How to a Appeal a Finding

Making an Appeal

The Respondent may appeal decisions made by the Honor Board, other hearing bodies, or administrators by submitting a request for review in writing within five business days of receiving written notification of the outcome of the hearing. In cases of sex discrimination or sexual harassment, including sexual assault/violence, the Complainant also may appeal by filing a written request for review within five business days of receiving written notification of the outcome of the hearing. Only appeals that are based on one or more of the following grounds will be considered for review:

a procedural error by the hearing panel where the error prevented fundamental fairness
new information that was not available at the hearing that could potentially affect the outcome
an imposed sanction that is disproportionate to the violation and/or conduct history of the student

Students wishing to appeal decisions of the Honor Board should submit the appeal using the online appeal form, which can be found at https://washcoll.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cGdgaxWayzyhi9D. The form will be forwarded to the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee (for social violations) or the Provost or designee (for academic violations). The Vice President for Student Affairs or designee, or the Provost or designee, will determine whether the appeal meets the above criteria. If any of the criteria are met, the case will be referred to the appeal board; if the case does not meet one of the criteria, there will be no further review. In cases where a student appeals the sanction of suspension or expulsion issued as a result of a conduct review, the student may appeal to the President of the College following a decision by the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee, or the Provost or designee, not to refer the case to the appeal board, or after an appeal board affirms the sanction of suspension or expulsion.

Appeal Board

The appeal board will hear cases that have been forwarded for review from the Vice President for Student Affairs or the Provost.

For appeals of findings of social violations, the appeal board will consist of two members of the Honor Board who were not present at the original hearing as well as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee.

For appeals of findings of academic violations, the appeal board will consist of two members of the Honor Board who were not present at the original hearing as well as the Provost of the College or designee.

Appeal Board Procedures

An appeal board will review the case in a timely manner once a case has been referred by the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee, or the Provost or designee. After reviewing the case, the appeal board has the following options:

to affirm the decision of responsibility and the sanction imposed by the Honor Board, administrator,or hearing body
to affirm the decision of responsibility but ask that the sanction be reconsidered by the original hearing panel
to affirm the decision of responsibility and modify the sanction
to overturn the decision of responsibility
to refer the case back to the original hearing panel to consider additional information
to refer the case back for a full Honor Board hearing, administrator, or other hearing body, for a new hearing

Except in cases where a sanction of suspension or expulsion has been issued, decisions made by an appeal board are final and are not subject to further review. In cases where suspension or expulsion is issued as a result of a conduct review, and the suspension or expulsion sanction is upheld by the appeal board, a student may subsequently appeal to the President of the College following the review and finding of the appeal board. The appeal, submitted via the online appeal form, must be received by the President’s Office in writing within five business days of written notification of the decision of the Provost or designee or the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee or the appeal board. The President has the same options listed above in Appeal Board Procedures when reviewing any appeal.

Appeals of Grades or Academic Coursework

Appeals of grades or academic coursework are not reviewed by the above process. Those appeals must be made through a separate process, as outlied in the Washington College Catalog at https://www.washcoll.edu/people_departments/offices/registrar/college-catalog.php

Student Conduct Record Policy

After seven years following a student’s permanent end to enrollment at Washington College, the student’s conduct record on file with the Student Affairs Office will be destroyed.