Program Dismissal Appeals
PLEASE NOTE:
- Program dismissal appeals or other concerns or complaints based on charges of discrimination or sexual harassment should be taken to the Office of Institutional Equity, pursuant to other University policies and procedures.
- A program dismissal appeal cannot be made in response to a final course grade penalty assigned as a result of an official finding of responsibility for academic integrity violations. Such a finding will have been made through the procedures provided in the academic integrity policy.
- The program dismissal appeal is designed for students who have been dismissed from their academic program at the department level. It is not intended for students who have been academically dismissed from the University when their cumulative GPA falls below the required 2.00 minimum. Students who have been academically dismissed should contact your primary academic advisor at WMU - there may be options for you to remain enrolled while your academic standing is addressed.
The program dismissal appeal applies when a Western Michigan University student wants to appeal a decision to be dismissed from an academic program. This process is facilitated by the Office of the University Ombuds - students should call (269) 387-0718 or email ombds@wmich.edu to consult with the Ombuds to begin the process. Specific criteria must exist to engage in the program dismissal appeal process. One of the following must be demonstrated:
- The program dismissal decision was made in a manner inconsistent with University policy or the program policy.
- The program dismissal procedures were not followed.
- Evaluation or performance standards were arbitrarily or unequally applied.
The required steps for the Program Dismissal Appeal process are as follows:
- Meeting with department chair or program director: A student must submit an email requesting a meeting with the department unit chair or program director. This email must be received by the chair or director within 20 business days of the date of dismissal *. The Ombuds may grant an extension should a genuine hardship arise. The email must identify the criteria for the appeal and must state in detail why the student believes they should be reinstated in the program. If the chair or director denies the student’s request to be reinstated, the student may appeal to the Grade Appeal and Program Dismissal Appeal Committee.
Appeal to committee: If a student elects to appeal to the Grade Appeal and Program Dismissal Appeal Committee (GAPDAC), this appeal must be initiated within 20 business * days of the meeting with the chair or director. The student will initiate a program dismissal appeal through the Office of the University Ombuds. The Ombuds will schedule a meeting of the committee using procedures approved by the Professional Concerns Committee of the Faculty Senate. The student will be asked to complete the online Course Grade and Program Dismissal Appeal Form and Program Dismissal Student Information Form. The instructor will be asked to fill out the online Program Dismissal Instructor Information Form. Both parties will also be asked to provide evidence to support their position. Once these forms and evidence are received, the Ombuds will schedule a meeting of the GAPDAC using procedures determined by the Professional Concerns Committee of the Faculty Senate to hear statements from both parties, review evidence, ask questions and render a decision regarding the appeal. The student and the instructor will appear before the committee separately and will not have access to the other's real-time statement or submitted evidence. The Grade Appeal and Program Dismissal Appeal Committee will consist of at least three members drawn from a panel of faculty established for this purpose. The Grade Appeal and Program Dismissal Appeal Committee can effectuate a program reinstatement by majority vote.
The decision of the hearing panel is final and not subject to appeal.* The calculation of business days does not include WMU weekday closure for holidays or inclement weather events.