The Committee for Academic Progress and Professional Standards (CAPPS) in the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) meets to make fair and objective decisions on a student’s (the appellant) appeal to a recommendation for dismissal by the Academic Promotion Review Committee (APRC).
Although the SGS is committed to providing students with the remediation and support needed to facilitate their success, the CAPPS is obligated to consider not only the individual student’s appeal but also key considerations such as program requirements and standards, as well as the student’s performance history, timeline, and academic risk factors. SGS CAPPS is empowered to uphold or recommend overturning the prior decision made by the APRC.
Academic Appeals Process
If students are recommended for dismissal by the APRC, they can exercise their right to an appeal and must submit the required documentation for an appeal within 5 business days of the timestamp of the letter of dismissal.
Failure to submit an appeal within the stipulated timeline will result in automatic retention of the decision by APRC.
The appeal will be reviewed based on the following:
- Students recommended for dismissal from the SGS based on failure to meet the required Satisfactory Academic Progress.
- Students who are on non-academic probation and have failed to meet a professional standard requirement for retention and are recommended for dismissal.
Students who wish to appeal must complete and submit the necessary documents within the stipulated timeline to the Office of the Dean of SGS.
In considering an appellant’s appeal, consideration shall be given to the following:
Documented medical problems, including learning disabilities.
- Family problems, for example, death, divorce, illness, finances, etc.
- Prior or ongoing judicial or disciplinary proceedings against the appellant.
Procedure for SGS CAPPS
Deliberations and decisions of the SGS CAPPS are privileged information and will be shared only among the committee members. Appellants' cases shall be reviewed individually.
SGS CAPPS will discuss the appellant’s case, decide, and a vote shall be called. At the end of the committee meeting, the Chair of SGS CAPPS shall prepare the decision on each case.
The Chair of SGS CAPPS shall inform the appellant of the CAPPS decision within 3 business days of the CAPPS meeting. The SGS CAPPS decision is final and must be upheld.
Outcome of SGS CAPPS
If a student’s appeal is successful, the CAPPS will determine the conditions a student must meet to progress in the SGS program. The student must respond to this communication to indicate acceptance of the conditions within 3 business days of the email's timestamp. A student who does not accept the CAPPS conditions has the option to withdraw from the program within 3 business days of the email's timestamp. If a student does not accept the CAPPS’ conditions and does not withdraw within the specified timeframe, the student will be dismissed.
If a student’s appeal is unsuccessful, the letter to the student with a rejected appeal will provide the student with the option to withdraw from the graduate program within 3 business days of the email's timestamp. If the student does not withdraw within the specified timeframe, the student will be dismissed from the graduate program.