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Student Academic Appeals Policy

Ref. No. Executive sponsor Policy steward Approval authority First approved Last reviewed Effective date Next review
32.01 Vice President, Academic and Equity Director, Enrolment and Registrar Board of Governors June 22, 2017 June 2024 Sept. 1, 2024 Sept. 2029
  1. Purpose
    1. NSCC is committed to a fair, transparent and timely approach to a student’s right to challenge academic decisions.
    2. The Student Academic Appeals Policy brings definition and clarity to the appeals process for both students and NSCC staff.
    3. Stewardship and application of the Student Academic Appeals Policy is the responsibility of the Director, Enrolment and Registrar, in partnership with the Vice-President, Academic, and academic schools.
  1. Scope
    1. The Student Academic Appeals Policy addresses recourse on academic decisions related to final grade, academic discipline, academic probation, restricted enrolment, suspension and dismissal, graduation, recognition of prior learning and decisions related to the Academic Accommodations Policy.
    2. The Student Academic Appeals Policy does not include appeals of individual grades, tests or other assessed work that are components of a final grade.
    3. The Student Academic Appeals Policy does not include application and assessment decisions made under the Admissions Policy, 21.01.
    4. Employees are responsible to use their academic and professional judgement in making decisions about the performance and progress of students.
    5. Employees will support the student's right to appeal decisions outlined in this policy.
  1. Definitions
Term Definition
Academic Decision a decision that has an impact on a student’s academic record or standing, in a course or program.
Academic Discipline sanctions imposed due to academic or behavioural misconduct or unsatisfactory academic performance.
Academic Probation an official transcript notation indicating a student has failed two (2) or more courses in a single semester.
College Standing Appeal Committee a group of people appointed to represent the College in matters and decisions related to student appeals.
Employee an individual who is currently employed with NSCC to perform work for the College. This includes all employees, regardless of status, as well as current employees who are on a leave of absence (paid/unpaid).
Evaluation and Assessment the measurement assigned to any teaching and learning activity in which the student is required to engage as part of the course of study. Examples include, but are not limited to quizzes, tests, exams, assignments and projects.
Final Grade course grades posted on the student’s permanent record, official transcript, and in our database. Grades available through Brightspace and other learning platforms are not considered official final grades.
Formal Appeal a submission, review and decision process as the result of challenging a final grade or other appealable academic decision.
Grounds the reasons used to challenge an academic decision and/or launch an appeal. Acceptable grounds for appeal are outlined in section 4.3 of this policy.
Recognition of Prior Learning also known as PLAR or Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition. It is a process that assesses learning from formal and non-formal environments for the purpose of recognizing said learning for credit in a course or program.
Restricted Enrolment an official academic status that limits a student to a part- time course load in a program of study. It is the result of a student failing courses while on academic probation.
Student A person who is registered in a course or program at NSCC.
Written Record all written documentation and records included by all parties, related to the submission, review and decision of a Student Appeal.
  1. Policy
    1. Appeals Parameters
      1. A student must first attempt to resolve concerns regarding academic decisions through an informal appeals process, outlined in Grounds for Appeal, 4.3 of this policy.
      2. All parties must meet timelines, documentation requirements and authorized signatures outlined in the accompanying Student Appeals Procedures document.
      3. Exceptions to timelines may be made at the mutual agreement of the Director, Enrolment and Registrar, and the student appellant.
      4. Only documentation relative to permitted appealable decisions will be considered in a student appeal.
      5. Pending the outcome of an appeal, except those related to suspension and/or dismissal, a student may enrol in a next level course or program requirement, except where that would threaten the safety or integrity of employees, students, the learning environment or the College. The College may impose conditions to be met by a student if they continue in their program while awaiting the outcome of an appeal.
      6. A student with an active appeal who has been suspended and/or dismissed from a course/program and College premises is not permitted to advance to the next level course or program until the appeal is resolved.
      7. The onus is on the student to establish/prove, through the appeals process, that the original decision was not reasonable and fair under the parameters of appealable decisions, as outlined in this policy.
    2. Decisions Eligible for Appeal
      1. A student may initiate an appeal on the following academic decisions only: final grade, academic discipline, academic probation, restricted enrolment, suspension or dismissal, graduation, recognition of prior learning and decisions related to the Academic Accommodations Policy.
      2. Work, field and clinical placements and co-op experiences are assigned a grade of P (pass) or F (fail). A grade of F is eligible for appeal, but may not be eligible for reassessment, due to the applied nature of the learning that it relates to. In some circumstances, it may be possible to repeat the placement associated with the appealed grade.
    3. Grounds for Appeal
      1. A student who believes they have defensible grounds to appeal an academic decision or a non-academic decision has the right to formally appeal after attempting to resolve the matter informally. Steps in the informal appeal process are outlined in the Student Appeals Procedures document.
      2. A student cannot proceed to a formal appeal until an informal process has occurred, and resolution has not been reached.
      3. A student may proceed to a formal appeal only if grounds can be established under one or more of the following:
        1. A procedural error was committed by the original decision maker.
        2. Documentation or evidence supplied by the student shows that the original decision is not accurate or not reasonable.
        3. New evidence is available that, through no fault of the student, was not available at the time of the original decision.
        4. The academic decision is sound, but the penalty imposed is unduly harsh given the circumstances.
    4. College Standing Appeal Committee
      1. The College Standing Appeal Committee will be appointed by the Vice-President, Academic.
      2. The Director, Enrolment and Registrar is an ex-officio member of the committee.
      3. The membership of this committee may include but is not limited to: deans, academic chairs, principals, faculty and students.
      4. The Membership of the Committee will ensure appropriate representation for African Nova Scotian/Black, Mi'kmaq/Indigenous and accessibility perspectives.
      5. Membership on the Committee with be of term length, determined by the Vice-President, Academic.
      6. The Committee will apply quorum rules; a minimum number of committee members must be present to make proceedings and decisions valid.
      7. The work of the Committee will be guided by the Detailed Terms of Reference for the College Standing Appeal Committee and all accompanying procedures and documents associated with this Policy.
      8. The Committee will engage in training and development to bring competency and experience to the appeals process.
      9. No member of the Committee will participate or hear any part of a student appeal where his/her involvement could be considered a conflict of interest in the proceedings or decision.
    5. Student Appeal Decisions
      1. The decision of the College Standing Appeal Committee is final and binding.
      2. An appeal decision with academic impact for a member of a student working group where all members have been granted a uniform grade or outcome, will have the same impact on all members of the student working group.
      3. The student will receive an official appeal decision, in writing, from the Registrar’s office.
  1. Policy Supports

Related Policies & Procedures

31.01 Academic Integrity Policy  
34.02 Academic Accommodations Procedures
75.11 Confidentiality of Student Information 
22.01 Evaluation Policy 
23.01 Program Progression Policy
25.01 Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) Policy  
41.01 Respectful Community Policy 

Related Materials

Nova Scotia Human Rights Act https://www.nscc.ca/study-at-nscc/student-supports/accessibility-services/index.asp 

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