Academic Appeals Process for CSB Graduate Students

The following outlines the process for CSB graduate students wishing to appeal academic matters. Graduate students should be aware that they may appeal academic matters (e.g., mark in a course, thesis proposal defense result) decided within CSB.

The first step in the appeal process is to try and directly resolve the situation with the course instructor or other person/committee whose ruling/decision is in question. If the matter cannot be resolved with the instructor, the student should contact the Associate Graduate Chair (John Peever; email) to discuss the matter in more detail. If the matter in question remains unresolved, the student should provide a formal written appeal, which will be submitted to the Chair (Les Buck; email) of the Graduate Department Academic Appeals Committee (GDAAC). As mandated by the School of Graduate Studies (https://facultyandstaff.sgs.utoronto.ca/sgs-councils-and-committees/graduate-academic-appeals/), the GDAAC is composed of four graduate faculty members and one CSB graduate student member. The 2021-2022 GDAAC members are: Les Buck (Chair; StG), Eiji Nambara (StG), Mary Cheng (UTM) and Sonia Gazzarrini (UTSC), and Ahmed Elbassiouny (CSB graduate student).

An academic appeal must be filed within 8 weeks after the date of the decision being appealed. As indicated in the School of Graduate Studies guidelines (https://facultyandstaff.sgs.utoronto.ca/sgs-councils-and-committees/graduate-academic-appeals/), formal written appeals are initiated by a notice of appeal, which must include the following:

(1) A statement of the matter/decision the student is appealing, and why the student believes the decision was incorrect, including any arguments the student wishes to advance in support of the appeal;

(2) The name(s) of the person(s) who made the decision, and the date it was communicated to the student;

(3) Copies of any documented evidence that the student wishes the Committee to consider.

(4) A statement of the resolution the student is seeking.