Guidelines for Submitting an Academic Appeal
to the City College Committee on Course and Standing
It is important to remember that students do not
meet face to face with the Committee on Course and Standing. Your written
statement will be the only appeal presented to the
Committee, therefore it is crucial to make your case clearly and to demonstrate
that you have made significant efforts to change any unsatisfactory behavior. All
decisions of the Committee are final.
First, carefully complete your Appeal Cover Sheet
Make sure that you have the exact course and section number
of the course(s) in question, as well as the semester(s) in which you took
them, and the name(s) of the professor(s).
Complete both sides of the sheet.
Do not write your actual appeal on the form.
State your case in simple, precise language.
State what you want the Committee to do—approve a grade change, authorize a course withdrawal, etc—and why you feel this should be considered. Briefly describe your current academic situation and status, including any steps you have made to improve your academic standing. Make every effort to make your description clear and concise—avoid rambling. Be sure to use standard written English and avoid slang or unclear abbreviations.
Demonstrate that you are familiar with the academic policies of the College
You want to show that your claim is grounded in a knowledge
of the policies of
(http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/current/standards/index.cfm)
Provide medical, or other, documentation if appropriate.
For example, if you had to withdraw unofficially from a course due to an accident, surgery, complications of pregnancy, by all means, attach documentation such as a doctor’s note with your letter of appeal. If you had a death in your family, or had to go on jury duty, attach documentation. This will help the Committee establish the truthfulness of your claim.
Provide academic
documentation, if necessary.
If you are appealing to have a grade changed, you must attach a copy of the course syllabus that lists the course assignments and the instructor’s grading criteria.
Carefully review your letter for spelling or grammatical errors.
Errors may create the impression that you are careless, are not taking the appeal process seriously, or that you do really have serious academic weaknesses
Your job, in composing this letter, is to convince the Committee of the merits of your case. Even if you believe that you were treated unfairly or unprofessionally by a member of the faculty or staff, badmouthing will not help you achieve your goal. Keep your eyes on the prize—getting your appeal approved by the Committee.
End your letter by thanking the Committee in advance for
their time and attention.
KEEP A COPY OF THE APPEAL COVER SHEET, YOUR LETTER OF
APPEAL, AND ANY DOCUMENTATION YOU CHOOSE TO SUBMIT.
You should also submit a copy of your Appeal Cover Sheet, your letter of appeal, and any documentation to your academic advisor to be placed in your student file.
