Appendix C: Academic Appeal Procedures

13.2 Procedure for Making Formal Academic Appeals

This procedure is to be followed when making a formal academic appeal and should be used only if you have been unable to resolve the problem informally. If you have not yet discussed the matter with your professor, faculty advisor, program coordinator, or chair, please do this first.

At all stages of the formal appeal procedure, you have the right to address the Committee to present your reasons for making the appeal. You should be prepared to address the contents of your letter of appeal as well as any other information you believe is relevant. The Chair of the Appeal Committee will also call the faculty member(s) who recommended the grade(s) under appeal where applicable, and anyone else with information relevant to the appeal.

13.3 First Level Appeal: 

1. Complete a First Level Academic Appeal Request Form and submit it to the Chair of your School or Dean of your Faculty. Under "Details of the Request for Academic Appeal" include the nature of your appeal, the reasons for making the appeal, and any factors which you believe would be helpful in considering your appeal. You may, if you wish, contact Counselling/Disability Services or the Student Services Office for assistance. In accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, you must fill out the section of the Form authorizing the use of your academic records and any relevant documentation, assignments, tests or examinations. Your records and other documents to be referenced in the appeal will be distributed to the Appeal Committee members, the faculty member(s) who assigned the grade, and to yourself.
   
   You must attach an appeal fee of $25.00 in cash or a receipt from the Cash Office. This fee is a non-refundable administrative fee and covers all matters under appeal. 
    
2. You must submit the First Level Academic Appeal Request Form within one month after final grades are made available. The form is available at http://senecac.on.ca/academic-policy/forms.html.
    
3. Your appeal will be considered as soon as possible by a committee made up of the chair/dean, or designate, and three faculty members who were not involved in the original decision. At least one member of the Committee will be from another school. You will be notified of the date, time, and place of the meeting and invited to confirm your participation at the meeting. Please notify the Chair of the Appeal Committee if you intend to address the Committee.
   
   The Chair of the Committee will ask the faculty member(s) who recommended the grade(s) under appeal to participate in the meeting. As well, the chair may ask anyone else with information or expertise relevant to the appeal, to participate in the meeting. You may, if you wish, have one person present, who will attend as an observer only. The same opportunity is extended to the faculty member(s) who assigned the grade(s).
    
4. The First Level Appeal Committee will issue a written decision with reasons within two weeks of the appeal meeting. You have the option of discussing the decision with the Chair of the Committee within a period of one week following the communication of the decision.

13.4 Second Level Appeal:

1. Normally, second level appeals are based on new information that has not been considered by the first level appeal committee. If you decide to move forward to a second level appeal, complete a Second Level Academic Appeal Request Form and submit it to the Vice President, Academic, along with a copy of your First Level Academic Appeal Request Form and a copy of the letter with the decision, which you received from the Appeal Committee Chair. You may, if you wish, contact Counselling/Disability Services or the Student Services Office for assistance. You should be prepared to discuss the written reasons given by the First Level Appeal Committee. In accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, you must fill out the section of the form authorizing the use of your academic record and any relevant documentation, assignments, tests or examinations. Your records and other documents to be referenced in the appeal will be distributed to the Appeal Committee members, the faculty member(s) who assigned the grade(s), and to yourself.
    
2. The Second Level Academic Appeal Request Form must be submitted within one month after you have received the decision of the First Level Appeal Committee. The form is available at http://senecac.on.ca/academic-policy/forms.html.
    
3. You must attach an additional $25.00 fee or receipt from the Cash Office. Again, this fee is non-refundable.
    
4. Your appeal will be considered by a Committee made up of the Vice-President or designate and three faculty members selected from a roster from other Schools/Departments, none of whom was involved in the Promotion Committee or first level appeal decision.
   
   You will be notified of the date, time and place of this meeting. Please advise the Committee Chair if you intend to address the group. The Committee Chair will ask the faculty member(s) who recommended the grade(s) under appeal as applicable to participate in the meeting. As well, the Chair may ask anyone else with information relevant to the appeal to participate in the meeting.
    
5. The decision of the Second Level Appeals Committee will be final and will be communicated to you in writing, with reasons, within two weeks of the meeting.