Academic Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal Appeals Policy and Procedure

1. Policy Regarding Appeals of Academic Suspension, Probation, or Dismissal:
   1. Responsibilities: Students are expected to adhere to institutional academic standards and acceptable standards of behavior and responsibility in all academic settings, classrooms, laboratories, clinics, and other activities which are part of academic requirements.
   2. Sanctions: Infractions of institutional academic standards, rules and regulations, as stated in the University catalog or student handbook, may result in academic sanctions such as suspension, probation, and/or dismissal from the Institution or from an academic Program.
2. Criteria of Appeal:
   1. A student, who believes that his/her suspension, probation, or dismissal either from the Institution or from an Academic Program was based on inadequate evidence or prejudicial judgment, may appeal this action in writing to the Department Chair/Program Director within ten (10) working days of the receipt of such notification. Undeclared students will appeal directly to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. b. The Department Chair/Program Director may establish a meeting with the student and other faculty members with whom the Chair needs to consult to discuss the appeal. The Department Chair/Program Director will make a recommendation to the College Dean.
   2. The College Dean will deliver a decision within five (5) working days by certified mail to the student with copies to the Registrar, the student’s advisor, the Department Chair/Program Director, and the Provost.
   3. If the decision is not satisfactory, the student may request, in writing, a hearing before the Appeals Committee. This written request is to be sent to the Provost within five (5) working days of receipt of the College Dean’s decision.
   4. The Provost will convene the Appeals Committee, which will be composed of three (3) faculty members and two (2) students, none of whom may be from the Department or College involved.
3. Appeals Committee Procedures for Hearings:
   1. All statements, arguments, and testimony given will be tape recorded. These tapes are to be available to both parties and to members of the committee during the hearing. At the conclusion of the hearing, they will be filed in the Office of the Provost (and retained for at least three years), though they will continue to be available only to the parties of the dispute and, at the discretion of the Provost, to the involved Appeals Committee members.
   2. The committee will have the right to convene an executive session at any time, but no testimony will be heard in executive session.
   3. The committee chair will be responsible for ruling on all motions made before it.
   4. Rulings on motions of the parties will be prompt and take into consideration the effect such a decision would have on the right of both parties to a fair and impartial hearing.
   5. The hearing will begin as soon as possible after the appeal committee receives the student appeal, unless by mutual consent the student and faculty member agree to a later starting date, or the appeal committee decides the case merits no hearing.
   6. All witnesses will be placed under verbal and written oath.
   7. The student will begin the hearing by reading his/her appeal.
   8. Both parties will be given an opportunity to make opening statements.
   9. The burden of proof lies with the student.
   10. The first presentation of evidence is made by the student.
   11. Evidence may include, but not be limited to, testimony, affidavits, depositions, and other relevant documents.
   12. The committee may request any individual to give testimony.
   13. Witnesses and parties may be cross-examined.
   14. When the student has called all witnesses and presented all testimony and evidence desired, he/she will rest; the same procedure will be followed in allowing the other party to present all testimony and evidence desired.
   15. Once all parties have rested, each party, beginning with the student, will be given an opportunity to make a closing argument.
   16. Each closing argument will be presented without interruption, except for committee members who may interrupt for purposes of: (1) inquiry, or (2) questioning the relevance of the testimony.
   17. After closing arguments the committee will deliberate, and attempt to arrive at a decision as rapidly as is reasonably possible. The decision will be based on “CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE.”
   18. Each decision will promptly be put in writing, giving: i. conclusions on all allegations in dispute. ii. an explanation of the reasoning examined in arriving at the decision.
   19. All committee members in the appeal process are to respect the confidentiality of the appeal process by refraining from any discussion of the appeal with nonparticipants.
4. Sunset Clause: Students enrolled in graduate studies at West Liberty University must complete their program of study within seven years, based on the date of admission to the degree program. Students may apply for renewal by submitting a letter to the Graduate Council with justification for continued studies in the program. 

Due to varying accreditation standards, students should refer the handbook for their academic program.