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Academic Success

Policy on Student Advancement Appeals

A student has the right to appeal the decision of the Vice Dean with regard to a Student Advancement Committee (“SAC”) recommendation. The appeal must be submitted, in writing, to the Dean of the School of Medicine (“Dean”), within five (5) business days of receipt of the decision from the Vice Dean. The Dean’s decision in all such matters is final.

The Dean shall have the authority to investigate the matter fully and to request material from and/or speak to the Chair of the Student Advancement Committee and/or the student. If the Dean requests to meet with the student, the student may have an adviser of the student's choice present but that adviser may not address the Dean.

The Dean may elect to:

  1. Take no action, allowing the Vice Dean’s decision to stand;
  2. Modify the decision of the Vice Dean; or
  3. Empanel an Ad Hoc Appeals Committee to investigate the appeal and make a recommendation.

Procedure for an Ad Hoc Appeals Committee

If the Dean elects to empanel an Ad Hoc Appeals Committee, it shall be composed of up to five (5) faculty members who have no role in the determination of the student’s grades. The committee shall have the authority to investigate the matter fully and to request material from the student and Student Advancement Committee. The charge of the Ad Hoc Appeals Committee is to determine if due diligence was followed and a reasonable course of action was taken by the SAC and the Vice Dean. The Appeals Committee shall proceed from the assumption that the SAC’s recommendation was justified and the burden of proof (that due diligence was not followed and/or a reasonable course of action was not taken) shall lie with the student. The student will be given an opportunity to present an argument and answer questions of the Ad Hoc Appeals Committee in person. The student may have an adviser of the student's choice present at the meeting with the Ad Hoc Appeals Committee, but that adviser may not address the committee. The Ad Hoc Appeals Committee will submit a recommendation, in writing, to the Dean following any meeting with the student. In all cases, the Dean’s decision will be conveyed, in writing, to the student, the Student Advancement Committee, and Vice Dean. The Dean's decision in all such matters is final.

References to Regulations and/or Related Policies:
Policy on the Composition and Authority of the Student Advancement Committee

Last Revised: July 2017


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