College of Optometry (CO) 2024–2025 117 in person. This hearing shall be closed to everyone except the SPAC membership and the petitioning student, although witnesses may be called by either side. The SPAC will reach a decision and make a recommendation to the dean, who may endorse or modify the outcome. The student will be notified of the dean’s decision in writing, either via email to the student’s NSU email address, certified mail to the student’s address on file, or via hand delivery with receipt. The petitioner may appeal the dean’s decision to the Appeals Board of the CO (see below). A student may not introduce new issues or evidence that was available or should have been available at the time of the initial appeal to the SPAC at any stage of the sequence of appeals. While a student’s appeal is under consideration, the student may continue to attend classes and laboratories to avoid further academic liability should a decision in the student’s favor be rendered. A student may not engage in the delivery of clinical care during the appeal process. In appealing a mandated academic dismissal, a student may not bypass any element in the chain of appeals. The initial appeal must be directed to the SPAC, and all subsequent appeals must follow the sequence outlined above. Appeals Board Decisions of the dean may be appealed to the Appeals Board of the CO. Students who elect to follow this route should seek the input/advice of the assistant dean for Student Affairs and Admissions. Appeals Board Hearing Guidelines The student appeals hearing is an informal proceeding and consists of four members and a chair. The hearing shall be internal, private, and closed to nonuniversity persons. Nonuniversity personnel are not available for consultation during these hearings. All procedures and actions are aimed to safeguard and preserve the educational and developmental mission of the CO. Appeals Board Responsibilities The appeals board will hear all student appeals of decisions made by the dean of the CO relating to either dismissal or disciplinary actions as defined in this student handbook. If a student appeals the decision of the dean, the appeal must be in writing and submitted to the chair of the appeals board within five business days (excluding holidays and weekends) after the date of receiving notification of the dean’s decision. Any appeals not submitted to the chair of the appeals board within this time frame shall not be heard. The appeal must contain a concise statement of all relevant facts and the result sought. No new evidence may be introduced during the appeals process. Academic issues are the sole province of the faculty and administration of the CO. Appeals to this appeals board, which is not constituted solely of optometry faculty or administrative personnel, must be based exclusively on procedural error committed by the SPAC, the Honor Court, or the dean. In the letter of appeal submitted by a student, the precise procedural error that allegedly occurred must be identified, and no other elements may be considered by that committee. It shall be the responsibility of the chair to review all letters of appeal, forwarding to the appeals board for a full hearing only those appeals that are based explicitly and exclusively on disputed procedural errors and do not attempt to introduce new information. The appeals board does not possess the mandate to conduct a separate
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