Appeal Process

All Students or Student Organizations have the right to appeal their case resolution decision or sanction to a University Appeal Board, or the Associate Vice President for Student Life or a designee. Appeals must meet certain criteria, include an appropriate rationale, and be submitted by the outlined deadline in an Outcome Letter to be considered.

Appeals are heard by members of the University Conduct Board, known as the Appellate Board. The Appellate Board will make a recommendation to the Appeal Advisor or designee regarding the outcome of the appeal. In circumstances involving COVID-19, appeals may be heard by the Associate Vice President for Student Life or designee in lieu of the Appellate Board.

Any member of the University Conduct Board who participated in the University Hearing that found a Respondent responsible cannot be on the Appeal Board for the same case.

Below are rationales to seek an appeal to a case resolution decision.

• Unduly Harsh Sanction: The sanction given is unduly harsh if it is inconsistent with sanctioning practices for the same or similar violations.
• New Information: Information that was not available at the time of the Hearing is now available, and could reasonably be expected to have altered the outcome of the case.
• Improper Procedure: The Hearing did not follow the proper protocol outlined in the Code of Conduct.
• Insufficient Information: Whether a reasonable person could find that the facts in the case were sufficient to establish that it is "more likely than not" that a violation of the Code of Conduct occurred and that the Respondent was responsible for the violation.

The full appeal process can be found in the Code of Conduct [PDF]. For instructions on appealing academic sanctions, please refer to the Academic Integrity Conduct Process.