Academic Appeals

Introduction

If you have just failed an exam or assessment, you're likely to be worried about your future at University. Perhaps you have been told that you can't carry on in your course? Maybe you feel that the reason you failed was outwith your control? Whatever the problem, Ask can help, or direct you to someone who can.

This is a guide to Strathclyde's appeals system, whereby students can appeal against a decision on their progress given by their Board of Examiners. Outlined below are the grounds on which an appeal can be made, along with advice on how to seek help and how to write an appeals letter.

If you need any further information, do not hesitate to contact Ask on 0141 567 5043, e-mail ask4@theunion.strath.ac.uk, or pop in to Ask @ The Lounge on Level 5 of the Union. We're here to help!

Appeals up to a Pass Degree Level

What is Open to Appeal?

If you fail an exam, or other assessment, the Board of Examiners for your subject may decide that you can proceed to the next year, although you may still have resits in August, or resit the exam or assessment. If, however, they decide not to allow you to resit, or you fail your resit, their decision on your progress will usually be one of the following:

• Suspend: You must wait and resit the following year. In the meantime you register in academic suspension - take a year out.

• Withdraw: You've had all the maximum attempts that a student is normally allowed and haven't passed, so you're being asked to leave the University. The Board may cite that you will have 'no further benefit' from continuing to try.

• Re-attend: You can repeat the year you have failed [strathclyde:only offered in exceptional circumstances].

Their decision will be outlined on the results letter you receive from the University. If the decision given isn't listed here, seek help from Ask.

If you have been asked to suspend your studies, withdraw or re-attend the University, and you believe that you failed because of procedural irregularities in the conduct of the exam or assessment, medical or personal problems, that the examiners were not aware of at the time of the exam, or inadequate assessment, prejudice or bias on the part of one or more of the examiners, you should appeal against the decision of the board.

Remember though, that appeals can only be made on the above grounds. If you believe that your work was good enough to pass and you want to complain that it was marked lower than it should have been, that is not grounds for appeal. You could raise this with your department but not with the Board of Examiners - they will take the view that, as work is marked anonymously and by 2 markers, the decision on its merit isn't open to question.

How do I Appeal?

Instructions on how to appeal will be contained in the letter you receive giving your results. That letter will tell you who to send your letter to and what date you must submit it by - don't miss it or your appeal may not be considered.

What do I Say?

Your letter should be clearly dated and contain your name, registration number, address, year and course. Ideally, it should be typed.
Introduction: Your first sentence should say what decision you are appealing against, on what grounds and what decision you hope the Appeals Committee will offer you.
Information: There are three main grounds for appeal [strathclyde:University Calendar, Part II, 8.1.23]:

1. That there were procedural irregularities in the conduct of the examination or of the assessment [strathclyde:including alleged administrative error of such a nature as to cause reasonable doubt as to whether the examiners would have reached the same conclusion if the alleged error had not been made];

1. That there were medical, personal or other circumstances affecting the student's performance of which the examiners were not aware when their decision was taken;

1. That there was inadequate assessment, prejudice or bias on the part of one or more of the examiners.

You can appeal on any or all of these grounds. If you're not sure whether you have grounds to appeal, go to Ask for advice.

In this part of your letter you should explain clearly the circumstances which you believe should be taken into account by the Appeals Committee in revising the decision of your Board of Examiners. Make sure to tell them whether you sought help from your department or Academic Counsellor earlier and, if not, why not. You're supposed to inform your department before taking an exam if there are any special circumstances which might cause you to perform less well so you must let the Appeals Committee know why you didn't do this. Keep your story clear and, if possible, concise, and try to give dates when things occurred which affected you, as this helps to establish the background to your situation.

Corroboration: Include any doctors' letters, letters from staff or any other evidence backing up your appeal. These are vital to your case. You should also refer to them directly in your letter.

Future: In this section you should let the Board know how you will use a revised decision to help you succeed in your academic work next year. They'll want to know about any plans you have to help improve your situation.

Conclusion: The final section of your letter should draw your main points into a conclusion and restate your request. Ask someone to read over your completed appeal letter to make sure there are no mistakes and it puts your case forward as well as possible. Ask advisors can do this for you.

What Happens Next?

The Faculty Officer will collect together your appeal including any other letters with corroborating evidence. S/he may come back to you if anything seems incomplete and your letter will be copied to your department for comment. The independent Appeals Committee considers your situation in detail and you will be informed of their decision very quickly afterwards. Even so, if you appeal in September, this can sometimes be after term starts - speak to your Department about attending classes meantime. Students from the Faculty of Education have the right to attend their Appeal - if you wish to do this, contact Ask for advice. Ask advisors can accompany you to your appeal if you wish.

If Your Appeal Fails at Faculty Board Level...

You have a final right of appeal to Senate. This is a serious step and you should certainly seek advice first. Ask will be able to advocate for you if you wish.

Honour Students

It is possible to appeal against an Honours classification, but more difficult. You should contact your department as soon as possible and certainly seek advice from Ask. Do NOT graduate before your appeal is heard and you are satisfied that you don't want to take it any further. Inform your Registry as soon as you decide to appeal so they can take you off the Graduation list. You can't change your degree classification after graduation.

Useful Contacts

Ask on Level 5, the Union, can help you with preparing an academic appeal and represent you if needs be up to Senate Level. Ask can also give you advice on any personal or financial problems you might be facing.

The full-time staff at Ask are Ursula Tereba, Vice-President Support and Campaigns, Alison Urquhart, Student Adviser & Nicola Summers, Student Adviser. Contact Ask4 on 0141 567 5040. Darren Matthews, the Democratic Services Co-ordinator also deals with academic appeals. He can be contacted on 0141 567 5049, on level 10 of the Union, or through Ask.

There is also an Ask office in the David Stow building at Jordanhill and appointments can be made to see advisors there. Contact 0141 950 3254 for the Jordanhill office.

Faculty Officers administrate for the Boards and can give you information about how and when to place an appeal. Contact them on Level 2, McCance Building or, for Faculty of Education students, on the ground floor of the David Stow Building.

Student Advisory and Counselling Service is run by the University and can give you advice on how to appeal, as well as providing counselling on any problem you might be having. Contact them on Level 4, Graham Hills Building, 0141 548 3510.

Your GP, the Student and Occupational Health Service [strathclyde:Level 1, Livingstone Tower], or a member of staff who knew about your difficulties may be able to provide evidence of extenuating circumstances for your appeal. Include letters from them, addressed to your Faculty Officer, along with your appeal letter.
Faculty Centre for Academic Practice [strathclyde:Level 2, Graham Hills Building] can give you advice on more effective ways to study and manage your work.

Your department or Academic Counsellor should be a good source of support and guidance. Some Faculties have people with a particular responsibility to help with appeals - check with your Registry.