Article 6: Academic Hearing Board Structure
This Article describes the composition and jurisdiction of all academic hearing boards that hear cases involving undergraduate students. Academic hearing boards that hear cases involving graduate students are described in the Graduate Student Rights & Responsibilities document. Academic hearing boards that hear cases involving medical students are described in the Medical Student Rights & Responsibilities document. Non-academic hearing boards are described in Article 4 of this document.
I. Composition of Hearing Boards
A. Pool of potential Hearing Board members. The three hearing boards described in this Article (University Academic Grievance Hearing Board, University Academic Integrity Hearing Board, and the University Academic Appeal Board) will all draw their members from the same pool of potential hearing board members. This pool will consist of three faculty members from each college and three undergraduate students nominated from each college that offers undergraduate courses.
B. Composition. The senior faculty member on the University Academic Grievance Hearing Board, the University Academic Integrity Hearing Board, and the University Academic Appeal Board shall act as the chair of that hearing board. The chair shall serve without vote, except in the event of a tie. In addition to the chair, each Board will consist of an equal number (no fewer than two) of voting undergraduate students and faculty members. All members of the board shall be drawn from the pool of potential hearing board members. Members of the pool not selected to serve on a hearing board shall serve as alternates. Board composition is specified in the relevant code of operations for each board.
C. Term of Office. Pool members (faculty and students) shall be nominated no later than the middle of Spring Semester for terms of one calendar year, beginning at the start of Summer Semester and ending at the end of the following Spring Semester. Colleges can opt to appoint faculty to two-year terms. In the event that colleges are late to nominate pool members, currently serving pool members will extend their service until a replacement is nominated. The specific hearing board procedures shall include provisions for filling vacancies, including provisions for appointments on an interim basis during Summer Semester. Members can serve up to three consecutive terms, not to exceed four consecutive years.
II. University Academic Grievance Hearing Board
A. Jurisdiction. The University Academic Grievance Hearing Board shall have initial jurisdiction over student academic grievances alleging violations of student academic rights (see Article 2).
B. Decisions. The University Academic Grievance Hearing Board may direct the appropriate administrator to implement whatever redress it considers appropriate to the specific case.
C. Appeals. Decisions of the University Academic Grievance Hearing Board may be appealed to the University Academic Appeal Board.
III. University Academic Integrity Hearing Board
A. Jurisdiction. The University Academic Integrity Hearing Board shall have jurisdiction over academic grievances brought by a student to contest a charge of academic misconduct or the severity of the penalty grade imposed by an instructor. The University Academic Integrity Hearing Board shall also have jurisdiction over academic disciplinary hearings involving academic misconduct.
B. Decisions. The University Academic Integrity Hearing Board may accept or reject the recommended sanction of the college, or may impose a lesser sanction than recommended by the college, chosen from Article 7, Section VI.
C. Appeals. Decisions of the University Academic Integrity Hearing Board may be appealed to the University Academic Appeal Board.
IV. University Academic Appeal Board
A. Jurisdiction. The University Academic Appeal Board shall have appellate jurisdiction over (i) decisions by the University Academic Integrity Hearing Board, and (ii) decisions by the University Academic Grievance Hearing Board.
B. Decisions. If the University Academic Appeal Board agrees to hear an appeal of an academic disciplinary or academic grievance decision, the Board may accept or reject the decision or reduce the sanction imposed by the University Academic Integrity Hearing Board or the University Academic Grievance Hearing Board.
C. Appeals. All decisions of the University Academic Appeal Board may be appealed in writing to the Provost within 10 class days of the Appeal Board decision. The Provost may affirm or reverse the decision, reduce the sanction imposed, or direct that the case be reheard.