Student Solutions Center

The Academic Standards Committee of Florida Southern College has established a procedure to insure due process in the resolution of grievances arising from disputes over academic matters. Cases in which resolution has not been achieved by informal or formal negotiations among the students, faculty members, department chairs, or the Dean of the College may be remanded by the Dean of the College to the Academic Standards Committee for review.

The Academic Standards Committee will consider each case, has the authority to final recommendations, and will make every effort to preserve both the substance and the appearance of impartiality and fairness. In the event that a member of the Committee is directly involved in the case, that member will not participate.  If that member is the chair of the Committee, the Committee will elect a chair, pro tem.

The Committee may make a determination without a hearing.  In the event of a hearing by the Committee, a vote will be taken by secret ballot.  In either case the results will be communicated in writing by the chair to the Dean of the College.  The Dean of the College will communicate the final decision to the student and the faculty member.

Any student considering a grade appeal should understand that each faculty member has the academic freedom and responsibility to determine and assign grades according to any professionally acceptable method chosen by the faculty member, communicated to everyone in the class, and applied to all students equally.

An appeal must be made in writing to the faculty member who taught the course (copies to the Department Chair and Dean) no later than the fifteenth calendar day of the next succeeding regular semester.  A detailed grade appeals procedure is available in the Office of the Dean of the College.