Appeals & Discipline

The Senate Review Board Academic (SRBA) is the University’s highest level internal tribunal for academic appeals. SRBA’s jurisdiction is limited to the following academic appeals: 

1. Against a finding that your conduct amounted to a scholastic offence;
2. For relief against the penalty imposed as a result of the scholastic offence
3. To challenge a failure to follow, or to properly apply, a Senate policy;
4. For consideration of new evidence, not available at the time of the ealier decision, that casts doubt on the correctness of the Dean's decision;
5. Against general marking or grading practices;
6. To challenge a failure to observe a procedural requirement at the decanal level*; or
7. There was bias at the decanal level.**

*For cases alleging procedural error, in your Application for Hearing, you will need to identify the specific policy or procedure that has not been followed and explain how it was not complied with. 

 **For cases alleging bias, in your Application for Hearing, you will need to provide evidence supporting allegations that the decision maker is predisposed against or in favor of one of the parties or a specific class of persons. This can be shown by remarks, decisions contrary to fact, reason or law, or other unfair conduct. The fact that the Dean did not grant the relief you requested does NOT constitute as evidence of bias without additional supporting evidence showing bias on the part of the decision maker.

Time Limits

A complete Application must be filed with the Secretariat within six weeks of the date of the Dean’s final decision. 

SRBA Appeal Application

The University Discipline Appeal Committee (UDAC) is a committee of the Board of Governors and is the University’s highest-level internal tribunal for non-academic appeals. UDAC’s jurisdiction is limited to the following:

1. The finding of misconduct was unreasonable or unsupportable based on the evidence before the Vice-Provost (Students) (VPS) or designate (if the sanction is forfeiture of University awards or financial assistance, suspension or expulsion);
2. The sanction imposed was unreasonable or unsupportable based on the evidence before the VPS or designate (if the sanction imposed was forfeiture of University awards or financial assistance, suspension or expulsion);
3. There was a serious procedural error in the hearing of the complaint which was prejudicial to the student;*
4. New evidence, not available at the time of the earlier decision, has been discovered, which casts doubt on the correctness of the decision; or
5. The VPS or designate did not have the authority under the Code of Student Conduct to reach the decision or impose the sanctions he/she did.
   
   

*For cases alleging procedural error, in your Appeal Application, you will need to identify the specific policy or procedure that has not been followed and explain how it was not complied with. 

Time Limits

A complete Application must be filed with the Secretariat within two weeks of the date of the final decision of the VPS or designate.

UDAC Appeal Application

Appeals under the Policy on Gender-Based and Sexual Violence (GBSV) are reviewed by an Adjudicator. GBSV appeals are limited to the following:

1. The sanction imposed by the VPS or designate was unreasonable or unsupportable based on the evidence;
2. New evidence, not available at the time of the earlier decision, has been discovered, which casts doubt on the correctness of the decision; or
3. There was a serious procedural error in the hearing of the complaint which was prejudicial to the student.*

*For cases alleging procedural error, in your Appeal Application, you will need to identify the specific policy or procedure that has not been followed and explain how it was not complied with.

Time Limits

A complete Application must be filed with the Secretariat within thirty days of the date of the final decision of the VPS or designate.

Appeal Application for the Policy on Gender-Based and Sexual Violence

Accessible Education (AE) is a confidential service on campus to help students with disabilities identify and arrange for reasonable accommodations to support their participation in the appeal process, if needed.

If a student with a disability believes that they will need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any aspect of the appeal process, then they must submit written notice to the University Secretariat (Secretariat) in the form of a letter addressed to the Chair of the Senate Review Board Academic (SRBA), Chair of the University Discipline Appeal Committee (UDAC), or the Adjudicator of Gender-Based and Sexual Violence appeals, depending on the applicable appeal policy. This written notice must be submitted before the deadline to file an appeal. For academic appeals, this means no later than six (6) weeks of the date of the Dean’s decision. For non-academic appeals, this means no later than two (2) weeks of the date of the Vice-Provost (Students) decision.

Written notice should be submitted electronically to the Secretariat at secretariat-appeals@uwo.ca.   

The Secretariat shall notify AE and the student of its receipt of the written notice. If needed, the Secretariat will share information on hearing procedures with AE to assist in AE’s determination of reasonable accommodations for the student. AE shall provide written notice to the Chair or Adjudicator and the student regarding its determination. If a student disagrees with AE’s decision, then they shall follow the appeal procedures set out in the policy on Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities and provide written notice to the Chair or Adjudicator that they have initiated that appeal procedure.

Please note that an academic accommodation that has been previously recommended by AE for other purposes does not automatically extend to the appeal process. For example, if AE has recommended additional time to submit assignments or assessments in a given course or courses, this recommendation does not mean that the student will automatically receive additional time to submit an academic or non-academic appeal. The student and AE will need to follow the procedures set out in the policy on Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities for establishing a student’s need for a reasonable accommodation in the context of an academic or non-academic appeal.        

It is important to contact AE as soon as possible to discuss the accommodation(s) that a student may need to participate in the appeals process. A student can schedule a confidential appointment with an AE Counsellor. AE can be reached by calling 519-661-2147 or emailing aew@uwo.ca.  AE is part of the Student Development Centre on the 4th floor of Western Student Services Building (WSSB). 

Questions or concerns regarding these procedures may be submitted to the Secretariat by emailing secretariat-appeals@uwo.ca.