Academic Appeals

Ogeechee Technical College faculty and administrative staff have the right and responsibility to exercise professional judgment in making decisions about student performance and progress. The College is accountable for setting and maintaining standards of academic performance and is committed to ensuring students are treated fairly in all matters that relate to academic performance and progress. A student will be provided with a fair opportunity to have decisions that are believed by the student to negatively impact academic performance and progress reviewed in accordance with policies and procedures established by the College.

 

Grade Appeals/Academic Decisions by Instructor

If a student believes that a basis exists for appealing an academic decision regarding a grade or attendance issue, that student should first attempt to resolve the matter through discussion with the instructor who made the decision. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the student has five (5) working days to discuss the issue with the instructor.

If the issue cannot be resolved though a discussion with the instructor, the student may file a written appeal with the appropriate Dean for Academic Affairs within five (5) working days from the date of the discussion with the instructor. The student will submit a written letter explaining the reason for the appeal and should provide any documentation to support the appeal, such as communication with the instructor, assignments, or other supporting documentation. In an attempt to resolve the grade appeal, the Dean for Academic Affairs may interview the student, instructor, and others who may have pertinent information. The Dean for Academic Affairs will return a decision to the student in writing after review of the appeal and all supporting documentation.

If the Dean for Academic Affairs' written response does not satisfactorily resolve the issue, the student may appeal in writing to the Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. The student will provide all documentation from the previous appeals, including all documentation presented at the previous appeals and the written denial of the appeal from the Dean. The Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will review the appeal, along with all provided documentation, and render a decision to the student in writing.

The decision of the Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will be final.

 

Other Academic Decisions

A student may follow the same appeal process for other academic decisions, such as dismissal from a program, academic disciplinary issues, or other academic matters that may affect the student's progression in his or her program. The student must initiate the appeal process within five (5) working days of the academic decision.