48.1.1 Students desiring exception to any academic policy (including but not limited to add and drop deadlines, grade changes, reinstatement of classes after non-payment of tuition, general education requirement waivers or substitutions, waiving of course prerequisites or placement criteria, etc.) shall make formal petition to the Academic Appeals Committee.

48.1.2 The Academic Appeals Committee shall constitute the hearing panel that weighs the merits of the petitions and renders a decision on the petitions. This committee's voting membership shall be composed of a majority of full-time faculty members.

48.2.1 First, the student desiring exception to policy shall make a written petition for the exception to policy, using the Academic Appeals Form, which shall be available in the Admissions and Records Office.

48.2.2 Second, the Academic Appeals Committee shall consider the written petition in formal meeting without the student present, and render a decision based on the written petition. The committee's decision shall be communicated to the student within 14 days following the conclusion of the committee meeting.

48.2.3 Third, if the student is satisfied with the committee's decision, the committee's decision shall be implemented. On the other hand, if the student is not satisfied with the committee's decision, the student shall appear in person at the next meeting for a hearing in which the student presents the petition in person. In this meeting, the student may present written statements from doctors, faculty members, fellow students or other persons.

48.2.4 Fourth, the Academic Appeals Committee shall consider the information that the student provided in the hearing and render a second decision on the student's petition. The committee's decision shall be communicated to the student within 14 days following the conclusion of the hearing.

48.3.1 If, and only if, the student has completed the four phases described above, and if the student continues to be dissatisfied with the committee's decision, the student may appeal the committee's decision to either the vice president of academics or the vice president of student services.

48.3.2 When the student's appeal involves the student's complete withdrawal from an academic term, or when the student's appeal involves any other academic policy, the student shall make appeal to the vice president of academics.

48.3.3 Emergency appeals, as determined by the vice president of academics, may necessitate an immediate decision for an appeal. The merits of an emergency appeal will be determined by the vice president of academics, and will only be considered if she or he regards the appeal as such (an emergency); otherwise, the vice president of academics will refer the appeal back to the four-phase process described above. All emergency appeal decisions will be forwarded to the academic appeals committee chair.

48.3.4 When appealing to the vice president, the student shall present all written materials.

48.3.5 The vice president's decision shall be final.

48.3.6 The vice president shall notify the Academic Appeals Committee of the decision.

48.4.1 No reprisals of any kind shall be taken by or against any party or legitimate participate in the petition procedure by reason of such participation; however, individuals furnishing false information and/or documentation to the hearing panel are subject to disciplinary action. The student may withdraw a petition at any time.

48.5.1 Appropriate confidentiality will be observed in all of this committee's procedures.