Academic Appeals

Right of Appeal

University of Georgia students have the right to appeal academic decisions or to ask for an exception to a university rule or policy on an academic matter. 

College Appeal Process

Academic grievances about course content and/or course requirements must go to the instructor of the course first, then if unfavorable to the next level as listed in grade appeals. The College of Family and Consumer Sciences follows these guidelines and further delineate in the FACS Grade Appeal Chart. Per University Policy, an appeal can be made for graded work within the course or the grade given at the end of the course. See Academic Affairs Policy for additional information. 

Academic grievances about an instructor or staff member in a department must be made to the Department Head. Make an appointment to see the Department Head to discuss the grievance. The Department Head may request that you put the grievance in writing. Letters should clearly and concisely explain the grievance, state the matter in the first paragraph and include all relevant information in support of the grievance. The student meeting with the Department Head may be audio recorded. After the meeting with the student, the Department Head will consult with the faculty member (keeping the student’s name anonymous), the Department Head may also consult the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and/or Associate Dean for Outreach and Extension or the Dean of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Once a grievance is made the Department Head has 7 working days in which to investigate the grievance, talk with instructor, and may render his/her decision in writing.

Click here for grievance procedures for a graduate student to appeal assistantship evaluation of progress toward degree completion and other non-grade appeals. 

Approved 1/26/2017

University Appeal Process

Student Responsibilities in Appeals

The University Bulletin includes the following statement in its “General Academic Regulations and Information”: “Students are expected to be full participants in academic advising and thus to be both prepared and engaged in the advising experience. The academic landscape changes constantly, and although advisors can provide advice, each student is ultimately responsible for knowing and understanding the degree requirements and policies related to his/her own academic progress.”

IMPORTANT: Petitions based on a lack of knowledge of university requirements are rarely successful.

Route of Appeals

Appeals begin at the academic unit responsible for the decision. For example, grade appeals go to the instructor who assigned the grades; department requirements to the department; college requirements to the college; all university requirements to the Educational Affairs Committee. 

In the case of graduate students, appeals are routed to the Graduate School rather than the school or college.

An unfavorable ruling at one level can be appealed to the successive levels as defined in the Student Academic Appeal Process. An instructor decision can be appealed to the department; a department ruling can be appealed to the college in which the instructional unit is located; a college ruling can be appealed to the Educational Affairs Committee; and the Educational Affairs Committee ruling can be appealed to the President of the University.

Students who have a matter they wish to appeal at the college level should contact Melissa Landers-Potts, Associate Dean for Academic Programs.

Grade Appeals

The process for grade appeals at UGA can be found here.

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