Academic Progress Committee appeals

The Academic Progress Committee (APC) reaches decisions about a student’s progression through the College and is charged with responsibility for:

• decisions to dismiss, suspend or to advise a student to repeat a previous year of study, where academic performance or attendance is unacceptable, or
• decisions to dismiss a student from a programme following concerns about unsuitability to commence or continue on school experience or other school based work.

The Goldsmiths Academic Manual Regulation 3.4 sets out requirements about progression on taught programmes. This includes responsibility for dealing with unsatisfactory academic performance or attendance. You can find further detail in the Academic Progress Procedure (PDF).

The Goldsmiths Academic Manual Regulation 2.5 sets out rights and responsibilities on Fitness to Practise in programmes of study with professional requirements. Where an APC decision relates to concerns about a School Experience or other school based work, you can find further detail in the Unsatisfactory School Based Progress Procedures (PDF).

An appeal against any decision of the APC permits a student to request an internal review at the final stage (Stage Three) of the College Appeals Procedure.

How to request a final internal review following a decision made by the APC

If you wish to challenge the decision reached by the APC you may request a final internal review of your appeal on the following grounds:

• There were procedural irregularities in the conduct of the appeal
• Fresh evidence can be presented which could not reasonably have been made available with the submission of the Stage Two Form
• The outcome of the appeal was not reasonable in all the circumstances

Timing

You must request a review within 21 days of the date you were informed of the APC decision. Requests received later than this will normally not be considered.

How the review works

The APC Appeal: Stage Three review request is first assessed by a different member of the Complaints and Appeals team than the APC process. This is to avoid any conflict of interest or perception of bias.

If this team member decides that your APC Appeal: Stage Three review request does not set out valid grounds - to be without merit - then the APC decision will not be reconsidered. A letter or email will be sent to you, confirming that your appeal is dismissed and stating that the College’s internal procedures have been completed (a Completion of Procedures Letter).

Based on this initial assessment, if the request is found to set out valid grounds, it is referred to a Review Panel. This will comprise a Pro-Warden and two senior members of academic staff, who are not members of the student’s department and have no prior knowledge of the case. If the Pro-Warden deems it appropriate, a hearing may be convened. Otherwise, the Panel will meet in private to consider the evidence.

The decision of the Panel will be final and will be confirmed to the student in writing. A letter or email will be sent to the student, confirming that the College’s internal procedures have been completed (a Completion of Procedures Letter).