Athabasca University Policy

AU

Appellant

The individual making an appeal.  An appellant can be a Student, an Applicant, or an authorized representative of a student or applicant.

Applicant

Any individual who has completed and submitted a General Application Form for admission to Athabasca University (“AU”).

Course Coordinator

The Course Coordinator is the individual responsible for the course.  This can be a Course Professor, Course Coordinator, Academic Coordinator or other individual that has been assigned this responsibility.

Penalty

The punishment imposed by AU on an Applicant or Student after it has been determined that the applicant or student has violated the Student Academic Misconduct or Non-Academic Misconduct Policy.

Procedural Grounds

Grounds for appeal that are based on University policies and procedures.

Substantive Grounds

Grounds for appeal that are completely academic in nature. (e.g. the  grade was assigned based on other evaluation standards than those published for the course, etc.)

Student

Any individual who has completed and submitted a General Application Form and has been admitted to AU.

University Officer

The AU representative responsible for investigation of alleged violation of this Policy, or with the authority to determine the penalty for violation of this Policy, or both, as set out in the Student Academic Misconduct  Disciplinary Procedures.

The Appellant wishing to appeal a decision must follow the procedures and submit the appeal to the appropriate University Officer outlined in the appropriate section of the Student Appeals Procedures. If the appeal is misdirected, the University Officer in receipt of the appeal shall redirect the appeal to the appropriate University Officer. Where there is disagreement as to which procedures should be followed or which University Officer should review the appeal, the Chair of the Student Academic Appeals Committee shall make the final decision

It is the responsibility of the appellant to set out the grounds on which they are basing their appeal.  The University has the right to summarily refuse an appeal where the Appellant fails to set out the grounds for the appeal, or fails to follow the appropriate appeal procedure as set out in the Student Appeals Procedures.  

Time limits for submitting appeals under the Student Appeals Procedures are mandatory and must be adhered to. Failure by an appellant to submit an appeal within the time limits set out therein shall result in the appellant forfeiting the right to appeal. The Chair of the Student Academic Appeals Committee, the Dean (or designates), or the Department Head (or designates) may, in their sole discretion, extend the time limit for the processing of an appeal of an appellant where they consider an extension appropriate under the circumstances.

In all cases the time limit for submission of any appeal shall commence when the Appellant first becomes aware of the decision which they wish to appeal. Where notification of the decision has been sent to the Appellant by the University by mail, the time limit commences when the Appellant receives, or has been deemed to have received, the notification, whichever occurs first. Notification of a decision sent by mail to the last known address of the Appellant is deemed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to have been received by the Appellant ten (10) business days after mailing  if sent to an Alberta address and twenty (20) business days if sent to an address outside Alberta.  Registered mail signed for by or on behalf of an Appellant is deemed to have been received on the day it was signed for.  

Where notification has been sent to the Appellant by the University through electronic means (e-letter, e-mail, etc.), the time limit commences on five (5) business days from the date the electronic communication was generated.

The University shall consult with staff, faculty or any other person considered appropriate in the process of reviewing an academic appeal application. 

The appeal of the assignment of a grade and subsequent remarking shall result in one of three possible outcomes:

1.         the grade remains the same;
2.         the grade is raised; or
3.         the grade is lowered.

The appeal of a decision on transfer credit shall result in one of two possible outcomes:

1.         the transfer credit award remains the same; or
2.         an award of additional transfer credit.