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Admission Decisions

Normally, admission decisions may not be appealed.

Admission decisions are made by each academic program. Some academic programs may be able to provide students’ feedback on their applications. You should reach out to the program directly, for feedback on your applications, tips to strengthen your submission, or to request an application be reconsideration. Please note, programs are not required to provide feedback to applicants.  

If you believe exceptional circumstances related to the fairness of the admission procedures and review process exist, we recommend you consult with the Associate Director, Graduate Admissions, Records and Registration (adgarr@sfu.ca) to determine if you are eligible to appeal.  

Should exceptional circumstances be present, you can appeal to the Senate Appeals Board.  

The Board will only review the fairness of admissions procedures and will not review an applicant’s credentials. For more information on this process, please visit the Senate Appeals Board

Admission - See

Applicants who meet or exceed minimum requirements for admission are not assured of admission to any graduate program, per . Normally, admission decisions may not be appealed. In exceptional circumstances, unsuccessful applicants may appeal to the committee to review university admissions. This committee will only review the fairness of admissions procedures and will not review an applicant's credentials.

Grade Appeals

When appealing a grade, the request should first be submitted to the instructor. If the instructor is not responsive or if they are unwilling to consider the request, the appeal can be escalated to the department chair. Similarly, if the chair is not responsive, if they are unwilling to consider the request, or if they deny the appeal, the appeal can be escalated to the Dean of the Faculty in which the course was taken. Finally, after exhausting all other options, grade reconsiderations may be sent to the Chair of Senate for final review. Each party should respond in a timely manner, normally within 10 days of receiving the request.

It is the student's responsibility to provide to the Chair all the relevant work returned by the instructor, and it is the instructor’s responsibility to provide to the Chair all relevant work which has been retained.

For full policy details and processes please review T 20.01, under section 2.5

Grades - See

May be appealed to the instructor, department chair and, in some cases, faculty dean in accordance with Policy T20.01.

Unsatisfactory Progress /Requirement to Withdraw Appeals

Students may appeal unsatisfactory progress decisions should you feel the decision was not properly considered at the graduate program committee.  

You may only submit an appeal after receiving a decision letter following a graduate program committee meeting held under Graduate General Regulation (GGR) 1.8.2 Review of Unsatisfactory Progress where the outcome is a requirement to withdraw or that progress has been deemed unsatisfactory

Once you have received their decision letter by your Program Committee, you have 15 business days to appeal the decision to the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.  

Special circumstances must be present in order for the appeal to be considered by the Senate Graduate Studies Committee Appeals Subcommittee (i.e., the Subcommittee).

Examples include but are not limited to: 

• a procedural error such as incorrect advice or improper administration by University personnel; 
• significant medical or psychological distress; or 
• other circumstances outside of the students’ control, with evidence the progress was adversely affected.

Appeals based on dissatisfaction with University policy or failure to meet published deadlines will not be considered

Appeal Package

Appeal package documentation must include:

• Appeal Form
• Copy of the original Requirement to Withdraw (RTW) letter or unsatisfactory progress decision letter from the Graduate Program Commitee.
• Letter outlining special circumstances in the case, and the desired outcome of the appeal. 
• Any relevant supporting documentation (indexed in chronological order) 

Appeal Process

1. Appeal documentation must be received by the Faculty of Graduate Studies by email to gsdean@sfu.ca within 15 business days of the date of the decision letter. Failure to appeal and to provide the supporting documentation within this 15-day period will result in the decision being upheld. 
2. The Dean shall provide a copy of the student’s appeal package to the graduate program committee (GPC) Chair. The Response from the GPC Chair is due within 10 business days and will be shared with the appellant. The response addresses the Appeal., Iin contrast to the RTW or other decision letter, the Dean is informed via the Response of all information that has been used by the GPC to assess the student as unsatisfactory. 
3. The Dean will consult with the Subcommittee to determine whether special circumstances are present. If special circumstances are not present, the appeal will be denied. If special circumstances are present, the Subcommittee will consider the appeal and may issue a written decision without a hearing if: 
   1. the appellant indicates they do not wish to attend a hearing 
   2. the Subcommittee decides by a two-third majority vote that the written evidence provides adequate information for it to render a decision without a hearing. 
   3. the Dean informally secures a mutually agreed resolution prior to the hearing
4. If special circumstances are present and neither (a), (b), or (c) apply, a hearing will be arranged by the Dean. 
5. At an oral hearing, the appellant and the GPC Chair appear at a scheduled Subcommittee meeting and may choose to each bring a support person or advocate. Both the appellant and GPC Chair will have the opportunity to briefly provide information orally and answer questions posed by the Subcommittee. 
6. Decisions are made in camera by the Subcommittee based on the information received and heard and are normally released shortly after the hearing. Decisions of the Subcommittee are final and are not subject to further appeal unless significant, new information is presented.

Progress Evaluation - See

Graduate students have the right to appeal the decisions of their graduate program committees regarding progress evaluations conducted under . See the Unsatisfactory Performance Appeal form

Terminology

Withdrawals Under Extenuating Circumstances (WE)

Students whose WE applications have been denied, may appeal the decision to the Senate Appeals Board.

Appeals must be filed with the secretary within 3 weeks of receipt of the denied decision. To open an appeal, email sabapp@sfu.ca  a completed application form. Indicate that you require time to obtain new supporting documentation. 

Review full information on the appeals process.

Office of the Ombudsperson

The Ombudsperson at 91ÅÝܽ an independent, impartial and confidential resource for students. They can assist with fairness issues, appeals, interpersonal conflict, academic concerns and policy questions. Access their website.