Academic Appeals Process
Two committees are based in the Weissman Associate Dean’s Office – the Weissman Committee on Academic Standing and the Pathways Transfer Credit Appeal Committee.
Weissman Committee on Academic Standing
The Committee on Academic Standing meets once per month during the fall and spring semesters to review student appeals in academic matters.
These are some of the appeals handled by the committee:
- Retroactive withdrawal from a class or total resignation (after the semester is over) **
- Permission to drop after the deadline (within the semester)
- Request for an extension to resolve an INC grade
- Request for reinstatement if dismissed
- Third repeat of a course
- Curricular adjustments or waivers of academic rules
** NOTES**
- Financial aid recipients should consult the Financial Aid Office BEFORE submitting retroactive withdrawal or total resignation appeals. Changes to your record might result in loss of aid and/or out of pocket expenses for you.
- Students on F1 or J1 visas must consult the International Student Services Center BEFORE submitting retroactive withdrawal or total resignation appeals.
All requests should include a completed appeal form and include documented, supporting evidence: medical notes, military papers, etc. The filing of an appeal does not guarantee a favorable decision; the committee weighs all the information presented by the student and arrives at a conclusion based upon the application of college rules and the appropriateness of the request.
Please note: Appeals often require input/recommendations from offices throughout the college. Submission of an appeal before the meeting date does not guarantee the request will be considered at that meeting.
The student is informed in writing of the committee’s decision. Students do not appear before the committee.
The Weissman Committee on Academic Standing is based in the Office of the Associate Dean. Appeals should be submitted via email to WSAS.CASAppeals@baruch.cuny.edu.
Grade Appeals
Students have a right to understand the rationale for their grades. When a student receives a course grade they believe to be inaccurate, they should reach out to their professor to clarify the grade calculation and address any questions.
First Level of Appeal at WSAS:
If a student believes their final course grade does not accurately reflect their other graded work and performance in the class, they should appeal to their professor in writing for a change of grade within 30 days of the date when the grade was posted. The student should be prepared to present course materials in support of their belief that the grade they have been given is inaccurate, including graded materials such as exams, papers, homework, etc.
Second Level of Appeal at WSAS:
If the faculty member and student can’t resolve the issue, the student should approach the relevant department chair. The student should be prepared to present course materials in support of their belief that the grade they have been given is incorrect, including the syllabus, class expectations, and rubrics or other grading guidelines that the professor provided to students, as well as the student’s own graded materials such as exams, papers, homework, etc. The chair cannot change the student’s grade, but may be able to facilitate communication between the student and professor.
Third Level of Appeal at WSAS:
a. If the issue remains unresolved after discussion with the instructor and department chair, the student can choose to move forward with a formal grade appeal. To do so, the student must submit the syllabus, assignments, and all graded coursework (e.g., papers, homework, exams, and/or quizzes, etc.) to WSAS.CASAppeals@baruch.cuny.edu. The student must also attach a written statement explaining what grade they believe they should have been assigned, supported by the academic rationale. The student may include other supporting documentation thought to be relevant, such as email communication with the professor, assignments and prompts, etc. Appeals to Weissman must be filed within 90 days of the date when the grade was posted.
b. Once received, the materials will be forwarded to the department for review. The chair will be asked to convene a committee on academic standing comprising three to five full-time faculty members. The committee members will consult the student’s professor and, as experts in their field, will review the syllabus and graded work to decide if a grade change is warranted. There are, of course, some limitations to this process, because the committee members cannot assess possible grade components like class participation, or unrecorded class presentations given during the semester. It is worth noting that the course grade may go up, may go down, or it may remain the same, and that the committee’s determination is final.
Pathways Transfer Credit Appeal Committee
After admission to Baruch College, students receive a Transfer Credit Evaluation Report which provides an accounting of how transfer credits will meet Pathways and other degree requirements. Any transfer student with concerns about how completed courses have been evaluated for transfer credit must meet with a campus advisor to review their Transfer Evaluation Report. After that meeting, students may initiate the Pathways transfer credit appeal process.
The appeal committee meets regularly during the fall and spring semesters, and reviews requests from students to substitute transferred courses to satisfy Pathways Core requirements, or to deviate from established Pathways curriculum policies. Please refer to the Baruch College Pathways Appeals Process page for more detailed information and instructions.