Judicial Appeals Process

To ensure a fair judicial process, an appellate system exists with strict guidelines for grounds of appeal. Regardless of the method of original adjudication, the appeals process is as follows:

Grounds for an Appeal

For a case or sanction to merit appeal, any of the following criteria must be met:

  • A procedural irregularity so substantial as to deny the accused a fair hearing.
  • New evidence that could not have been known or presented at the time of the original hearing that is so substantial as to have likely altered the outcome of the original hearing.
  • A sanction that is grossly out of line with recommended sanctions for the violation in question.

Options Available to the Appellate Body

  • Affirm the sanction.
  • Alter or reduce the original sanction. This will be done only if the appellate body finds that the sanction was grossly disproportionate to the offense and its standard and recommended sanction.
  • Remand the case back to the original hearing body. This is done only in the case of serious procedural error or new evidence that is so significant that the decision of the original hearing body would have likely been different.

The Process of Appeal

Assuming that any of the above grounds for appeal is believed present, the student follows this procedure as documented in the Guilford College Student Handbook.

  1. The student has two (2) working days (excluding college holidays and breaks) to submit, in writing, their appeal to the dean of students.

  2. The dean of students will review the appeal and will respond within five (5) working days (excluding college holidays and breaks).

  3. The decision of the dean of students is final and not subject to further appeal.

Appellate Bodies

  1. The dean of students serves as the appellate body for administrative and judicial board hearings. Except in the case of a disciplinary dismissal, in which case the President serves as the appellate body.
  2. The academic dean serves as the appellate body for administrative decisions rendered by the associate academic dean and academic violations adjudicated by the judicial board.