If an applicant disagrees with a decision for admission  

• to the college or,
• to a program of study with special admission requirements,

then they have a right to appeal the decision.
If an applicant believes that an admissions decision is based upon discrimination or sexual harassment as defined in the student handbook/college policy, they should proceed under the procedures for harassment and contact the college’s Human Resources Office immediately.

The Admissions Appeal Process
If an applicant believes they have grounds for appealing admission, then the following procedures must be followed:

Step One - The applicant must notify the Admissions Director for appeals of admission to the college or the Dean/Director of the unit /program of study for appeals of admission to a program with special admission requirements. Notification must be submitted in writing within ten (10) business days of receipt of the admissions determination. The letter of appeal should state the reasons why the admission decision should be reconsidered.

Upon receiving the appeal letter, the appropriate official may schedule a meeting for the applicant to hear the request to reconsider an admissions decision.  Applicants appealing admissions decisions may enlist an advocate to attend this meeting but the advocate may not participate except to provide advice. The applicant appealing an admissions decision will be notified in writing of a decision in writing within ten (10) business days of the meeting.

Step Two - Following the decision in step one of the appeal, an applicant may request an appeal review before the Dean of Student Affairs. The request for an appeal review must be submitted in writing to the Dean of Student Affairs within ten (10) business days of the date of notification of the appeal decision in step one.  Failure to file for an appeal review in a timely manner constitutes a waiver of the right to an appeal review.

The Dean of Student Affairs will review the request for appeal review letter and will determine if the request has merit. In addition, the Dean of Student Affairs may schedule a meeting with the applicant.  An advocate may attend this meeting but may not participate except to advise.  In the event that new information is presented that may affect the outcome of the original admission decision in step one, the Dean of Student Affairs has the discretion to request a meeting that includes the admitting staff and the applicant appealing the decision.  The Dean of Students will render a decision in writing within ten (10) business days of the appeal review meeting. 

Step Three - Following the decision of the appeal review, an applicant may request a third review before the Executive Vice President. The request for a third appeal must be submitted in writing to the Executive Vice President within ten (10) business days of the date of the appeal review decision completed in step two.  Failure to file an appeal in a timely manner constitutes a waiver of the right to a third appeal.

The Executive Vice President will review the original appeal letter, the appeal review letter, and the third appeal request, and will determine if the third-level appeal has merit. The Executive Vice President may schedule a meeting with the student.  An advocate may attend this meeting but may not participate except to advise.  In the event that new information is presented that may affect the outcome of the original admission decision or the appeal review decision, the Executive Vice President has the discretion to request a meeting of the admitting staff, the Dean of Students and the applicant appealing admission.  The Executive Vice President will render a third-level appeal decision in writing within ten (10) business days of the third-level appeal meeting. 

Step Four - Following the outcome of a third-level appeal with the Executive Vice President, an applicant may request a final review. Unresolved third-level appeals will be referred to the college president for final review.  The president shall issue a decision in writing to the student within ten (10) business days of the request for final review. The president’s decision is final and binding.