For cases resolved via the Conduct Process, the appellate reviewer is the Provost of West Virginia University (or designee).
Appeal Procedures
- Students may submit a written appeal per the timeline and instructions provided in their outcome notice.
- The Office of Academic Integrity will forward the appeal to the Provost of West Virginia University (or designee). All relevant documentation concerning the charge and penalty will also be forwarded.
- Within thirty (30) calendar days after the student has submitted the appeal, the Provost (or designee) will make a decision. This will then be communicated via WVU email to the student and other individuals with a legitimate educational interest. The decision is final, and no further appeals are possible.
- The Provost (or designee) will retain all documentation related to the appeal for five (5) years.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may appeal the charge, the penalty, or both. Specifically, you may appeal because the decision and/or the penalty was unreasonable; the decision was discriminatory, arbitrary, or prejudiced; or because the decision-maker refused to consider relevant information. A more detailed outline of the grounds for appeal is available in the WVU Policy on Student Academic Integrity.
The appellate officer for cases managed through the Conduct Process is the Provost of West Virginia University (or designee).
If there is a known conflict of interest with the appointed designee, the Office of Academic Integrity will work with the Provost's Office to identify an appropriate alternative.
The appellate officer is required to review all relevant documentation as provided by the Office of Academic Integrity. The appellate officer may also choose to meet with you, your instructor, or other involved parties - but is not required to do so.
In the Conduct Process, you may be represented by an attorney. Alternatively, you may be accompanied or advised by a person of your choice from the University. More information on the role of either an attorney or advisor is available in the West Virginia University Campus Student Code.
Your specific deadline for appeal will be communicated in your outcome notice. The appellate officer has thirty (30) calendar days to reach a decision. If an extension by either party is needed, they should consult with the Office of Academic Integrity for guidance.
If you are concerned about the status of your appeal, you should contact the Office of Academic Integrity for more information.
Yes and no. Grade-based sanctions are imposed pending appeal but may be reversed if warranted based on the final decision. Both disciplinary and educational sanctions, however, are put on hold. This means that no status sanctions (e.g., suspension) can be imposed, nor do you have to complete any educational sanctions until the appeal is fully resolved.
Yes. Appeal reviewers can decrease the severity of a sanction or dismiss a sanction/charge entirely. However, they cannot impose a more severe sanction.
If your appeal is completely granted, you will not have to complete any educational sanctions. If grade sanctions were imposed, your grade will be recalculated. if disciplinary sanctions were assigned, those will be removed.
If sanctions are upheld or modified and you need to clarify what is expected of you, you should contact the Office of Academic Integrity.