Skip to main content
Future Students Alumni Library Athletics & Recreation
Students

Senate Student Appeal Procedures

The Wilfrid Laurier University Act, 1973 gives the Senate of Wilfrid Laurier University responsibility for the educational policies of the University, including the power to "hear and determine appeals from the decisions of the faculty councils on applications and examinations by students."

The Senate has delegated the authority to act for Senate in hearing appeals to the Senate Student Appeals Committee (Senate SAC). There is no appeal level beyond the Senate SAC; the decision of the committee is final.

Please note that decisions made by WLU/UW Double Degree joint petition committees are final and not eligible for further appeal through the Senate Student Appeals process.

Note: This is a simplified version of the procedure. For the full procedure for the Senate Student Appeals Committee, see the Procedures for Considering a Student Appeal page.

Appeals to the Senate Student Appeals Committee are submitted though the Senate Student Appeals form.

Preparing an Appeal

You can appeal to Senate SAC only after you have:

  • Received a decision from a petitions committee. 
    • Appeals of this nature must be submitted within 20 business days of receiving a petitions committee decision.
      • Petition committee decisions to consider late petition submissions are final and cannot be appealed, regardless if made by a subcommittee, a delegate, or the full committee.

     or

  • Have received the final notice of penalty of a second (or subsequent) academic misconduct offense.
    • Appeals of this nature must be submitted within 10 business days of receiving the Final Notice of Penalty document.

Generative AI Tools and Appeal Submissions

When completing the appeal submission form, students should refrain from using Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot.  Written content in forms should be completed by the student in their own words, as this best helps the committee understand the specific decision being appealed and the solution being requested. Submissions should reflect the student's personal understanding of the circumstances and the grounds for the appeal.  

Using Generative AI results in submissions that are generic, inaccurate, too wordy, or that inadequately address the specific issues warranting the appeal.

Late Appeal Submissions

If you are submitting an appeal after the deadline, the Senate SAC will first review your request to submit late. The appeal submission form includes a section where you can explain your reasons for missing the original deadline and upload any relevant documentation.

If your late request is approved, the committee will then proceed to consider your appeal. If it is denied, the process ends, and the appeal itself will not be reviewed.  Decisions will be communicated to your Laurier email account.

Grounds: Petitions

Appeals to the Senate SAC are not a resubmission of the original petition.  

The Senate SAC will only consider an appeal if you submit one or more of the following grounds:

  • New Evidence
    • New evidence directly related to your appeal that, through no fault of your own, was not available or provided in the initial petition and provides information that would impact the decision. 
    • You cannot introduce a new reason for your appeal request. The reason given in your appeal must be the same reason as was given in your petition, and new evidence provided must be related to the original reason.

  • Serious Procedural Error.
    • This refers to procedural errors in handling the petition.
    • To be considered procedural error, the error must have affected the committee's decision, not simply represent a minor mistake or minor departure from normal process.

If you do not include new evidence directly related to your appeal or evidence of a procedural error, you will be notified that your appeal will not move forward.

Grounds: Second (or subsequent) Academic Misconduct Offence

Appeals of a subsequent offence of academic misconduct to the Senate SAC are being heard by an appeals body for the first time, and therefore it is not necessary to meet grounds.

Submitting an Appeal

The appeal submission form will request:

    • The specific decision that is being appealed.
    • The outcome you are requesting.
    • The grounds for the appeal (not applicable to academic misconduct submissions)
      • If you are appealing based on new evidence, you will be asked to describe the new evidence and explain why it was not available at the time of the original decision.
      • If you are appealing based on a serious procedural error, you will be asked to identify the policy, procedure, or regulation that was not followed and explain how this affected your case.

Documentation must be submitted in PDF format.

After You Submit an Appeal

Once you have submitted your appeal using the online form, the Senate SAC will request the full petition file from the petitions committee, or, if applicable, your full academic misconduct file, to review alongside your appeal. The committee has 40 business days from the date of your appeal submission to provide a decision, though most decisions are communicated within 25 business days.

The final decision will be communicated to you through your @mylaurier.ca email.

The Senate SAC can:

  • Approve the appeal.
  • Deny the appeal.
  • Substitute its own decision.

There is no appeal beyond the Senate SAC and its decision is final.

Questions?

For support with the appeal, the following services are offered through WLUSU:

Persons with questions regarding the Senate Student Appeals Committee procedures can contact the the Committee at ssac@wlu.ca.