Appeals Process

*Please refer to college catalog for official guidelines as this site is an unofficial guide.

A student dismissed for failing to meet the minimum standards of academic progress has the right to appeal the dismissal. The appeal must be done in writing and submitted in the form of a letter to the Dean (CC your Associate Dean). The letter must include the following:

1. Explain the reasons why the student was unable to meet the minimum standards of academic progress including any mitigating circumstances;
2. Provide documentation in support of any mitigating circumstances (i.e. court orders, emails, receipts, obituary, doctor’s note);
3. Describe what has changed that will allow the student to be able to meet the minimum standards of academic progress; and
4. Detail what the student will do moving forward to ensure that he or she will be successful in his or her program of study and will be able to achieve the requirements for graduation.

The appeal will be reviewed by a institution Appeals Panel. The student may be requested to meet with the Panel to discuss the appeal and provide additional information. Once the appeal letter and documentation are reviewed, the student will be notified if his or her appeal has been granted or denied.

If the appeal is granted, the student may be reinstated to his or her program of study. The student is placed on academic probation for one evaluation period, and during that time, access to financial aid is reestablished. If the appeal is denied, the student will not be allowed to reenter institution nor will the student be allowed to transfer to an affiliated institution within the system.

Mitigating circumstances are those conditions which the student has little control over, and most often have an adverse effect on academic progress. Mitigating circumstances must be documented and are limited to the list below:

1. Death of an immediate family member;
2. Illness of an immediate family member where the student Is the primary caretaker or is the primary source of financial support;
3. Student illness requiring hospitalization;
4. Abusive relationship;
5. Prolonged divorce proceeding;
6. Previously undocumented disability;
7. Work-related transfer during the evaluation period;
8. Change in work schedule during the evaluation period;
9. Unexpected loss of employment;
10. Natural disasters
11. Financial hardship such as foreclosure or eviction; and
12. Loss of transportation where there is no alternative transportation.