Student Resources

Student Appeals

Appeals Procedures for Academic Regulations/Policies
Undergraduate Grievance/Appeal Procedure

Appeals Procedures for Academic Regulations/Policies
Following are the steps that undergraduate College of Health Sciences students must follow to appeal an academic regulation or policy such as deadlines for adding, dropping and withdrawing from classes, reinstatement following an academic drop from the University, second repeats of classes, and retroactive withdrawal or drops from classes.

The first step in the appeals process is to call your academic adisor, discuss your appeal, and schedule a date to meet with the Appeals Committee, if required. The Student Appeals Committee meets the first Wednesday of each month from 1:00-3:00 p.m., in Merrill Hall, room 115.

The next step is to use these guidelines to prepare your appeal and/or for your meeting with the Appeals Committee. Please complete the UW-Milwaukee College of Health Sciences Student Appeal Form and bring it with you to your appeal appointment. If you have any questions, please contact your advisor.

1. To Add classes after the deadline, you need:

• Instructor's signature on an add/drop form
• Approval of the appeals committee
• Dean's signature on the add/drop form

2. To drop a class after the deadline, when you have a medical or health related reason for doing so, you need:

• Instructor's signature on add/drop form
• Medical documentation clearly stating that a medical condition necessitated drop
• Approval of your academic advisor
• Dean's signature on the add/drop form

3. To drop a class after the deadline, when you do not have a medical or health related reason for doing so, you need:

• Instructor's signature on add/drop form
• Letter stating reason for need for late drop
• Approval of the appeals committee
• Dean's signature on the add/drop form

4. To "withdraw" from ALL of your classes after the deadline, when you have a medical or health related reason for doing so, you need:

• Medical documentation clearly stating that a medical condition necessitated withdrawal
• Approval from your academic advisor
• Dean's signature on the withdrawal form

5. To "withdraw" from ALL of your classes after the deadline, when you do not have a medical or health related reason for doing so, you need:

• A letter stating reason for late withdrawal
• Approval of the appeals committee
• Dean's signature on the withdrawal form

6. To drop a class(es) or withdraw from all classes, retroactively, when you have a medical or health related reason for doing so, you need:

• Medical documentation clearly stating that a medical condition necessitated dropping or withdrawing from classes.
• If dropping a class(es), instructor's signature on add/drop form
• Approval of the appeals committee
• Obtain Dean's signature on add/drop or withdrawal form

7. To drop a class(es) or withdraw from all classes, retroactively, when you do not have a medical or health related reason for doing so, you need:

• Letter stating reason for request for retroactive drop or withdrawal
• If dropping a class(es), instructor's signature on add/drop form
• Approval of the appeals committee
• Obtain Dean's signature on add/drop or withdrawal form

8. To request that you be reinstated, following an academic drop from UWM, you need:

• A letter stating reason for academic difficulty including a plan to avoid future problems
• Approval of the appeals committee
• Complete and sign a contract with your academic advisor in which the terms of your reinstatement are stipulated. This is not required in all situations.

9. To request that you be allowed to take a class for the third time, you need

• To complete a form to request a second repeat of a classes
• Approval of the appeals committee

Last update: 11/1/97

Undergraduate Grievance/Appeal Procedure
Following are the steps that undergraduate students in the College of Health Sciences must follow if they wish to file an appeal/grievance for matters such as a disputed grade received in a class, or denial of admission to a program or major.

Step 1: In cases concerning academic matters, such as denial of admission to a program or disputed grades, the student must file the grievance/appeal within 30 working days from the date of the action that prompted the grievance/appeal. In the case of a grade appeal, the time limit is 15 working days from the date the grade is posted on the students' transcript. When the grievance/appeal involves a course, the student must first appeal to the instructor of the course. The student who has a grievance/appeal which does not concern an academic matter should go immediately to Step 2, within the 30 day time limit referred to above.

Step 2: If dissatisfied with the Step 1 decision, the student may appeal to the program director or coordinator within 10 working days from the date of the Step 1 decision. If still dissatisfied, the student proceeds to Step 3. If the director is also the chairperson of the department, the student proceeds immediately to Step 4.

Step 3: The student meets with the department chairperson within 10 working days from the date of the Step 2 decision. If still dissatisfied with the decision, the student proceeds to Step 4.

Step 4: The student may then appeal to the Scholastic Appeals Committee, which is a subcommittee of the Faculty/Student Services Committee, within 10 working days from the date of the Step 3 decision. In the case of a grade appeal, if the Committee concludes that the student's grade was based on arbitrary or capricious grounds, it will recommend to the Dean of the College of Health Sciences that the grade be changed. The Dean has the authority to implement the recommendation as per faculty Document 1243.

Step 5: If the Scholastic Appeals Committee does not recommend a grade change, the student may appeal to the Dean within 10 working days from the date of the Scholastic Appeals Committee's decision. The Dean's decision is final.

For additional information or assistance, please contact Kate Brondino at 414.229.4806.

Approved 3/31/95
Last update: July 12, 2002