Academic Appeals
A student who feels they have been treated inappropriately in an academic matter should first discuss their concern with the faculty member whose action is in question.
If the student feels the instructor’s position is still in error, the student can appeal in writing to the Division Chair who supervises the instructor. This notification must be submitted to the Division Chair within 10 working days of the student’s notification by the instructor of the academic action. The Division Chair will review the matter with the instructor and attempt to facilitate an appropriate resolution. The student is limited to one appeal per course, with a maximum of two appeals per semester.
If the student feels the Division Chair has not reached an appropriate resolution of the matter, the student can appeal to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs within five working days. The student’s written submission to the Division Chair will form the basis of the student’s appeal. A copy of the student's appeal will be made available to the instructor in question, and that instructor will then submit a written statement pertaining to the appeal. After receiving the instructor's written statement, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will notify the Faculty Affairs Committee of the student’s appeal. The Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee will appoint an appeals committee. The committee will consist of two students and three faculty members. If it is impossible for three Faculty Affairs Committee members to convene at the same time, then the Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee may appoint faculty members outside the Faculty Affairs Committee to serve on the appeals committee. The committee will meet within 10 working days following receipt of the appeal.
The committee will review the written appeal and determine whether or not there may be merit to the appeal. If the committee feels that the written appeal has no merit, they shall recommend to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs that no hearing be held. The Vice Chancellor’s decision shall be final.
If the committee feels that the appeal may have merit, it shall hold a hearing promptly. At this hearing both the student filing the appeal and the instructor will have the opportunity to testify before the committee. Each party shall be present during the other party’s testimony and shall be given the opportunity to question the testimony.
The committee has the right to request testimony from other pertinent parties. The committee will make a recommendation to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The Vice Chancellor’s decision is final.
A student appealing University of Arkansas online consortium courses follows the processes outlined by the University of Arkansas online consortium. See the Consortium Liaison for details.
Academic Dishonesty
Cheating in any form is forbidden. The college defines cheating as several acts: plagiarism; the use of unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise; falsification of college records; unauthorized possession of examinations; and any other action that may improperly affect the evaluation of a student's academic achievement or performance and the unauthorized assistance of others in any such act.
When an instructor or administrator charges a student with academic dishonesty deserving sanction, the instructor or administrator shall determine a grade sanction. Instructors who report students for academic dishonesty must provide essential details of the incident in writing to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs within ten days of discovery of the incident. The student and instructor will be notified in writing of the sanction by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. In addition, the administration reserves the right to levy an additional sanction on any student who cheats. This sanction can extend to suspending the student from class or permanently dismissing him or her from the college. Students recommended for suspension or dismissal will be notified by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and will be given the opportunity to be heard by an academic appeals committee before a sanction is imposed.