2. Student Life
3. Dean of Students
4. Academic Appeal

Academic Appeals

Academic Integrity

If you want to challenge the decision of a faculty member, you must notify the Academic Dean in writing within five business days of receiving the decision of the course instructor. At this time, you may also submit a written summary of why you disagree with the faculty member’s decision.

Then, the Academic Dean will notify the Committee on Academic Integrity. All materials supporting the decision of the faculty member and the student’s case will be received in the Dean’s Office and forwarded onto the Committee on Academic Integrity.

In addition, if you have been found guilty of other violations of academic integrity, these documents will also be given to the Committee on Academic Integrity. They may choose to use documentation of other incidents of academic misconduct to their deliberations, but they are not required to do so.

The Committee on Academic Integrity is voted on by the faculty and consists of two faculty members from the Divisions, excluding the instructor of the course, where the alleged incident occurred. The Committee is chaired by one of the Division Chairs.

The Committee on Academic Integrity has the option to interview both the faculty member and the student as well as to call witnesses. The Committee has ten business days to deliberate and render their written decision. If the Committee on Academic Integrity finds that no violation has occurred then all records of the incident are expunged from the file of the student.

Violation of Academic Integrity

If the Committee finds that you are in violation of Rosemont’s policy on academic integrity, it can support the faculty member’s decision to assign either zero points to the assignment or a grade of “F” in the course. It can impose lesser penalty, requiring the faculty member to grade the assignment with grade penalty, or can recommend a stronger penalty that is imposed by the faculty member, including dismissal from the Undergraduate College.

The latter action is generally reserved for severe breaches of integrity in cases where the student has already been found guilty of other violations of the policy on Academic Integrity.

If the decision of the Committee on Academic Integrity is not acceptable to the student or the faculty member, either party may appeal to the Academic Dean within five business days of receiving the finding of the Committee. The Academic Dean has five business days to render a decision. The decision of the Dean is final and cannot be appealed.

Appeal Process: Grades

Grade Appeal Policy

Please be advised that grade appeals based on the quality of work are tough to substantiate. In addition to grades on papers, tests and quizzes, faculty may also factor attendance and class participation into grades. It is important, that if you appeal a grade, you have as much supporting evidence to present as possible.

Informal Grade Appeal Process

If you didn't get the grade you were expecting, first calculate your grade based on the formula published in the course syllabi. If a discrepancy arises, make an appointment to meet with the instructor within ten (working) days of the start of the next semester. This is within the first two weeks of the spring semester for grades issued in the fall, and within two weeks of the start of the fall semester for grades issued in the spring.

If you are appealing a grade that was issued for a half-semester course meeting in the first half of the semester, the appeal must take place within ten days of receiving the course grade.

After the meeting, if the instructor agrees that the grade was calculated incorrectly, a Change of Grade form should be filed by the faculty member with the Registrar’s Office. If there is no discrepancy the faculty member should explain to the student why the grade issued is correct.

If a resolution cannot be reached, the appeal moves into the formal appeal process. If you are requesting a review of a grade that was issued by an adjunct instructor who is not teaching the next semester, the review will be led by the Discipline Coordinator or the Division Chair.

Formal Grade Appeal Process

A good faith effort to resolve any academic grievance between a student and faculty member must precede any formal action. Students’ appeals of grades of D+, D, D-, or F that cannot be resolved informally proceed directly to the formal appeal process. If you wish to appeal a grade of C or higher, you must first present your case to the Academic Standards Committee.

How to Appeal Grades of C or Higher

If you want to appeal a grade of C or higher (that could not be resolved informally with the course instructor), you must first submit your case in writing to the Academic Standards Committee within three weeks (15 working days) of the start of the semester after the semester in which you received the contested grade.

Your request must contain a signed letter that states why you are appealing the grade along with all your supporting materials. Then, the Committee will contact the course instructor and ask for any supporting materials that the faculty member wishes to present.

If the Committee decides the case has merit, the grade appeal will precede through the formal appeal process. If the Committee decides the case does not have merit the appeal cannot precede. The decision of the Committee is final. The Committee will not comment on the appeal so as not to prejudice further actions.

If a member of Academic Standards is involved in the grade appeal he/she must recuse themselves from participating in the Committee’s decision. Appeal requests that are submitted to the Committee after the third week of the semester will not be considered.

The Academic Dean's Decision

The Academic Dean will charge the respective Division Chair with reviewing all materials submitted and with making a recommendation on the appeal within two weeks of receiving it. If the decision of the Division Chair is not acceptable to either the student or the course instructor, they should contact the Academic Dean and request that the Committee of Division Chairs review the case.

The Division Chairs may ask for materials other than those initially submitted by either the student or the faculty member if they believe they are necessary to a fair decision. They are also encouraged to meet with the student and faculty member. The decisions of the Chairs will be stated in writing, addressed to the student, and a copy is sent to the course instructor.

If the decision of the Division Chairs is not acceptable to either the student or the course instructor, they may request that the Academic Dean review all materials and render a decision. The decision of the Dean is final and binding; there is no further appeal at this point.

The right to proceed at each step or to stop this process is the prerogative of the student. If the student withdraws the grievance, all records pertaining to the case will be expunged. If at any point in this process you are uncertain about how to move the case forward, consult with your Academic Mentor.