Appeals Process
UC Merced PACE has an appeal process in place to assist candidates and faculty to resolve academic issues. This process endeavors to protect both faculty and candidates by assuring a process that allows dialogue at each step. This process is linked directly to UC Merced’s policies on the university website: Petition of Academic Policy
Definition of a Grievable Action: A greivable action is an action: (a) is in violation of written UC Merced PACE policies or procedures; or (b) constitutes arbitrary, capricious or unequal application of written UC Merced PACE policies or procedures.
Initial and Informal Appeal: The candidate who wishes to appeal must first discuss the problem with their instructor. The initial appeal may be informal by a conversation or meeting between the faculty member and the candidate. If the academic issue is not resolved, the formal appeals process is initiated. The candidate must initiate this process within 30 calendar days from the day the candidate knew, or reasonably should have known, about the action generating the complaint, excluding campus holidays, intersession periods, and summer session (e.g., within 30 days of an assignment being graded).
Formal Appeal Initiation: The formal appeal should be addressed in writing to the Teacher Preparation Site Director and/or the Director of Education Programs. The appeal must include a written statement that lays out the grounds for the appeal, and any supporting documentation. The appeal must be initiated within 30 calendar days from the day the candidate knew or reasonably should have known about the action generating the complaint, excluding campus holidays, intersession periods, and summer session (e.g., within 30 days of an assignment being graded). The valid grounds on which a student may base an appeal are confined to three areas: (1) evidence of procedural error committed intentionally or inadvertently by the Program faculty or staff and/or (2) evidence of non-academic criteria being used to evaluate academic work, including personal bias and violations of the campus nondiscrimination policy and/or (3) special mitigating circumstances beyond the student’s control (such as documented severe illness to self or immediate family, or death in the family) not properly taken into account in a decision affecting the student’s academic progress. In order to seek relief under special mitigating circumstances, the candidate must have raised the issue with the program directors as soon as possible and no later than 10 calendar days after the the mitigating circumstance began (e.g., if a documented medical condition impairs the candidate’s ability to complete the coursework, the candidate would supply the program directors with a doctor’s note no later than 10 calendar days after the medical condition began).
The Director of Education Programs shall determine the validity of an appeal with respect to whether it meets the criteria or whether additional material should be provided in order to make a determination. The candidate shall be notified as to the determination of the appeal’s validity within 30 days of the submission of the appeal. Failure of the Director of Education Programs, or his/her designate, to identify to the candidate regarding the outcome as to the validity of the appeal within 30 days shall result in referral of the appeal directly to the PACE Dean.
In cases where a resolution is not reached, the final level of appeal is the PACE Dean. The PACE Dean will review the written complaint, response from the individual(s) complained of, and submitted materials.
The PACE Dean’s office will make a final decision and notify the candidate of the outcome within 60 days of the initiation of the formal complaint. If determination is not made within the 60-day timeframe, the appeal is deemed denied. A written summary of the appeal and the conclusions reached will be kept in the student’s academic file. If the appeal is supported, the Director for Education programs will ensure that prompt corrective action is taken. The Dean will record the final determination with the PACE Registrar’s Office.
Candidates and applicants of the teacher preparation program access all appeals processes through the university website and abide by university procedures. The process for each campus school, including UC Merced PACE, allows a student to appeal to his/her Dean after exhausting all other pathways. The links in this document direct candidates, like all UC Merced students, to the university’s policies and forms.
Time frames: All time frames are defined in terms of calendar days, excluding campus holidays, inter-session, and summer session, starting on the day the candidate either knew or reasonably should have known of the actions leading to the complaint.
Links and Resources
The following links below outline the appeals process for all academic matters and other concerns:
Any appeal based on sex discrimination or sexual harassment must be referred directly to the Office of Compliance for initial review. If the appeal remains active after the conclusion of the Title IX investigation then the appeal will be governed under the procedures described in the campus-wide Appeal Procedure.
- Grade disputes are appealed under the Grade Appeals Policy.
- For academic integrity disputes involving candidates, see the Administration of Student Conduct.
- For disputes regarding disability accommodations, inquire with the DS Student Grievance Procedure.
- For disputes regarding whistleblower complaints, including complaints for retaliation, see the University of California Whistleblower policy
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