COMMITTEE:           Student Academic Appellate

MEETING DATE:    Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007

PERSON PRESIDING:     Tom Durham

REGULAR MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Vic Aeby, Mike Brown, Tom Durham, Jeni Parker

REGULAR MEMBERS ABSENT: Dee-Dee Glascoff (excused), Mario Rey (excused), Cindi Putnam-Evans

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Henry Newkirk

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ABSENT:   Elizabeth Layman (excused), Chris Grymes

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE:  Gerry Clayton, Elvis Jones

ACTIONS OF MEETING:

Agenda Item: Financial Aid appeal

Discussion: The committee feels it was clear in the previous appeal by the student. The conditions were that the student be accepted into the BFA Dance performance major, and then she would be granted aid. The student was not accepted into that specific program and the committee will not support aid.

Action Taken: 1 - denied

Agenda Item: Drop exception appeals

Discussion: Two of these appeals were tabled at the April 4^th meeting, and the students have provided more documentation. In one of the appeals the committee still does not see any evidence to support the students appeal. The committee did grant the other appeal after considering the additional documentation. One of the granted appeals is pending documentation to support the student’s increased work load. In another appeal, the committee asks that the student seriously pursue an incomplete in the course. If the instructor does not give the incomplete, the committee gives the registrar permission to grant the appeal. In 2 other appeals, the committee has agreed to grant the appeal pending medical documentation. Another appeal will be granted pending the committee’s receipt of a letter from the department chair to verify his support of the appeal. In one of the denied appeals, the committee strongly suggests the student try to resolve the grade dispute with the instructor and/or chair. In one of the tabled appeals, the committee requests a syllabus and information from the instructor of the course, including his version of the events. In the other tabled appeal, the committee requests the student provide documentation of who exactly told him his course would be dropped.

Action Taken: 11 - granted, 13 – denied, 2 - tabled

Agenda Item: Retroactive drop

Discussion: One of these appeals will be granted pending receipt of a note from the student’s advisor verifying error in advising. The tabled appeal is pending medical documentation from the student before the committee can consider the appeal.

Action Taken: 2- granted, 1 - tabled

Agenda Item: Retroactive withdrawal

Discussion:

Action Taken: 1 – granted

Agenda Item: A request of the registrar

Discussion: The committee has asked that the registrar require the students to provide all documentation so the committee can fully hear the appeal. This should also include any or all documentation from the instructor if he or she is unwilling/unable to work with the student.

Action Taken: 1 – granted

NEXT MEETING:  Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 1:00 pm in Rawl Annex 142.