Offices of Medical Student Education: Policy on Appeal of Student Progress Committee Action

Unit Policy

Title

School of Medicine: Offices of Medical Student Education: Policy on Appeal of Student Progress Committee Action

Introduction

Purpose

This policy defines the grounds for appealing a Student Progress Committee (SPC) action and the levels of appeals available to a student in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (“University”) School of Medicine (SOM) Medical Doctorate (MD) program.

Scope

This policy applies to students in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (University) School of Medicine’s (SOM) Medical Doctorate (MD) Program.

Policy

Policy Statement

Grounds for an Appeal

Level 1 (first appeal) and Level 2 appeals (secondary appeal) must be in writing and contain one or more of the following as the basis for appeal:

• Mathematical or clerical error;
• Procedural error by the SOM (i.e., improper written notice);
• Arbitrariness (i.e., decisions that are made by chance, whim, or impulse, and not by reason or principle);
• Personal malice;
• Inappropriate jurisdiction [i.e., the matter was inappropriately decided through a SOM forum when there were elements that should have first been decided in a general University forum (e.g., UNC-Chapel Hill Honor Code violations)]. The SOM may impose additional requirements/sanctions after the University forum review has been completed, consistent with the Student Advancement Policy;
• New information not available to the SPC at the time of its decision; or
• Discrimination based on age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

NOTE: The University’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of an individual’s age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identify, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

NOTE: Any administrator or supervisor, including a department chair, associate dean or other administrator, who receives a student’s complaint about prohibited harassment or discrimination, must notify the University Compliance Office (UCO). If a student raises a claim of prohibited harassment or discrimination during an academic appeal, an investigation of the student’s claim must be performed by the UCO.

NOTE: For any appeals that include discrimination as a basis of appeal, the relevant SOM representative must receive the results of the harassment or discrimination investigation by the UCO before the SOM may proceed with its appeal process.

Students who want additional information regarding the University’s process for responding to allegations of discrimination or harassment should contact the UCO for assistance:

University Compliance Office

Related Requirements

External Regulations

Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) Functions and Standards of a Medical School

• LCME 9.9: Student Advancement and Appeal Process

Unit Policies, Standards, and Procedures

• Policy on Student Progress Committee Functions
• Procedure for Appeal of Student Progress Committee Action

Contact Information

Primary Contact

Name: Mary Hauser, Senior Director for Curricular Affairs

Email: mary_hauser@med.unc.edu

Publication Details

• Issuing Officer: Heather Tarantino, Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs, heather_tarantino@med.unc.edu
• Effective Date: March 23, 2026
• Next Review Date: March 1, 2027