Appealing Academic Discipline

The Senate Committee on Student Appeals on Academic Discipline

This committee will only hear appeals of student discipline decisions made by the president. The specific terms that apply to the Senate Committee on Student Appeals on Academic Standing do not strictly apply to this committee and, as a result, the Senate Committee on Student Appeals on Student Discipline has greater flexibility in its review process.

As per the UBC Calendar, a student must submit a statement of appeal detailing their grounds of appeal within 45 business days of the date of the president’s letter stating their final decision.

Past successful senate appeals have been based on the allocation of a harsh or unusual punishment, or the introduction of new evidence that was not available for the President’s Advisory Committee on Student Discipline (PACSD) hearing.

Other possible grounds for appeal include:

• Procedural errors made by PACSD;
• Failure to give proper weight to all of the evidence submitted.

In assessing whether or not a student has grounds for appeal, it is important to keep in mind that general hardship resulting from the disciplinary action is not considered a ground for appeal. For example, the senate will not reverse a PACSD suspension because it will delay a student’s graduation date, cause family problems, or require the student to spend more money on their education.

A useful resource in determining whether or not a student has grounds for appeal based on harshness is the Student Report on Academic Discipline. It lists the president’s decisions and punishments handed down to students during the past academic year. Should a student find that his or her punishment seems more severe than what was given to students accused of a similar academic offence, then that may constitute a ground for appeal.

The AMS Student Advocacy Office can assist and represent you during this process.