Student Petition Process

• Course drops after the deadline
• Full or partial tuition refunds
• Tuition waivers
• Tuition refunds after the deadline
• Course withdrawals after the deadline
• Other exceptions to college policy and procedures.

Step One - Student should complete a petition form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office. You will find the form on the college web site at www.riverland.edu/registrar/forms. The petition will be reviewed by a Petition Committee, whose members include the Registrar, Business Manager, Dean of Student Affairs, Financial Aid Director, and an Academic Dean. The student will receive written notice of the decision of the committee within ten (10) business days of the receipt of the petition.

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

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 petition decision in step one, the Dean of Student Affairs has the discretion to request a meeting with the committee and the student appealing the decision.  The Dean will render a review decision in writing within ten (10) business days of the appeal meeting. 

Step Three - Following the decision of the appeal review, a student 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 an 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 grounds for a third-level appeal have 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 petition decision or the appeal review decision, the Executive Vice President has the discretion to request a meeting of the Petition Committee, the Dean of Students and the student.  The Executive Vice President will render a third-level appeal decision in writing with ten (10) business days of the third-level appeal meeting.

Step Four – Following the outcome of a third-level appeal with the vice president, a student 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 with ten (10) days of the request for final review.  The president’s decision is final and binding.