Dispute Resolution Policies

Academic Integrity Policy

Fairleigh Dickinson University – Vancouver Campus follows the University’s policy. All work in any course is expected to be that of the individual student and/or the work of others who are appropriately cited. Note: using an AI program, such as ChatGPT, must be acknowledged and acknowledged in its specifics. Any paper or examination that misrepresents the work of others as that of the student will receive a grade of “0” for that assignment.

Work is also expected to be prepared specifically to fulfill assignments of one course: Any duplication of material submitted for course credit in one course and then another without appropriate disclosure and approval of that duplication is also subject to a grade of ‘0’ and will be duly reported to the University Registrar, (i.e. submitting the same, or essentially the same, paper to two different classes for course credit).

Plagiarism is taken seriously at the University and leads to disciplinary action. The complete University Academic Integrity policy can be found on the University’s website.

Students attending the Vancouver campus can submit a Request for Reconsideration form to dispute an Academic Integrity Violation. The appeal process will follow FDU’s Academic Regulation (see page 37). You can access FDU’s Academic Regulations and Policy here. 

Policy and procedures are posted in the Graduate Studies Bulletin (see pages 33-36) and the Student Handbook (see pages 18 – 24).

Grade Appeal Procedure

While it is recognized that faculty hold the right and responsibility to grant a grade, a student who receives a grade that he or she believes to be unwarranted may appeal that grade by engaging in the following process:  

  • Within the first three weeks of the start of the following full semester (fall or spring) in which the grade is received, the student shall have informally appealed the grade to the instructor. If no resolution of the matter results to the student’s satisfaction, the student may initiate the following formal appeal process. 
  • The student shall request in writing a meeting with the School Director or designee concerning the grade in question. 
  • The Director or designee shall report to the student on the resolution of the appeal within two weeks of that meeting. 
  • If the issue is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student has one week to appeal in writing to the School Director.
  • The Director (or designee) shall review the entire matter with the student, the faculty member, and/or the academic supervisor involved.  
  • If the Director or designee feels there is no basis for a grade change, that determination is final and should be conveyed to the student in writing within two weeks of receipt of the student’s appeal. 
  • If the Director or designee believes that an erroneous grade may be the case, the Director or designee shall attempt to resolve the issue with the instructor. If, however, resolution is not achieved, the Director or designee shall refer the case to the Ad Hoc Grade Appeal Committee. 
  • The committee is expected to convene within two weeks after receipt of the referral. 
  • Each Ad Hoc Grade Appeal Committee shall consist of faculty selected by the Director, and a professional staff person selected by the Dean of Students.
  • The committee shall have the authority to recommend an appropriate course of action to the Director who shall have the authority to implement the recommendation. The recommendation shall be conveyed to all parties involved, in writing. 

Students attending the Vancouver campus can submit Grade Appeal form to dispute a final grade. The appeal process will follow FDU’s Academic Regulation described in the Graduate Studies Bulletin (see pages 33-36) and the Student Handbook (see pages 18 – 24).

Request for Reconsideration

Vancouver students can submit a Request for Reconsideration form to dispute a decision made by the university. The decision can be reconsidered to a higher level if the student can demonstrate new evidence, the severity of the sanction was inappropriate, or a violation occurred in the process. The Enrollment Services Office in Vancouver will respond to the request within 10 business days.

Vancouver students can contact the Office of Enrollment Services at esvancouver@fdu.edu with any questions on how to start an appeal and the status of an appeal or request for reconsideration.

STUDENT HANDBOOK

The Fairleigh Dickinson University Student Handbook is now published in a single annual edition for use by students on the Florham Campus, Metropolitan Campus, and Vancouver Campus.