Suspension Appeal Process
Students on suspension may appeal for readmission in writing to the associate provost within 10 days following receipt of the notification of suspension. Students must provide evidence to support their appeal and must include plans for academic improvement. If the Provost or designee does not grant an appeal, the student is dismissed from the College. If the Provost or designee grants an appeal, the student will be given an academic performance contract for the next semester. Any changes to this academic performance contract must be pre-approved by the Provost or designee. If the student does not fulfill the contract, the student will be suspended again.
Academic Reinstatement to the College
After a minimum of one semester, students suspended for academic reasons may petition the Provost or designee for reinstatement. If the Provost or designee grants an appeal, the student will be given an academic performance contract for the next semester. If the student does not fulfill the contract, the student will be suspended again. The College recommends, however, that students wait a full academic year before petitioning the Provost or designee and that they use this time to pursue academic and other activities that will demonstrate their capability and readiness to succeed at Keuka College.
Students petitioning the Provost or designee must present a compelling, persuasive letter of appeal. This letter must present a thoughtful educational plan that includes specific academic and career goals and strategies for achieving them. In addition, students should discuss and provide evidence of having achieved all of the following conditions (or others not listed) that apply to their individual situation:
- course work completed with a grade of C (C- does not count) or higher at another accredited institution of higher education (a minimum of two classes; at least one full-time semester preferred);
- intellectual development and academic preparedness through other means than traditional, credit- bearing academic courses, such as private tutoring, remedial course work, academic skills workshops, work experience, etc.;
- maturity, responsibility, personal growth and development through work, community service, family care-giving or other means;
- having sought and received personal and/or academic testing and/ or counseling;
- changes in personal circumstances that adversely affected prior performance.
Students who successfully complete course work at another college increase their chances for reinstatement.
Students may also want to present letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to their readiness to regain good academic standing and successfully complete a degree at Keuka College.
Reinstatement of Financial Aid
The probation and suspension policies governing attendance at Keuka College also affect eligibility for financial aid. For purposes of financial aid a student on academic probation is considered in “good academic standing” and is therefore eligible for financial aid.
A student who loses federal student aid eligibility because they failed to make satisfactory academic progress may appeal that result on the basis of: personal injury or illness, death in the family or other extenuating circumstances. A student unable to prove mitigating circumstances is not considered to be making satisfactory academic progress, and is therefore ineligible to receive federal and institutional aid.
An appeal worksheet will accompany the official notification of suspension from the College. Documentation of mitigating circumstances should accompany the student’s appeal of suspension to the Provost or designee. The decisions regarding attendance at Keuka College and eligibility for financial aid are separate. The appeal worksheet includes both the academic and financial aid requests; however, the decisions are separate and independent.