Whenever possible, student academic appeals are handled within the graduate-degree program. The student should take the issue to the director of the graduate program or a designate for review and mediation. The director, or a designate, consults with all parties and proposes a resolution. If this is unsuccessful, the matter is referred to a faculty committee, as designated in the bylaws of the program. The committee may consult anyone it chooses in arriving at a recommendation in the matter. In extraordinary cases, it may ask third parties in the faculty to review the decision that was appealed.
While action within the faculty normally is final, a student may appeal to the Graduate School-New Brunswick if he or she feels the decision was unfair. Each case will be reviewed by a representative of the dean of the Graduate School-New Brunswick, who attempts to resolve informally the dispute. Should the issue remain unresolved, the student is notified in writing that he or she may request that the dispute be brought to the Appeals Committee. Such a request must be made within 30 days of notification. The Appeals Committee is comprised of four members of the elected Committee on Rules of Procedure named by the dean at the beginning of each academic year.
This committee hears appeals that have not been resolved by the Office of the Graduate School. The student must make his or her case in writing. A written response to the student`s statement will be solicited from the director of the degree program whose action is being appealed. The committee normally bases its judgment on written submissions only. Should the committee deem it necessary, it may call upon the student and/or a faculty member or members for written or oral responses to questions raised by the committee.
A student may request an appearance before the committee. If they believe an appearance is warranted by unusual circumstances, the committee members may allow the student to appear before them. They may, however, limit the amount of time granted, which normally will not exceed 30 minutes. The committee reports its recommendations to the dean of the Graduate School-New Brunswick, whose decision is final.
