Academic Appeals

Academic Appeals Procedures

Delgado Community College has established a process for academic challenges and appeals. Students may challenge and/or appeal: 1) the final grade received in a class, 2) their academic suspension, and 3) their having been dropped from a class for excessive absences. The challenge procedure must be completed before any appeal process is initiated. The procedures for academic challenges and appeals are published in full in the College’s Academic Appeals Procedures policy. A summary of the procedures follows:

Final Grade Challenges/Appeals

Only final grades may be challenged and/or appealed. The challenge procedure must be completed before any appeal process is initiated. In order to change a final grade of “F” or an “F” to a “W,” the final grade challenge/appeal process must be followed. The procedure for challenging a final grade is as follows.

Final Grade Challenge Procedure:

The student completes an Academic Challenge/Appeal Form and presents it to the instructor along with a written statement and/or supporting documentation regarding the final grade dispute. The student discusses the final grade dispute with the instructor and tries to resolve the issue. If the grade is not changed, the instructor must sign the form as documentation. If the instructor is not available, the appropriate department chair or coordinator may sign the form.
If the final grade dispute is not resolved in Step #1, the student submits the Academic Challenge/Appeal Form, with the instructor’s signature (or the department chair’s or coordinator’s if the instructor is not available) along with the verbal statement and/or supporting documentation to the dean of the division in which the course grade is being disputed. The division dean will attempt to resolve the final grade dispute through meetings with the student, instructor, and/or department chair or coordinator.
If the final grade dispute is not resolved in Step #2 and the student wishes to pursue the challenge, the division dean submits the student’s written challenge to the Academic Appeals officer, attaching documentation. The student will be contacted by the committee representative and scheduled for a hearing before the committee.

Final Grade Appeal Procedure:

If the final grade dispute is recommended for referral to the Academic Appeals Committee, the Committee must:
1. Recommend to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs a change of grade for the student;
2. Recommend alternative solutions to resolve the student’s dispute; or
3. Deny the student’s appeal.
If the appeal is denied, the student may submit in writing to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs an explanation detailing why the appeal should be reviewed. Decisions by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs are final.

Academic Suspension Challenges/Appeals

A student suspended for the first time may enroll, while on suspension, in coursework specified in the College’s Academic Status policy (above). To enroll in these courses, the student must meet with an academic advisor. To appeal the suspension, the student must follow the process outlined above in Final Grade Challenges/Appeals. (Also, see Deadlines for Challenges/Appeals.)

Program Dismissal Challenges/Appeals

To challenge program dismissals, students must follow the challenge/appeal process outlined above in Final Grade Challenges/Appeals. (Also see Deadlines for Challenges/Appeals.)

Challenges/Appeals of Drops for Excessive Absences

A student may be dropped by an instructor for excessive absences. A student desiring to challenge/appeal being dropped from a class for excessive absences must follow the challenge/appeal process outlined in Final Grade Challenges/Appeals. (Also see Deadlines for Challenges/Appeals.) A student challenging or appealing being dropped for excessive absences is allowed to attend the dropped class in question pending the outcome of the challenge or appeal process. The student must bring a Notification of Excessive Absence Appeal Form, signed by the division dean, to the instructor of the class from which the student was dropped before being readmitted pending approval.

Deadlines for Challenges/Appeals

Final Grade Challenges/Appeals Deadline

A student must begin the challenge/appeal procedures for final grades before the end of the regular semester following the term in which the final grade being challenged was issued.

Academic Suspension Challenge Deadline

A suspension is for one (1) semester. A suspension challenge procedure must be initiated by the student by the first day of registration for the semester of suspension.

Program Dismissal Challenge Deadline

A program dismissal challenge must be initiated by the student by the first day of registration for the semester of dismissal.

Deadline for Challenging/Appealing Drops Due to Excessive Absences

Excessive absence procedures must be initiated in writing within one (1) week of attempting to return to class. The student is allowed to attend the course while challenging the instructor’s drop; however, class attendance, test results, or participation in the class in question does not influence the challenge or appeal procedures or decisions. The student must bring a Notification of Excessive Absence Appeal Form, signed by the division dean, to the instructor of the class from which the student was dropped before being readmitted pending approval.

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