Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

A student who has a concern about an academic decision may utilize this grievance process to seek resolution. An academic grievance is appropriate for academic decisions and milestones like comprehensive or qualifying exam results, language exams, or grades in coursework. If you wish to appeal your academic withdrawal, please follow the outlined process. The academic grievance process cannot be used for non-academic issues, including issues of student conduct, harassment, discrimination, or sexual violence, that are being addressed through the Department of Student Rights and Community Standards or the Office of Equal Opportunity. 

Before following the formal academic grievance procedure, students are encouraged to access resources such as the University Ombuds, the Brandeis Counseling Center, and other support structures from their program and department. Students who wish to file a formal academic grievance should follow the procedure below. The process is as follows:

• Within thirty (30) days of the incident that led to the concern, the student should submit a written statement, specifying the complaint and the remedy desired, to the chair of the department and/or the Director of Graduate Studies of their program. The chair and/or DGS will seek to resolve the matter and send a written response to the student within fourteen (14) calendar days (provided that the University is open) from the submission of the complaint. 
• The student may appeal in writing the department chair and/or DGS's decision to the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences within fourteen (14) calendar days of the receipt of the chair’s written response. The appeal should specify why the proposed resolution is not acceptable. The Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (or designee) will confer with members of the faculty and/or administration, as appropriate, and send a written response to the student within fourteen (14) calendar days (provided that the University is open) from the submission of the complaint. The decision made by the Dean (or designee) is final. 
• If the student feels that the chair of the department and the DGS have a conflict of interest (e.g,. the chair and DGS are also the student’s advisor), then the student can submit the written statement directly to the Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. In this case, in addition to specifying the complaint and the remedy desired, the statement should explain why the student elected to bypass the department chair and the DGS. The Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (or designee) will confer with members of the faculty and/or administration, as appropriate, and send a written response to the student within fourteen (14) calendar days (provided that the University is open) from the submission of the complaint. The decision made by the Dean (or designee) is final. 
• The Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs of GSAS is available to consult with students at any step in the grievance process.