Every student has the right to ask for reconsideration of a decision determined by any Hearing Officer.

Appeals are confined to a review of the case file based on one or more of the pertinent grounds for appeal described below. Appeals are not intended to re-hear the allegations or to constitute a denovo review of the case.

Absent clear and material error, appeals determinations are intended to be deferential to the original hearing officer. Findings should be revised by the appeal officer only when returning the case for reconsideration by the original hearing officer or granting a new hearing would be insufficient, impractical, or unnecessary. Sanctions will be revised by the appeal officer only if there is a compelling justification to do so.

An appeal must be submitted within three (3) business days after the decision letter is delivered to the student's Springfield College email account. An appeal may be made solely on the grounds of:

• Error in the charge and/or hearing process that would change the outcome (e.g., substantiated bias, material deviation from established procedures, etc.); or

• New information that could not have been discovered prior to the hearing through the exercise of reasonable diligence and that would likely affect the outcome. A summary of this new evidence and its potential impact must be included in the written appeal.

A full time College staff member shall act as the appeal officer. The appeal must be submitted electronically via the appeal form link included in the outcome letter and must clearly and succinctly outline and explain how one or both of the specific grounds described above have been met. The party submitting the appeal has the burden of demonstrating how the above grounds have been met. After reviewing the written appeal(s), written statement(s), and associated case file, the appeal officer will take one of the following actions:

• Reject the appeal as untimely or improper based on the grounds articulated above.

• Uphold the original decision and/or sanction. Grant the appeal and: Return the case with specific instructions to the original hearing officer or hearing body for further consideration;
• Grant the appeal and: Return the case with specific instructions to the original hearing officer or hearing body for further consideration;
• Return the case with specific instructions to the original hearing officer or hearing body for further consideration;

• Modify the sanction(s) by reducing or enhancing the sanction(s). A rationale will be provided by the appeal officer when a sanction is modified.

Follow this link to begin the appeal process.