Appeal of Academic Decisions

The University of Alaska Board of Regents policy on student dispute resolution is available online at the Board of Regents policy and university regulation website.

The academic appeals advisor is a professional academic advisor in the Academic Advising Center. The academic appeals advisor helps students determine whether the appeal or petition is appropriate, reviews documentation relevant to the appeal or petition and navigates the process for the appeal or petition submission. In the preceding sentence, “appropriate” does not refer to whether an appeal is likely to be successful, but rather whether the appeal falls within the purview of the grade or academic decisions appeal process. The academic appeals advisor does not guarantee the appeal or petition will be successful and will not comment on the likelihood of acceptance. Students are responsible for writing the appeal or petition, gathering and recording relevant documentation and submitting the appeal or petition with the proper signatures.

For more information, contact the Academic Advising Center at 907-474-6396 or uaf-advising@alaska.edu.

Grade Appeal

A final course grade received at the conclusion of the course can be appealed. Grades mid-semester cannot be appealed, and there is no per-assignment appeal process. There are two bases for appeal: an error in grade calculation or a grading decision that was "arbitrary and capricious" (as defined by policy). 

The appeal process is dictated by Faculty Senate Policy and is subject to occasional revision. For additional assistance, you may contact the Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability (ORCA) at 907-474-7300. For the latest information on grade appeals, visit ORCA's academic and grade appeal page.

General Appeal Steps

  1. The first step, informal resolution, involves you sending a written request to the instructor asking for a reconsideration and detailing why you believe the grading was wrong.  The instructor is expected to provide you with their written decision regarding informal resolution.
  2. If informal resolution does not end in your favor, you may request a formal review by an appeal committee. Visit ORCA's academic and grade appeal page for the latest request forms. 
  3. After a request for formal review is received, an appeal committee will be appointed. Who may serve on the committee and which committee members may vote is dictated by Faculty Senate Policy. 
  4. The committee will first conduct a preliminary review to determine whether the request should be dismissed. A request will be dismissed if it was filed late (extenuating circumstances may alter deadlines), the decision has already been appealed, or the allegations do not describe an arbitrary and capricious decision (as defined by policy). 
  5. If the request is not dismissed, the committee will hold a hearing and invite you and the instructor to attend. At the hearing, you will have an opportunity to present relevant and useful information and answer committee questions about the materials submitted.
  6. After the hearing, the committee will meet in private to deliberate, and a vote will be taken. You will receive notice of the committee's decision. The committee's decision represents the final university decision on the matter.

Academic Appeal

Academic decisions include non-admission to or dismissal from a program, pass/fail decisions on non-course examinations (such as qualifying, comprehensive or thesis examinations), or satisfactory/unsatisfactory evaluations.

Academic decisions may be appealed. The appeal process is dictated by Faculty Senate Policy and is subject to occasional revision. For additional assistance, you may contact the Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability (ORCA) at 907-474-7300. For the latest information on academic appeals, visit ORCA's academic and grade appeal page.

General Appeal Steps

  1. The first step, informal resolution, involves you sending a written request to the academic leader of the program and the dean (or director) asking for a reconsideration and detailing why you believe the decision was wrong.  The dean or director is expected to provide you with their written decision regarding informal resolution.
  2. If informal resolution does not end in your favor, you may request a formal review by an appeal committee. Visit ORCA's academic and grade appeal page for the latest request forms. 
  3. After a request for formal review is received, an appeal committee will be appointed. Who may serve on the committee and which committee members may vote is dictated by Faculty Senate Policy. 
  4. The committee will first conduct a preliminary review to determine whether the request should be dismissed. A request will be dismissed if it was filed late (extenuating circumstances may alter deadlines), the decision has already been appealed, or the allegations do not describe an arbitrary and capricious decision (as defined by policy). 
  5. If the request is not dismissed, the committee will hold a hearing and invite you and a representative from the academic program to attend. At the hearing, you will have an opportunity to present relevant and useful information and answer committee questions about the materials submitted.
  6. After the hearing, the committee will meet in private to deliberate and a vote will be taken. You will receive notice of the committee's decision. The committee's decision represents the final university decision on the matter.