Advising Handbook

Administrative Committee, Petitions, and Appeals

The Administrative Committee is responsible for: 

• Establishing guidelines consistent with faculty regulations for periodic review of the academic records of undergraduates
• Acting on all requests for exceptions to requirements for baccalaureates
• Raising, with the Faculty Steering Committee, all questions of inequity or inconsistency in faculty policy which emerge from the consideration of individual problems

Jump to:

• Committee composition
• Administrative committee meeting dates
• Petitions
• Appeals
• Contact

Committee Composition

Faculty Members

Seven faculty members, appointed by the dean of the college serve a three-year term on the committee. Each school and division of the Rochester Curriculum hold a specific number of seats on the committee.

School of Arts & Sciences seats:

• Natural science division: 1
• Humanities division: 2
• Social science division: 2
• Any division: 1

Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences:

• Natural sciences division: 1

Students

Up to two undergraduate student members may be appointed by the Student Association to serve a one-year term on the committee.

Non-voting Members

In addition to the committee members listed above, there are also several non-voting members who attend committee meetings:

• Elaine Sia, associate dean of academic affairs
• Kris Condello, associate director of academic affairs
• Becky Fletcher Roberts, executive director, College Center for Advising Services
• Marcy Kraus, senior assistant dean of the College

Administrative Committee Meeting Dates

The committee meets once per month during the fall and spring semesters. At the end of each semester the committee reviews the records of students who are being considered for suspension from the College for academic reasons.  This review process is referred to as Academic Action. See the probation and separation page for more information.

The committee does not meet during the summer term. All petitions submitted during the summer will be held until the subsequent fall term. Petitions submitted by graduating seniors during the summer may be reviewed by the Committee on a case-by-case basis.

Petitions

Students who wish to petition the Administrative Committee are advised to first discuss their concern with their College and/or faculty advisor. 

Students will submit their petition using the online petition form.

Petitions must be submitted no later than seven calendar days before the Administrative Committee meeting to be added to the agenda. If a petition is submitted after the deadline, it will be placed on the next month’s agenda.

Petition outcomes are communicated to students via email within 48 hours of the meeting.

Students seeking exceptions to department or program rules or policies should contact the department/program for information on the petition process of that department.

Tips for Submitting a Petition

A petition will include thorough and compelling information regarding why the student is seeking an exception to a College rule or policy. Before submitting a petition, students are strongly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor so that they can discuss their circumstances and determine how to best articulate and explain their circumstances.

It is helpful (and sometimes required) for a staff or faculty member to provide supporting documentation.  While a letter of support from a staff or faculty member will be considered, it will not necessarily be used to determine the outcome of the petition.

The committee will consider all information provided in the petition. The committee may seek clarification but will not seek additional information if the information provided in the petition is insufficient.

Appeals

Students are eligible to submit an appeal of their petition if they are unsatisfied with the outcome. Appeals will be reviewed by the dean of the College only if there is new and compelling evidence to support the student’s request. 

Students can submit their appeal by emailing their request to college.academicaffairs@rochester.edu.

Appeals must be submitted within seven calendar days of the receipt of the decision notice. Appeals will be reviewed in the fourth week of each month during the fall and spring semesters. Appeal outcomes are communicated to students via email by the end of the first week of the subsequent month.

Tips for Submitting an Appeal

Appeals must have new and compelling information beyond what was communicated to the Administrative Committee in the original petition.  

Appeals may include advocacy from a staff or faculty member, additional details not communicated in the original petition, and/or supporting evidence of illness, injury or emergency.

Students are highly encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to discuss the quality of their appeal.

Contact Us

You can contact the Administrative Committee by emailing college.academicaffairs@rochester.edu.