made (e.g., for a grade appeal, a student would begin with the instructor). After the instructor, graduate students’ next line of appeal is to the Graduate School. All graduate students have the right to have their grievances heard and to seek appropriate changes in their master's or doctoral programs. A student’s first course of action with a grievance is to discuss it with his/her major professor or advisory committee. The student’s advisory committee may also be involved in resolving grievances related to the student’s thesis work. The student and faculty member (or members) involved must make every effort to resolve problems at this level. Only if the problem cannot be solved at this level should the student seek to present his or her grievance to the graduate coordinator. Grievances may be carried, in succession, to the Graduate Affairs Committee, the department head, and the Graduate School. Grievances brought to the Graduate Affairs Committee should be presented in writing. back to miscellaneous
