To review issues related an academic misconduct decision or a student’s academic standing, a student may request a faculty-level academic appeal. The Faculty-Level Academic Appeal allows the Faculty to review the decision and provide the perspective of the Faculty in writing to the student.
Preliminary Steps toward Resolution
If a student has a concern relating to academic misconduct or their academic standing, the student shall discuss the matter with the responsible professor or program coordinator who shall provide the student with the reasons for the decision. The Associate Dean may be asked to assist if the issue is related to academic misconduct or academic standing.
Formal Request for a Faculty-Level Academic Appeal
If a student is not satisfied with the outcome of the discussions, the student may initiate a Faculty-Level Academic Appeal by requesting that the Senior Dean or designate review the concerns. This request must be initiated, in writing, by the student on a Faculty-Level Academic Appeal form no later than ten (10) business days after the end of the term within which the course or unit of instruction was offered. In this request, the student shall provide any and all documentation, which may impact the resolution of the appeal. Forms are available from the Office of the Registrar or found on the Academic Regulations webpage.
The Senior Dean or designate will review the Faculty-Level Academic Appeal and provide a written decision to the student within twelve (12) business days of the receipt of the student’s written request unless both parties have mutually agreed to an extension. It is incumbent upon both parties to make every effort to meet the deadlines.
The Senior Dean or designate is responsible for ensuring that the results and reason(s) of any and all levels of a Faculty-Level Academic Appeal shall be documented and kept on file by the Faculty.
Student support
The Conflict Resolution Centre (CRC), operated by the Longo Faculty of Business and the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program offer, have student interns who are trained to offer conflict resolution management tools and strategies on how you can address conflict. The CRC also offers mediation services. In addition, the CRC provides students with information about the many services available at Humber College. The CRC is 100% free and confidential. The CRC ADR Student interns offer their services virtually or in-person. All the CRC ADR Student interns are trained community mediators and circle process facilitators.
The CRC can direct you to Humber resources and websites, specifically the academic regulations where you can locate all the information you require regarding the procedure and process for issue resolution. It is strongly recommended that students review these documents before attending an appointment.
The first step to resolving an appeal is to meet with your faculty member or the Program Coordinator. If you have not done so already, we recommend you complete this initial step immediately as the timeline to file an appeal is 10 days following the release of a mark/grade. Should you require assistance with Conflict Resolution Management, you can schedule an appointment using at https://business.humber.ca/conflictresolutioncentre
Formal Request for a College-Level Academic Appeal
Following the completion of the Faculty-Level Academic Appeal, if an academic decision is not satisfactorily resolved between the student and the Faculty through that process, the student may request a College-Level Academic Appeal through the Office of the Registrar. The appeal request must demonstrate grounds as outlined below. All appeals must be filed within ten (10) business days following the written decision of a Senior Dean or designate regarding a Faculty-Level Academic Appeal.
18.3.a Filing a College-Level Academic Appeal process
College-Level Academic Appeals must be filed in writing to the Office of the Registrar on the Application for a College-Level Academic Appeal Hearing Form. The form is available from the Office of the Registrar or found on the Academic Regulations webpage. The form also outlines the additional documentation that must be included with the appeal request.
Once received by the Office of the Registrar, College-Level appeal requests are reviewed by the Registrar and Chair of the Appeal Panel to ensure the appeal demonstrates one or more of the grounds noted above. If the documentation received meets the threshold for a College-Level appeal, the student will be notified that their appeal request is proceeding.
Once a college-level appeal is granted Faculties will, within a maximum of seven (7) business days, provide the following to the Office of the Registrar:
- a written response to the student’s issue;
- all documentation to be presented at the College-Level Academic Appeal Hearing; and
- the name of the individual(s) who will be representing the Faculty at the hearing, and the name(s) of any witnesses the Faculty will be calling. The professor directly involved in the academic decision being appealed is expected to appear. In the event that the professor is unable to attend the Academic Appeal Hearing, a signed statement, which explains the involvement in the situation and the reasons for the absence, shall be provided to the Office of the Registrar.
Upon receipt of the response from the Faculty, the Office of the Registrar shall distribute the complete package of documentation along with the names of all participants to the student, the Academic Appeal Panel and the Faculty. The student shall have a minimum of five (5) business days to review the Faculty's submission prior to the Academic Appeal Hearing.
Extension(s) to the above time frames may be granted if extenuating circumstances can be shown. Requests for extension(s) from the student and/or from the Faculty shall be made in writing through the Office of the Registrar to the Chair of the Academic Appeal Panel. The Chair shall respond to the request through the Office of the Registrar.
No new documentation from either the student or the Faculty may be submitted on the day of the scheduled hearing, unless otherwise directed by the Chair of the Academic Appeal Panel, following consultation with the Panel members.
18.3.b Role of the Office of the Registrar
The Office of the Registrar shall be responsible for coordinating all of the activities associated with an Academic Appeal, including but not necessarily limited to:
- coordinating the Academic Appeal Hearing according to the Academic Regulations and distributing all documentation;
- scheduling the Academic Appeal Hearing and notifying the participants;
- distributing the documentation and decision; and
- secure storage of appeal documentation for a period of seven (7) years.
18.3.c Role of the Student Appeal Advisor
A student appeal advisor shall be made available once a College-level appeal is granted to advise the student throughout the process and during the Academic Appeal Hearing.
An advisor will provide guidance or advice but will not represent the student or the Faculty at the Academic Appeal Hearing. An advisor may, with the student’s permission, accompany the student to the Academic Appeal Hearing.
Confidential information may at times be shared by the Faculty and/or student with the advisor. The advisor shall always respect this confidentiality.
It is assumed that the student will disclose all relevant information to the advisor and that the student shall prepare and present all relevant material to the Academic Appeal Panel. The advisor shall listen to ensure all material is presented fully and fairly.
If the student discloses to the advisor any issues, which, in the advisor’s opinion seem discriminatory or harassing in nature, the advisor is obligated to inform the student of Humber’s Human Rights policy and related procedures.
Should the student elect a representative to present the case at the Appeal Hearing, the student appeal advisor’s role in the preparation for the Appeal shall cease. The representative named by the student may request information regarding college policies and the appeal procedures by contacting the Office of the Registrar.
18.3.d Role of the Student Appeal Advisor
A student appeal advisor shall be made available once a College-level appeal is granted to advise the student throughout the process and during the Academic Appeal Hearing.
An advisor will provide guidance or advice but will not represent the student or the Faculty at the Academic Appeal Hearing. An advisor may, with the student’s permission, accompany the student to the Academic Appeal Hearing.
Confidential information may at times be shared by the Faculty and/or student with the advisor. The advisor shall always respect this confidentiality.
It is assumed that the student will disclose all relevant information to the advisor and that the student shall prepare and present all relevant material to the Academic Appeal Panel. The advisor shall listen to ensure all material is presented fully and fairly.
If the student discloses to the advisor any issues, which, in the advisor’s opinion seem discriminatory or harassing in nature, the advisor is obligated to inform the student of Humber’s Human Rights policy and related procedures.
Should the student elect a representative to present the case at the Appeal Hearing, the student appeal advisor’s role in the preparation for the Appeal shall cease. The representative named by the student may request information regarding college policies and the appeal procedures by contacting the Office of the Registrar.
18.3.e Dismissal of an Academic Appeal
An Academic Appeal may be dismissed if the student has previously submitted the same, or substantially the same complaint to any other formal College grievance procedure; if the appeal is not timely; if the student has improperly omitted a prior step(s) of the appeal process (see Section 18.1.a and Section 18.1.b); or the student has commenced civil or other litigation against Humber on the decision in question.
If the Registrar feels any of these circumstances exist, the Registrar will refer the student’s written Application for a College-Level Academic Appeal and the student’s accompanying written documentation to the Chair of the Academic Appeal Panel for review. If the Chair agrees that the Appeal is beyond the normal timelines or does not conform to the appeal policy, the Chair may dismiss the appeal and provide the reasons for the dismissal to the student in writing.
A student may withdraw his or her request for an Academic Appeal prior to the scheduled hearing date.