Student Handbook 2021

 Enabling a student to maintain academic eligibility/status for financial aid.  Personal issues unrelated to academics.

Student Grievances and Appeals of Final Grade Students who have an academic grievance for any reason should proceed as follows: 1. Students should first attempt to resolve disputes concerning grading, course work, clinic or other academic policies at the level at which the dispute occurred (IOR, Clinic Supervisor). 2. For disputes involving clinic, the student is encouraged to seek the assistance of the appropriate faculty overseeing that element of the clinical curriculum (e.g., IOR for Third Year Clinic, IOR for Fourth Year Clinic, Director Externships). 3. If a satisfactory result or a final decision cannot be reached, the student may bring the issue to the attention of the appropriate Department Chair (Biological and Vision Sciences or Clinical Education). 4. The student has the right to appeal a decision of the Department Chair by applying in writing to the Dean for Academic Affairs who will review the case and make a final decision. A student may appeal a grade if they believe it is in error. The initial appeal must be made to the IOR within one week of receiving that grade. This period may be extended by appeal to the Dean for Academic Affairs in extraordinary circumstances. No grade appeal, under any circumstance, will be accepted from a third party, including a student’s parents. This policy conforms to the privacy requirements outlined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). If the IOR is unavailable to change a grade, or if a student wishes to appeal a decision by the IOR not to change the final grade, the student must contact the appropriate Department Chair in writing, who will review the case and decide. The student may appeal a grade decision of the Department Chair by applying in writing to the Dean for Academic Affairs who will review the case and make a final decision. All official communications about grade appeals will be sent to students by electronic mail (with delivery confirmation) so that a record of delivery exists, and appropriate faculty members will be similarly notified. Class Ranking The college computes and maintains records of students' class rank. Class rank, to be a valid barometer of a student's performance, must be computed properly. Therefore, the following guidelines are used by the Registrar: 1. Computation of the GPA shall be rounded to no more than two decimal places (hundredths) for the purpose of determining class rank.

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