Committee on Academic Standing
The Committee on Academic Standing (COAS) serves as the academic review board for undergraduate students. The committee evaluates student records at the end of each semester to determine academic standing. Academic standing refers to whether a student has a satisfactory or unsatisfactory academic record (see the Academic Standing section for further details).
The committee also hears all cases of required withdrawal from and readmission to the university, and recommends to the faculty degrees and honors for undergraduates. The committee meets monthly to evaluate student requests (petitions) for exceptions to university academic regulations and other cases that warrant special consideration. For enrolled students, ppetition requests must be put forward within one calendar year from the end of the semester to which the requested exception applies. For students withdrawn or on leave from Brandeis, requests must be made at the time of the petition to return. To ensure timely attention to requests, COAS has delegated the authority to address routine matters to the Executive Council (EXCO), which meets on a weekly basis.
The committee consists of the Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Studies, or designee, who serves as chair; eight members of the faculty selected by the Vice-Provost in consultation with the Council of the Faculty Senate; the Dean of Students or designee; and the University Registrar. Also in attendance as nonvoting members are the Dean of Academic Services, Director of the Myra Kraft Achievers Program, Director and advisors in the Student Support Services Program, Academic Services academic advisors, the Director of Student Accessibility Support, the Associate Registrar, the Director of Athletics, or designee; and the Director of the International Students and Scholars Office.
A student may petition the committee through their Academic Services advisor, who will present the student's written petition to the committee. COAS may ask the advisor for clarification or additional information as necessary. COAS determines by majority vote whether to approve or deny the petition.
COAS may, at its discretion, defer its decision and require additional information in support of the petition. The decision that COAS reaches is communicated to the student by the Academic Services advisor.
A student may appeal a decision by COAS under certain circumstances. In cases of required withdrawal from the university, the student may appeal the committee's decision to the Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Studies. The decision of the Vice-Provost is final and no further appeals are possible.
In all other cases, students may request reconsideration by COAS only under the following circumstances: where the student has new evidence, not previously available, which could have materially affected the decision of COAS; or evidence of procedural error. Once COAS has ruled on the petition for reconsideration, a student may submit a written appeal to the Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Studies. Such appeals must be made within one month of the COAS reconsideration decision, and the decision of the Vice-Provost will be final.
For additional information about COAS and the process of petitioning COAS, please contact Academic Services.