It is the intent of the Grade Review and Academic Appeal processes to provide a reasonable, efficient, and effective process to facilitate the resolution of matters affecting a student's academic performance and, where relevant, his or her standing in a program. This process applies all Humber postsecondary programs and University of New Brunswick- Humber Collaborative Nursing program.
A Grade Review or Academic Appeal is deemed to be a request to review an academic decision of Humber as a college, and not a complaint against an individual staff member. The academic decisions dealt with through this procedure are:
- decisions on grades;
- decisions arising from the methods and criteria used by a professor on assigning a final mark;
- decisions based on academic misconduct, including suspension or expulsion;
- decisions regarding academic probation and withdrawal or special consideration on the basis of medical, psychological, or compassionate grounds; and
- decisions regarding denial of a request for readmission to a program.
Note: where readmission to a program has been denied, the student must be able to present, for consideration, evidence of the ability to perform at an acceptable level in the program in question.
The intent of this policy is to allow the student and the Academic Faculty the opportunity to attempt to resolve the issue through the Faculty-Level Academic Appeal process before proceeding to a College-Level Academic Appeal.
A student who wishes a formal review of any of the decisions outlined above should refer to the following sections of this document. For assistance, a student may contact the Conflict Resolution Centre (https://business.humber.ca/conflictresolutioncentre/) for a student appeal advisor.
Grade reviews and academic appeals are distinguished as follows:
Grade Review
This section of the appeal policy governs concerns relating to grades assigned for in-course work such as assignments, clinical placements, final examinations, or a final course grade. All issues involving grades must be dealt directly with the Faculty that delivered the course through the processes outlined in this section. There is no further right of appeal of the grade once the Faculty has completed a Formal Grade Review and made a final decision.
Faculty-Level Academic Appeal
This section of the appeals policy governs appeals of an academic decision regarding probation; academic withdrawal and expulsion; appeals relating to academic misconduct; or a request for special consideration on the basis of medical, psychological, or compassionate grounds. The Faculty-Level Academic Appeal allows the Faculty to review the decision and provide the perspective of the Faculty in writing to the student. If a student is not satisfied with this decision, and certain criteria are met, the student may request a College-Level Academic Appeal. Students must appeal the results of the Faculty-Level decision on one or more of the following grounds:
- there is new evidence that is likely to change the outcome;
- there is evidence of procedural error or bias in the process; and/or
- the sanction imposed is not consistent with the nature of the offense.
For detailed criteria see Section 18.2.a, Filing an Academic Appeal.
College-Level Academic Appeal
Following the completion of the Faculty-Level Academic Appeal, if a major academic decision is not satisfactorily resolved between the student and the Faculty through that process, disputes the decision of the Faculty, the student may file a College-Level Academic Appeal through the Office of the Registrar if the student can demonstrate grounds for an appeal in one of the three (3) aforementioned ways. All appeals must be filed within ten (10) business days following the written decision of a Senior Dean or an official designate regarding a Faculty-Level Academic Appeal.
In the event that the academic decision being appealed is not upheld through the Grade Review or Academic Appeal processes, resolutions may include, but are not limited to, student reinstatement or other corrective actions for the benefit of the student, but may not include the awarding of monetary compensation, the arbitrary awarding of a final mark different from that given by the Faculty, or disciplinary action against any employee of Humber arising out of information presented at an academic appeal.
This policy does not apply to conflicts connected with student employment by Humber (other than required work experience components of a program) or actions covered under Humber's Human Rights Policy and Procedure.
All parties to an appeal shall understand that any postponement and/or delay of an appeal, regardless of the stage, may reduce the range of options available to the student.
Student Appeal Advisor
A student has the right to access a student appeal advisor during the Grade Review and Academic Appeals processes. The function of a student appeal advisor is outlined under the section of this policy titled, “Role of the Student Appeal Advisor.” A student may contact the Conflict Resolution Centre (https://business.humber.ca/conflictresolutioncentre/) for a student appeal advisor.