Academic Appeal Policy

You may only appeal the following types of academic decisions:

A grade on a single assessment (such as a test, exam or assignment);
A decision regarding a clinical, co-op or field placement course (e.g., removal from placement, or pass/fail decisions);
A formal finding of academic misconduct;or
A decision under the Academic Progression Policy, including academic probation or withdrawal.

Note: You cannot appeal a final course grade.

If group members received individual grades, you may appeal your own grade without involving the rest of the group.

If all group members received the same grade, every member of the group must agree to the appeal and be included on the appeal form. Appeals submitted by only one group member will not be accepted.

Being disappointed with a grade or academic decision is not an eligible reason, on its own, to pursue an academic appeal.

There are only two acceptable reasons (“grounds”) for pursuing an academic appeal. To submit an appeal, you must show that at least one of the following applies:

Merit of work: The decision does not accurately reflect the quality of your work (e.g., your grade does not match the grading rubric).
Procedural Error:A College policy, procedure, or rule was not followed correctly when the decision was made.

If you are unsure whether your situation meets these grounds, consult with the SRRO before submitting an appeal: SRRO@sl.on.ca.

If your concern relates to a medical condition, disability, or accommodations that were not correctly applied, do not submit an academic appeal. Instead, contact Student Wellness & Accessibility for support and guidance

Personal circumstances alone are not grounds for an academic appeal. However, support and other academic options may be available for students experiencing challenging personal circumstances.

If extraordinary circumstances prevent you from attending an assessment or meeting a deadline, contact your faculty member as soon as possible, preferably before the assessment or deadline. Depending on the situation and any program-specific requirements, an alternate opportunity may be available. See AC515 Academic Assessment Policy, Section 13, for more information.

If you need accommodations because of a documented medical condition or disability, contact Student Wellness & Accessibility.

If you require academic accommodation related to another human rights ground (age, ancestry, colour, race, citizenship, ethnic origin, place of origin, creed, family status, marital status, gender identity, gender expression, sex, or sexual orientation), contact Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

There are three steps in the academic appeal process.

Note: If your appeal relates to a clinical, co-op, or field placement decision, you will skip Steps 1 and 2 and proceed directly to Step 3.

Step 1: Informal Resolution
Speak with the person who made the decision, usually your faculty member. Many concerns can be resolved at this stage.

Step 2: Formal Academic Appeal
If the issue is not resolved through informal resolution, submit an Academic Appeal Form. An Assigned Dean will review the appeal and make a decision.. An Assigned Dean will review the appeal and make a decision.

Step 3: Appeal Review
You may only request an Appeal Review if you believe there was a procedural error in the appeal process, or in a placement-related decision. An Appeal Review Panel will review the appeal and make a final decision.

For more information about each step, keep reading.

Formal Academic Appeals: must be submitted within 10 business days of receiving the academic decision, or within 5 business days after final grades are due, whichever comes sooner. must be submitted within 10 business days of receiving the academic decision, or within 5 business days after final grades are due, whichever comes sooner.

Appeal Reviews: must be submitted within 5 business days of receiving the Formal Academic Appeal decision or of the placement-related decision. must be submitted within 5 business days of receiving the Formal Academic Appeal decision or of the placement-related decision.

Before starting the academic appeal process, ask yourself these questions:

Is the decision eligible for appeal? (See above: “What decisions can I appeal?”)
Did I receive the decision within the required appeal timeline? (See above: “Important Deadlines”)
Does my appeal fit within the acceptable appeal grounds? (See above: “When can I appeal?”)

If you answered “yes” to all three questions, you can begin the appeal process.

Reminder: If your appeal relates to a clinical, co-op, or field placement decision, skip Steps 1 and 2 of the appeal process and proceed directly to Step 3.

You must first discuss your concerns with the person who made the decision (usually your faculty). This discussion can happen in person, virtually, or by email.

Both you and the decision-maker are expected to make a genuine effort to resolve the issue at this step. You cannot move to Step 2 until you have attempted informal resolution.

If an informal resolution is reached, the process ends.

If an informal resolution cannot be reached, you may submit a Formal Academic Appeal.

Formal Academic Appeals must be submitted:

within 10 business days of receiving notice of the decision; or
within 5 business daysafter final grades are due at the end of the academic term,

whichever comes first.

You must complete and submit an Academic Appeal Form. If your appeal meets the requirements, an Assigned Dean will review the information, meet with the parties involved if needed, and review any relevant policies or supporting documents.If your appeal meets the requirements, an Assigned Dean will review the information, meet with the parties involved if needed, and review any relevant policies or supporting documents.

The Assigned Dean may:

grant the appeal;
grant part of the appeal; or
deny the appeal.

The Assigned Dean will provide written reasons for the decision. If your appeal is granted, the process ends.

You may request an Appeal Review only if you believe there was a procedural error in:

The Formal Academic Appeal process; or
A placement-related academic decision.

Requests for an Appeal Review must be submitted within 5 business days of receiving the decision.of receiving the decision.

If your appeal review request meets the requirements, an Appeal Review Panel will meet to hear the appeal review. The panel includes an Assigned Dean, a faculty member, and a student representative. The panel may:

grant the appeal review; or
deny the appeal review.

The panel will provide written reasons for the decision. The panel’s decision is final and binding.

An appeal can be dismissed if:
- The decision is not eligible to appeal;
- The appeal does not meet the required grounds;
- The appeal was submitted after the deadline;
- The appeal is incomplete; or
- There is not enough information to support the appeal.
If you are granted a test re-write or alternate assignment through the appeal process, the outcome/grade of that assessment is final and cannot be appealed.
An academic decision can only be appealed once.
While an appeal is underway, you may continue in your regular program of study unless a Dean or other College administrator directs otherwise.
You may bring a support person to any meeting or hearing related to the appeal process. A support person cannot advocate for you or speak on your behalf.
For complete information, refer to the Academic Appeals Policy and Academic Appeals Procedures.

For questions about academic appeals, please review the information on this page, then contact the Student Rights & Responsibilities Office (SRRO):

Email: SRRO@sl.on.ca
Phone: 544.5400, ext. 5532
Hours: Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm
On-campus: Kingston Student Services, Cornwall Student Services
Book an Appointment