STUDENT GRIEVANCES AND ACADEMIC APPEALS
(College Rule 6Hx23-4.36 I and III) (2004)

1. Student Grievances
   

   1. Definitions:
      

      1. A “grievance” is defined for the application of this Rule to be a complaint, other than a discrimination grievance, alleging that a student’s (grievant’s) rights have been abridged through any of the following:
         

      1. a violation of Rules and/or Procedures of the College;

      2. arbitrary or capricious action by a College employee;

      3. improper removal from the College or a program of the College for academic reasons;

      4. improper denial of admission or readmission to the College or a program of the College;

      5. information contained in the student's record (BOT Rule 6Hx23-4.37);

      6. arbitrary and/or capricious action in the award of a final grade;

      7. an academic matter which may be grieved as an appeal. A petition may be filed for an individual determination concerning matters relating to any of the following:

         1. belated withdrawals;

         2. deviations from graduation requirements;

         3. changes to permanent records;

         4. academic probation, suspension and dismissal under BOT Rule 6Hx23-4.46;

         5. changes from audit to credit;

         6. inappropriate action by the student based on misleading advice by a College employee;

         7. exclusion of coursework from grade point average calculations and cumulative credit hours attempted;

         8. extension of time to complete work when an "I" (incomplete) grade has been assigned;

         9. all other academic rules and procedures except those referred to in Paragraph I.A.1a through f. above.

         
         

      Such appeals are normally directed to the next level of authority above which the decision was made. If the student wishes to pursue the grievance, the matter would go to the associate provost or designee. The associate provost shall provide the student with a copy of BOT Rule 6Hx23-4.36. If the matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student at the informal level, the student shall timely file with the provost or designee of the campus or center where the alleged matter took place, the appeal in writing, stating the reasons and grounds for the appeal to the Campus/Center Appeals Committee with a copy to the associate provost or designee on the appropriate campus/center.
      
      

2. Appeals to Exclude Coursework from Grade Point Average Calculations
   

   1. Coursework attempted within the last 10 years shall be included in grade point average calculations and may not be excluded by the Committee except as provided herein.

   
   

   2. Coursework attempted more than 10 years ago may be excluded from grade point average calculations if there was a break in the student’s continuous enrollment for a period of 5 or more years.

      1. Decisions to exclude coursework attempted must include the exclusion of all coursework attempted prior to the date specified in the appeal, but not before the 10-year limit specified in Paragraph II.A.

      2. Evidence of material change of circumstances (i.e., change of career direction) must be presented in an appeal.

      
      

   3. Exceptions to the above provision may be considered in cases where the student is without opportunity to repeat a course(s) at St. Petersburg College in accordance with Board of Trustees Rule 6Hx23-4.15, Academic Average and Repeated Courses.

   
   

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Last revised May 29, 2008
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