Academic Grievances

The following is the procedure that students must follow if they wish to appeal final course grades or have an academic grievance.

Student Rights

The right to learn, which includes the right of access to ideas, facts, and opinions, the right to express and discuss those and other ideas, facts, and opinions with others in a forum and manner appropriate for a Catholic institution.

Student Process

When a student believes he/she has received an improper academic evaluation, he/she may appeal the grade in the following manner:

1. The student shall discuss the evaluation with the faculty member.

2. If the student remains dissatisfied, he/she may continue his/her appeal to the department chairperson.

3. If the student feels that his/her problem has not been resolved, he/she may continue his/her appeal to the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

4. If the student, after completing the above steps, remains dissatisfied, he/she may have recourse to the Academic appeals Committee. This committee shall be a standing committee of the College consisting of two faculty members elected by the president of the Faculty Senate, two student members appointed by the Student Congress, and two members appointed by the president of the College. The chairperson will be elected by the committee.

Academic Appeals Committee Review

The Academic Appeals Committee’s purpose shall be to hear all appeals concerning academic evaluations and other academic grievances. Appeal to this committee shall be made in the following manner:

a. A formal written appeal, together with all correspondence and other related material, shall be filed within 60 days after the close of the semester with the chairperson of the Academic Appeals Committee. Any appeal filed later than the 60-day period may be dismissed.

b. The committee shall hear testimony and render a decision in writing no later than 30 days after the hearing.

c. The committee, at its discretion, may seek the aid of qualified personnel, either from within or outside the   Providence College academic community.

d. The decision to change a grade remains the prerogative of the faculty member. Should the recommendation of the committee, however, be favorable to the student and the faculty member refuses to make the change, a notation shall

be put on the student’s transcript indicating the committee’s action. On academic matters other than evaluation, any student or group of students has the right to contact the committee directly and to present his/her/their grievances before it. The instructor or instructors in question will be invited to respond to such grievances as are placed before the committee. The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded with appropriate information to the president of the College for action. Final adjudication, in each case, will be submitted to the dean of undergraduate studies.