Post Meeting and Appeal Process
Please be sure to carefully read the letter in its entirety as it contains important information about the outcomes (if applicable), their due dates, and the appeals process.
The Appeal Process
A student found responsible for a policy violation in a student conduct or academic integrity meeting has the right to appeal in writing both the finding of responsibility and/or the outcome. The appeal process ensures that students who engage in University of Vermont’s conduct process can fully participate in and are treated fairly in this process. An appeal is not a re-hearing of the original conduct meeting but rather a review of the record. The Appellate Officer reviews the full case file and any documentation submitted with the appeal. Character evidence is not considered. The written appeal must state the grounds or reasons for the appeal and must include information that supports the reason for the appeal.
Ground for Appeal
- A procedural error that unfairly and materially affected the outcome of the case;
- Material evidence has been discovered that was not reasonably available at the time of the conduct meeting;
- A clear abuse of discretion on the part of the Conduct Meeting Facilitator(s) or Academic Integrity Council.
An appeal decision may uphold the original outcome and sanction(s) or modify the outcome and/or sanction(s) of the original decision. The appeal decision constitutes the final resolution of the case by the University.
Recommendations for Preparing for an Appeal
1. Carefully Review the Conduct Process and Your Conduct File
Review all correspondence and information you have received pertaining to the conduct case. If you have any questions about the process, it is important to get clarification from the Center for Student Conduct or Dean of Students Office (DOS). You also have the right to request information in your student conduct file by contacting the Center for Student Conduct at (802) 656-4360 or sconduct@uvm.edu.
2. Adhere to All Deadlines
The student has 5 business days after the decision letter is issued to submit an appeal. The acceptance of a late appeal is at the discretion of the Appeals Officer.
3. Submit a Complete and Thorough Appeal
You should state your ground(s) for appeal clearly and thoroughly. Include a detailed rationale for your appeal and any supporting information or documentation. Be aware that any information you provide may be independently verified before being considered in the appeal.
- Procedural error that unfairly and materially affected the outcome of the case.
- What was the procedural error? Who made the error?
- How did this error materially and unfairly affect the outcome of the case? In other words, what difference did the procedural error make?
- Important Note – Not attending your conduct meeting because you did not read your university e-mail or intentionally choosing not to participate in the meeting is not a procedural error.
- Newly discovered evidence that was not available at the time of the original conduct meeting.
- What is the new evidence? How is this relevant and how does this information impact the outcome?
- Why was this new evidence not reasonably available at the time of the conduct meeting?
Failure to share information that was known at the time of the conduct meeting does not constitute new evidence. If you present new evidence in the form of a witness statement, the person submitting this information needs to include their full name, contact information, statement, signature and date.
The witness needs to include a brief but specific paragraph at the end of their statement as follows:
“The information that I have provided in this statement is true and accurate. I have made this statement freely without expectation of a benefit or reward, without threat of punishment, and without coercion. I understand that providing false information in this statement may constitute a violation of university policy for which one may be held accountable.”
- Clear abuse of discretion by the Conduct Meeting Facilitator or Academic Integrity Council
- Is the sanction inappropriate (i.e., too severe or too lenient) for the conduct?
- What information or evidence supports this claim?
- Does the evidence in the record reasonably support the findings by the Conduct Meeting Facilitator or Academic Integrity Council? If it doesn’t, describe how.
4. Review Your UVM Email and Respond to All Communications
The Appeals Officer will communicate with you via university e-mail. Failure to retrieve your email or to timely respond may result in your appeal being denied or not receiving full consideration.