School of Nursing: Policy on Undergraduate Student Appeals

Title

School of Nursing: Policy on Undergraduate Student Appeals

Introduction

Purpose

The School of Nursing (SON) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (“UNC-Chapel Hill” or “University”) expects all students to be treated fairly, and that evaluations of their academic performance, standing, and progress will be conducted objectively.

Students who believe they were unfairly, unjustly, or erroneously treated in the determination of a final course grade, a retroactive withdrawal decision, admission or readmission to the SON, or in a decision regarding probation or dismissal have a right to appeal. This policy establishes a student’s appeal rights and procedures.

Scope

This policy applies to all applicants to, enrolled undergraduate SON students, or previously enrolled undergraduate SON students.

Graduate Students with the SON must follow the Graduate School Handbook policies and procedures.

Policy

What can be appealed

  • Requests to retroactively withdraw from or drop courses (excluding prior terms)
  • Grade appeals
  • Academic or non-academic probation or dismissal from the School of Nursing
  • Denial of admission or readmission into a nursing program

Who Considers an Appeal

1. SON Appeals Committee

The SON created the SON Appeals Committee ("Committee") to support a fair and objective assessment of relevant appeals. This Committee is composed of ten (10) voting faculty members. The members are nominated and elected by their respective Executive Committees:

  • Four from Pre-Licensure Faculty
  • Four from MSN/DNP Faculty
  • Two from PhD Faculty

Each Committee member will serve a two-year term and no more than two consecutive terms. There are no limits on the number of terms if there are no more than two consecutive terms.

Committee (Co)Chair: The Committee members will select up to two of the Committee members to act as the Committee Chair. The Chair or Co-Chair of the Appeals Committee will:

  1. Arrange for the Appeals Hearing Panellists,
  2. Schedule the appeals hearing, and
  3. Communicate the details about the hearing process to the student and faculty/staff involved.

The following members of the SON will support the Committee:

  • Assistant Dean for Student Affairs serves as a non-voting Ex Officio member and is responsible for:
    • Presenting cases
    • Advising on policy
    • Recording decisions and vote counts
  • Office Manager for Student Affairs serves as a non-voting administrative support member and is responsible for:
    • Scheduling and confirming meetings
    • Drafting minutes
    • File Decision Communication in Student Record

2. SON Appeals Hearing Panel

The appeal panel will be comprised of three faculty members from the Appeals Committee; one faculty member will serve as Panel Chair.

Individuals with a conflict of interest should notify the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs upon receipt of the request to serve on an appeal panel. Any faculty with a conflict of interest will be recused from the hearing process. 

How to Appeal a Decision

In all circumstances, students are strongly encouraged to pursue informal resolution of their concern with the faculty or program of record. If these informal attempts to resolve the concern are unsuccessful, then students may follow the appeals procedures outlined below.

Initiating an Appeal

A student must submit their appeal request within ten (10) business days of the initial decision notification by submitting a request in writing to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs within the SON Office of Student Affairs.

Appeals Process

  • The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs will send notice of appeal to the faculty/staff named in the appeal submission and to the Co-Chairs of the Appeals Committee. The notice will inform the faculty/staff about the appeal request and the name of the student.
  • The Co-Chairs of the Appeals Committee will schedule the hearing within ten (10) business days of the appeals request.
  • Academic appeals, including claims of harassment or discrimination, are held until the University investigation is complete. The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs will trigger this hold upon filing and notify the student of the reason for it.
  • Students requesting the appeal may submit additional documentation to be considered during the hearing to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs until three (3) business days prior to the hearing.
  • The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs will distribute all submitted documentation three business days prior to the hearing to the Appeals Committee Co-Chairs, members of the appeal hearing panel, the student, faculty/staff involved, the student’s Faculty Advisor, and the Assistant Dean of the academic program within the School of Nursing.
  • The student may bring one support person to the hearing, and the faculty/staff involved may also bring one support person. Support people cannot be a legal representative or lawyer and may not speak prior to or during the hearing. The names and contact information of any support person who will attend the hearing must be communicated to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs three (3) business days before the appeal.

The Hearing

  • The members of the appeal hearing panel will meet privately to review procedures and the submitted documentation immediately prior to the hearing.
  • At the appointed time, the student, the faculty/staff member(s) and their respective support person(s) will attend the hearing.
  • The student will present the facts and circumstances which led to the appeal request (20 minutes or less).
  • The faculty/staff will present their response to the student presentation (20 minutes or less).
  • Panel members may ask questions from all parties.
  • After the panel has concluded its questions, the hearing will conclude, and the parties will be dismissed.
  • The panel will deliberate and determine the outcome of the matter by a simple majority vote and may also outline any recommendations for next steps.
  • The panel members will compile the official record containing the hearing:
    • Date,
    • Attendees,
    • Panel members, and
    • Recommendation.

The Decision

  • The Panel Chair will communicate the determination and recommendations, if any, of the panel to the Co-Chairs of the Appeal Committee.
  • The Co-Chairs of the Appeal Committee will communicate the recommendation in writing to the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the School of Nursing and copy the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Assistant Dean of the academic program within three (3) business days of the hearing.
  • The Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in the School of Nursing will communicate the decision in writing to the student within ten (10) business days of the hearing, with copies sent to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Program Director, Assistant Dean of the academic program, and School of Nursing Registrar.
  • The final decision of the appeal is provided to the student by the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
  • Implementation of decisions is coordinated with appropriate University offices.

Next Level Appeal

If a student wishes to appeal a decision after the initial review, the next level of appeal will be to the Dean of the School of Nursing. Appeals to the Dean must be submitted in writing within five (5) business days of the student receiving the previous decision. Appeals submitted to the Dean will be reviewed and a decision issued within 10 business days of receipt. The Dean’s decision is final.

  • Appeals to the Dean may only be submitted based on one or more of the following grounds:
  • Violation of Due Process
  • Violation of Fundamental Procedural or Substantive Standards
  • New Evidence that was not reasonably available at the time of the original decision and that may have materially impacted the outcome. 

Student Resources & Contacts

  • Office of Student Affairs – For forms and submission guidance
  • University Compliance Office – For harassment / discrimination-related concerns
  • Program Director / Academic Advisor – For appeal preparation support
  • Assistant Dean for Student Affairs – For procedural questions and administrative coordination

Contact Information

Primary Contact

Office: Assistant Dean/Office of Student Affairs

Telephone: 919-962-8981

Email: Osa@son.unc.edu

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