Appeal of Academic Decisions

Grade Error Policy

A grade, other than an incomplete or deferred, submitted by your instructor after a course is completed is your final grade and becomes part of your permanent academic record. Your grade will not be changed unless your instructor made a legitimate error in calculating the grade. If you believe an error has occurred contact your instructor immediately. Grade errors must be corrected within 30 class days after the beginning of the next regular semester, and must be approved by the instructor’s department head and dean.

Grade Appeals Policy

A student who wishes to appeal a faculty decision of final grade must submit a request for a review using university forms available at the Registrar’s Office. Appeals must be received no later than 20 days after the first day of instruction in the next regular semester. By submitting a request for a review, the student acknowledges that no additional mechanisms exist within the university for the review of the grade, and that the university’s administration can not influence or affect the outcome of the review. A copy of the full procedure can be obtained through the registrar, the vice chancellor of student and enrollment services, the academic advising center or at www.uaf.edu/advising/faculty/manual/Chapter6.pdf.

Academic Decisions Other Than Grades

Students who want to appeal an academic decision such as denial of admission, faculty-initiated withdrawal, dismissal from program or pass/fail decisions of a faculty committee on non-course examinations (such as qualifying, comprehensive or thesis examinations) should begin an appeal within 15 days after the beginning of the semester in which the decision takes effect.

To appeal academic decisions, you should first address the person who made the decision. Often problems can be resolved and misunderstandings cleared up through this step. If the student does not find the informal review decision acceptable, the student may initiate a formal appeal procedure. Formal appeals must be made in writing, and must be received by the Provost no later than 10 days after the student has learned the outcome of the informal review. The office of the provost, university registrar, vice chancellor of student and enrollment services, or dean of the graduate school (for graduate student issues) can give you advice and answers to questions about the process.

By submitting a request for a review, the student acknowledges that no additional mechanisms exist within the university for the review of the decision, and that the university’s administration can not influence or affect the outcome of the review.

Students’ Rights and Responsibilities

The university subscribes to principles of due process and fair hearings as specified in the "Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students." This document can be found in the Office of Student Enrollment and Services. You are encouraged to read it carefully.

Most students adjust easily to the privileges and responsibilities of university citizenship. The university attempts to provide counsel for those who find the adjustment more difficult. UAF may terminate enrollment or take other necessary and appropriate action in cases where a student is unable or unwilling to assume the social responsibilities of citizenship in the university community.

Student Code of Conduct

UAF students are subject to the Student Code of Conduct. In accordance with board of regents’ policy 09.02.01, UAF will maintain an academic environment in which freedom to teach, conduct research, learn and administer the university is protected. Students will benefit from this environment by accepting responsibility for their role in the academic community. The principles of the student code are designed to encourage communication, foster academic integrity and defend freedoms of inquiry, discussion and expression across the university community.

UAF requires students to conduct themselves honestly and responsibly, and to respect the rights of others. Conduct that unreasonably interferes with the learning environment or violates the rights of others is prohibited. Students and student organizations are responsible for ensuring that they and their guests comply with the code while on property owned or controlled by the university or at activities authorized by the university.

The university may initiate disciplinary action and impose disciplinary sanctions against any student or student organization found responsible for committing, attempting to commit or intentionally assisting in the commission of any of the following prohibited forms of conduct:

1. cheating, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty
2. forgery, falsification, alteration or misuse of documents, funds or property
3. damage or destruction of property
4. theft of property or services
5. harassment
6. endangerment, assault or infliction of physical harm
7. disruptive or obstructive actions
8. misuse of firearms, explosives, weapons, dangerous devices or dangerous chemicals
9. failure to comply with university directives
10. misuse of alcohol or other intoxicants or drugs
11. violation of published university policies, regulations, rules or procedures
12. any other actions that result in unreasonable interference with the learning environment or the rights of others.

This list is not intended to define prohibited conduct in exhaustive terms, but rather offers examples as guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

Honesty is a primary responsibility of you and every other UAF student. The following are common guidelines regarding academic integrity:

1. Students will not collaborate on any quizzes, in-class exams, or take-home exams that contribute to their grade in a course, unless the course instructor grants permission. Only those materials permitted by the instructor may be used to assist in quizzes and examinations.
2. Students will not represent the work of others as their own. A student will attribute the source of information not original with himself or herself (direct quotes or paraphrases) in compositions, theses, and other reports.
3. No work submitted for one course may be submitted for credit in another course without the explicit approval of both instructors.

Alleged violations of the Code of Conduct will be reviewed in accordance with procedures specified in regents’ policy, university regulations and UAF rules and procedures. For additional information and details about the Student Code of Conduct, contact the associate vice chancellor for student and enrollment services, visit www.alaska.edu/bor/ or refer to the student handbook that is printed in the back of the class schedule for each semester. Students are encouraged to review the entire code.

Student Behavioral Standards

Education at the university is conceived as training for citizenship as well as for personal self-improvement and development. Generally, UAF behavioral regulations are designed to help you work efficiently in courses and live responsibly in the campus environment. They are not designed to ignore your individuality but rather to encourage you to exercise self-discipline and accept your social responsibility. These regulations, in most instances, were developed jointly by staff and students. You should become familiar with campus policies and regulations as published in the student handbook.

Information Release and FERPA

The Registrar’s Office is responsible for keeping student education records. A complete copy of the university policies regarding access to student records under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is available at www.uaf.edu/reg/schedule/.

Under FERPA, you are entitled, as a University of Alaska student, to review your education records. Except for directory information, no personally identifiable information is disclosed to agencies outside the university without the written permission of the student or as otherwise permitted under FERPA.

Within the university, records are made available to school officials with a legitimate educational interest. A school official is any individual designated by the university to perform an assigned function on behalf of the university, including faculty, administrators, staff, other students serving on official university committees or assisting a university official in performing his or her duties, and third parties with whom the university has contracted, such as attorneys, auditors and collection agents. School officials have a legitimate educational interest if they need information from a student’s education records to perform work appropriate to their position.

No other information from a student’s education record will be disclosed to anyone outside the university without the written consent of the student except to officials of other institutions in which a student seeks to enroll, in connection with financial aid which the student has applied for or has received, in compliance with a judicial order or subpoena, to persons in an emergency in order to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons, or as otherwise permitted under FERPA.

• Directory Information
  The university may release certain directory information to the public on a routine basis unless a student requests, in writing, that the university not release it. Forms to request that directory information not be released are available in the Office of the Registrar.
  No directory information will be released until the last day of late registration. Any request to withhold directory information will continue until a student provides permission, in writing, for the university to release such. After that, information will be released when appropriate.
  The names of students who have requested their directory information be withheld will not appear in the published university chancellor’s and dean’s lists.
  The following is considered directory information:
  1. Name
  2. E-mail address
  3. Home city and state
  4. Weight and height of students on athletic teams
  5. Dates of attendance at UAF
  6. Program/major field(s) of study
  7. Degrees and certificates received, including dates
  8. Participation in officially recognized university activities
  9. Academic and co-curricular honors, awards and scholarships received, including dates
• Honors and Scholarships
  Names of students receiving awards, scholarships or appearing on the dean’s list or chancellor’s list are released to the media unless a student has either requested that directory information not be released or has submitted a written request to the Office of University Relations not to release honors information by five working days after the end of the semester in which the honors have been earned.