Submitting an Appeal to the Graduate Council Appeals Committee

The Graduate Council Appeals Committee is chaired by the associate dean of the Graduate School and includes members of the Graduate Council representing graduate faculty and graduate students. The Committee reviews appeals from graduate students regarding academic decisions. For decisions made at the program or department level, graduate students must appeal at the program/department level and college level before bringing an appeal to the Graduate Council Appeals Committee.

The Graduate Council Appeals Committee reviews and adjudicates:

• Appeals for reinstatement after academic dismissal or discontinuation from an academic program.
• Appeals for exceptions to Graduate School policies that are defined in the Graduate Catalog.
• Appeals for exceptions to departmental or program-level policies, provided that the appellant has been denied at the departmental and/or college level and provided that the request alleges the policy or rule has been applied in an arbitrary and/or capricious manner.

How to Submit an Appeal

All appeals materials should be addressed to the Graduate Council Appeals Committee and must be submitted via email to gradrecords@niu.edu.

Appeals for Reinstatement after Dismissal or Discontinuation

• The student submits a letter of appeal. The letter should explain the reason for dismissal or discontinuation, including any exceptional circumstances that the student wishes to prove via documented evidence. The letter should also include a detailed plan for returning to good academic standing. Students are advised to consult with their program faculty/advisor about reinstatement.
• The student requests a letter supporting or refusing support for the appeal for reinstatement from the program coordinator or department chair. Letters should acknowledge the plan for returning to good academic standing.
• Other relevant materials or evidence may be submitted by the student or department/program for consideration by the committee.

Appeals for Exceptions to Graduate School Policies

• The student submits a letter of appeal. The letter must state explicitly the policy from which the student seeks an exception and the outcome sought. The letter must state why the exception is sought in their particular case.
• The student requests a letter supporting or refusing support for the appeal for an exception from the program coordinator or department chair.
• Other relevant materials or supporting documentation may be submitted by the student or department/program for consideration by the committee.

Appeals for Exceptions to Program/Departmental/College Policies

• The student submits a letter of appeal. The letter must state explicitly the policy from which the student seeks an exception and the outcome sought. The student must present evidence that the policy has been applied arbitrarily or capriciously. For these purposes, arbitrary and capricious shall mean that the policy was applied in such a manner that presents a substantial departure from the application of the policy to others, and without reasonable justification for such departure under the circumstances and facts.
• A letter of response is submitted by the program coordinator or department chair. Students-at-large may not appeal program/departmental policies.

Regulations

• All materials presented to the Graduate Council Appeals Committee will be shared with the student and the program director/department chair.
• The burden of proof for providing evidence to support an appeal resides with the student.
• The committee reserves its right to seek additional or clarifying information if it believes such information is necessary for a fair adjudication of the appeal.
• Departmental/program policies as outlined in a graduate student handbook may be changed on an annual basis. Responsibility for knowing such policies resides with students; responsibility for distributing and explaining such policies resides with departments/programs.
• All materials must be received by the deadline below to be reviewed by the Graduate Council Appeals Committee. Students who do not secure materials by the deadline may be delayed in making their appeal.
• Appellants for reinstatement or exceptions to Graduate School policies are strongly encouraged but not required to submit a letter from their departments/programs for appeals.
• Programs/departments/colleges are required to submit materials for appeals for exceptions to program/departmental/college policies.
• Students may request to attend a Graduate Council Appeals Committee meeting; if a student requests to attend a meeting, then the department shall be requested to send a representative, as well.
• Members of the Graduate Council Appeals Committee may request the student and a departmental/program/college representative to attend its meetings.
• A student whose appeal has been denied by the Graduate Council Appeals Committee may request reconsideration only upon presentation, in writing, of additional relevant evidence not previously available to the committee.
• There is no further authority to which a decision of the Graduate Council Appeals Committee may be appealed.

Graduate Council Appeals Committee Schedule 2026-2027