Baker College Policies
Academic Appeal Process
Baker College has established appeal procedures for students who have concerns regarding grades, and the consistent application of both class requirements and policies, as it pertains to grades.
Step 1
The student must first discuss the concern in dispute with the instructor. The only concerns that are appealable are grades, and the consistent application of both class requirements and policies, as it pertains to grades.
Step 2
If the concern is not resolved in Step 1 and the student wishes to pursue the issue, the student must communicate with an Academic Advisor/Counselor. This step must take place within 90 days of the end of the quarter in which the concern occurred. The Academic Advisor/Counselor will give the student an appeal form which the student will complete and return to the Academic Advisor/Counselor within seven business days. Upon receipt of the form, the Academic Advisor/Counselor will immediately send the form to the instructor.
The instructor will read the appeal form and provide input on the student’s concern. The instructor will return the form within five business days of receipt to the Academic Advisor/Counselor.* The Academic Advisor/Counselor will share with the student the instructor’s written response.
If the concern is still not resolved and the student wishes to pursue the appeal, the Academic Advisor/Counselor will arrange a meeting with the student and instructor within seven business days. The meeting could be in person or via conference call or live chat session. The purpose of the meeting is to resolve the concern.
Step 3
If the concern is not resolved in Step 2 and the student indicates in writing on the appeal form that he/she wishes to pursue the appeal, the Academic Advisor/Counselor will ask the student to submit a comprehensive written document which represents all facts and data from the student’s point of view. The student must provide this written document to the Advisor/Counselor within five business days of indicating on the Student Concern form that he/she wishes to continue the appeal. The Academic Advisor/Counselor will then send the appeal form and written document to the dean of the division wherein the concern originated or to the Chief Academic Officer/Vice President for Academics, if the Dean is not available, to render a decision. The Dean/Chief Academic Officer/Vice President for Academics will have three business days to render a decision and return the completed form to the Academic Advisor/Counselor. The Dean/Chief Academic Officer/Vice President for Academics will meet in person with the student if the student so desires.
The Academic Advisor/Counselor will immediately inform the student and the instructor of the Dean’s/Chief Academic Officer’s/Vice President’s for Academics decision. The student must indicate, in writing on the appeal form, his/her decision to accept the Dean’s/Chief Academic Officer’s/Vice President’s for Academics decision or to pursue the appeal to the next level.
Step 4
If the student chooses to pursue the concern further, the Academic Advisor/Counselor will immediately contact the Chair of the Judiciary Council and will forward all documentation to the Chair. The Judiciary Council will be convened within seven business days to resolve the concern. Both the student and the instructor may appear before the Judiciary Council although no new documentation can be presented at this time. A written report with the Council’s decision will be completed by the Chair and will be placed in the student’s file. A copy of the report will be sent by the Chair to the student and the instructor within 10 business days.
The Judiciary Council will be formed and chaired by a director of a student services department; the Chair will be a non-voting member of the Council. The Council shall be composed of two students, two faculty members who teach in a program other than the student’s program, and a dean or associate dean from a division other than the division that is responsible for the course involved in the appeal.
The decision of the Judiciary Council will be final. No further appeal will be permitted. The student and the instructor may respond in writing to the Council’s action, and these responses will be placed in the student’s file.
The appeal process stops if the student misses an appointment or fails to meet timelines, unless there are documented, extenuating circumstances.
*If the instructor does not respond in a timely manner, the Academic Advisor/Counselor and/or student has the option to go directly to Step 3 of the Academic Appeal Process.