/Institutions/MGH-Institute-of-Health-Professions/json/2022-2023/SON-Program-Manual-local.json

/Institutions/MGH-Institute-of-Health-Professions/json/2022-2023/SON-Program-Manual.json

School of Nursing (SON) Program Manual > Students' Rights and Appeals > Appeals Procedures

Appeals Procedures

Appeals Procedures

Students may request an appeal under the following circumstances: (1) dismissal from the program, (2) grade grievance that has not been resolved following the IHP Policy for Changing a Final Course Grade, or (3) review for exemption to a current policy.

1. Appeal submission
   1. To initiate an appeal, the student must submit a written request to the Dean of the School of Nursing and send a copy to the Assistant Dean for Student Success. The written request provides a summary about the circumstance, the policy enforced, and why an exception should be considered.
   2. The Assistant Dean for Student Success and the Appeals Committee Co-Chairs review the request and determine if an Appeals Hearing is warranted.
   3. After the review a notice will be sent informing the student whether the appeal will be granted or not. The SON may also request for more information from the student before deciding.

       

2. Initiating an Appeals Panel
   1. The Assistant Dean for Student Success will send notice of appeal to the faculty/staff named in the appeal submission. The notice will inform the faculty/staff about the appeal request and the name of the student.
   2. The Chair or Co-Chair of the Appeals Committee will arrange the panel, schedule the hearing, and communicate the details about the hearing process to the student and faculty/staff involved. Hearings will take place within 10 business days of the appeals request.
   3. Student requesting the appeal may submit additional documentation to be considered during the hearing. Submission of materials must be made three days prior to the hearing to the Assistant Dean for Student Success.
   4. The Assistant Dean for Student Success will distribute all submitted documentation three days prior to the hearing to the Appeals Committee Co-Chairs, members of the appeal hearing panel, the student, faculty/staff involved, the student’s Faculty Advisor, and the Dean of the School of Nursing.

       

3. Appeal hearing details
   1. The appeal panel will be comprised of three faculty members from the School of Nursing; one faculty member will serve as Panel Chair.
      1. Individuals with conflict of interest will be recused.
   2. The student may bring one support person to the hearing, and the faculty/staff involved may also bring a support person. The person cannot be a legal representative or lawyer and may not speak prior to or during the hearing. The names and contact information of any support person who will attend the hearing must be communicated to the Assistant Dean of Student Success three days before the appeal.

       

4. Appeal hearing procedures
   1. The members of the appeal hearing panel will meet privately to review procedures and the submitted documentation immediately prior to the hearing.
   2. At the appointed time, the student, the faculty/staff member(s) and their respective support persons will join the hearing.
   3. The student will present the facts and circumstances which led to the appeal request (20 minutes or less).
   4. The faculty/staff will present their response to the argument presented (20 minutes or less).
   5. Panel members may ask questions of all parties.
   6. After the panel has concluded its questions, the hearing will conclude, and the parties will be dismissed.
   7. The panel members will deliberate and determine whether the appeal has been successful and outline any recommendations for next steps based on such determination.

    

5. Post appeal communication
   1. The Panel Chair will communicate the determination and recommendations, if any, of the panel to the Co-Chairs of the Appeal Committee, who then will communicate the recommendation in writing to the Dean of the School of Nursing and copy the Assistant Dean for Student Success, within three business days of the hearing.
   2. Following receipt of the recommendation, the Dean of the School of Nursing will communicate the decision in writing to the student within 10 business days of the hearing, with copies sent to the Assistant Dean for Student Success, Program Director, Faculty Advisor, Dean of Student Services, Registrar, and student file.
   3. The Assistant Dean will monitor as needed.

    

6. Right to appeal
   1. The student has the right to appeal a warning, suspension, or dismissal through the Student Grievance Procedure. Details of this procedure are outlined in the student handbook.

As of July 2022