Final Course Grade Appeals
A student may appeal a final course grade if one or more of the following reasons can be substantiated:
- A grading decision was made on some basis other than the student’s classroom performance.
- A grading decision was based on significantly different standards from those applied to other students in the same course, in the same term, with the same instructor.
- A grading decision was based on a significant and unannounced departure from the course syllabus.
- The student experienced a significant extenuating circumstance within the last seven days of the course term that prevented the student from participating in class or submitting coursework.
Before initiating a grade appeal, the student is to work directly with the course instructor to resolve the concern. Per the Grade Appeal Policy, if the student still chooses to appeal their final grade, the student must complete, sign, and submit the School’s Grade Appeal Form by the third day following the end of the term. The form must be accompanied by any relevant documentation to support the student’s reason for the appeal. The burden of proving the reason for the appeal rests solely with the student. An appeal cannot be made solely based on a disagreement with the instructor’s decisions. Students can obtain the Grade Appeal Form from the Program Director.
Medical Assisting Dismissal Appeals
The Student Academic Appeal policy provides students with a way to appeal dismissal from their academic program. Students who wish to appeal academic status/eligibility due to failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress should see the SAP Appeals & Financial Aid Probation section of the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy within this Catalog.
An academic appeal must be received within 14 calendar days of the student being notified of the program dismissal decision. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Program Director or Academic Advisor. The appeal must include a description of the academic decision the student is requesting to be reviewed and the relevant facts explaining the reason for a review of the decision.
The Academic Advisor will convene a meeting of the Re-Entry Appeals Committee within seven calendar days of the receipt of the student’s written appeal. The student will be notified, in writing, (via mail and/or email) of the Committee’s. The notification will be sent no later than the end of the third business day after the Committee’s meeting.
If the student is appealing termination due to violation of the attendance policy, the student will remain withdrawn from the school until the appeal is successful.
Nursing Academic Appeals
If a nursing student wishes to appeal dismissal from the program due to a third failure in a combination of nursing, science or nutrition courses, or failing for a second time a previously failed or withdrawn nursing, science or nutrition course, the student’s appeal letter must describe the significant extenuating circumstances that directly affected the student’s ability to successfully pass the courses. Qualifying significant extenuating circumstances are typically limited to temporary yet severe illness or injury, hospitalization, military duty, death of an immediate family member, and incidents related to natural disasters. The appeal letter must also include the steps taken to ensure these events will no longer impact their progress, as much supporting documentation as possible to explain and substantiate the reason for the appeal, and a plan to successfully meet their academic goals.
The Re-Entry Appeals Committee will make the determination of whether the person will be allowed to re-enter the program and define the requirements for re-entry. If re-entry is permitted, the campus will review an academic success plan with conditions that the student must agree to and meet.
If the student withdraws from a repeated course or receives another failing grade in a nursing, science, or nutrition course, the student will be permanently dismissed from the program, and no additional appeals will be considered. This policy applies to all nursing programs in the Education Affiliates system. Permanently dismissed students cannot transfer to another Education Affiliates school.
If the person who has been dismissed or a student believes that he or she did not receive the appropriate due process, the person may submit a grievance by following the procedure described in the Grievance Policy section of this Catalog.