SHRS Appeal Policy
Students who believe that the procedures, facts, or policies have been misinterpreted or that the decision was made arbitrarily may initiate an appeal after receiving an unfavorable response to their petition from the program (SHRS Appeal Policy Below). If you wish to initiate an appeal, you will need to submit a request in writing to the SHRS Dean, shrsdean@mghihp.edu within ten (10) business days of written notice of the program decision.
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Student Appeals Policy:
It is the policy of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) that all students be treated fairly and that evaluations of their academic performance, standing, and progress are conducted objectively. The faculty in the SHRS are committed to grading and student evaluation practices that are fair, objective, and consistent with the standards required for successful health professions education and practice.
The SHRS believes that its students should have access to an appeal process if they believe they were unfairly, unjustly, or erroneously treated in the determination of their academic performance, standing, or progress, including a final course grade or dismissal from a program of study.
In all circumstances, students are first strongly encouraged to discuss concerns informally with the relevant faculty member(s), advisor, or program chair to seek satisfactory resolution of the concern.
The Institute also provides students, who voluntarily seek it, access to an Ombudsperson who seeks to help students informally resolve conflicts.
If these informal attempts to resolve the concern are unsuccessful, then students may follow formal appeals procedures that are outlined below.
Appeal Procedures for Cases of Alleged Improper Academic Evaluation:
Students have a right to appeal a grade or evaluation if they believe it is unjust or inaccurate, consistent with the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Appeal policy after attempts at resolution following the Grade Appeal Policy have been exhausted in the program. The request for appeal must be made to the SHRS Dean (or delegate) in writing and include the Final Course Grade Appeal form.
- Criteria must include if the disputed grade was:
- not based on the standards offered in the course syllabus and/or course rubric, or
- determined by standards different than what was applied to other students, or,
- miscalculated.
Appeal Procedure for Dismissal:
After program-level appeal processes have been exhausted, students have the right to appeal dismissal from a program of study, consistent with the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Appeals Policy.
Initiating an Appeal:
To initiate an appeal, the student must submit a written request to the SHRS Dean (or delegate). A request for appeal must be submitted in writing within 10 business days of notification of the program dismissal or grade/evaluation decision. The written request details the circumstances for the appeal, specifically the published standards that were, from the student’s perspective, not upheld, and the desired outcome.
An appeal request is reviewed by the Dean (or delegate), consulting with the student and the respective faculty member(s) involved with the dismissal, grade, or evaluation under review, to determine whether the dismissal, grading or evaluation procedures were fair, equitable, and consistent. Both the student and the program will be given the opportunity to submit additional documentation to support their position.
The Dean (or delegate) may also appoint an Appeals Panel to provide guidance and recommendations. An Appeals Panel is comprised of 3 faculty from the SHRS with the expertise and experience to gather additional information, review the appeal request, and provide recommendations to the Dean. Members of an Appeals Panel must acknowledge they have no conflict of interest to serve, such as participation in the grading or evaluation of the student relevant to the appeal request. If an Appeals Panel is appointed, the panel must convene the hearing within 10 business days of the receipt of the appeals request. The student may bring one support person to the hearing, and the department chair/program director/faculty/staff involved may also bring a support person. The person cannot be a legal representative or lawyer and may not speak prior to or during the hearing. The names and contact information of any support person who will attend the hearing must be provided three business days before the hearing. The details and agenda of the hearing will be communicated to the student at least 5 business days before the hearing convenes.
The Dean of SHRS will communicate their decision in writing to the student within 5 business days after the Appeal Panel. If the Dean determines that an Appeal Panel is not warranted, the Dean will communicate a decision in writing to the student within 5 business days of the student’s written appeal. The decision of the Dean is final.