Appeal Application Form
(MS Word, 67KB)

Mitigating Circumstances Form
(MS Word, 53KB)

Appeal & Mitigating Circumstance Procedures Semester 1 2011/2012

Appeal & Mitigating Circumstance Procedures

The appeals procedure has been modified so that matters which are more properly the concern of the examination boards are processed by them, and only substantive irregularity in the process is formally appealed. The basis of this system is that any mitigating factors of which the student is aware prior to the examination must be processed through the examination board.

(i) Mitigation
The Examination Board may take into account mitigating circumstances brought to its attention by a student only under the procedures specified herewith. Claims for mitigation might include such matters as:

Certified unexpected illness of the candidate
or
Death or serious illness of a close relative or a close friend
or
such other matters which may to a significant extent have adversely affected the examination performance.

If the mitigating circumstances are considered to be germane by the examination board, they may be taken into account when determining the candidate’s overall result. Normally the candidate will be given the opportunity to re-sit the examination as if for the first time, at the next available session and the result for the session under consideration will be recorded as deferred. Documentation must be provided as follows:

(a) Appropriate form (MitC1, available from the school office) filled out correctly and
(b) In the case of certified illness or other events effecting performance in an examination module, certified evidence (e.g. medical certificate) must be provided within 5 working days of the relevant examination.
or
(c) In the case of the death or serious illness of a close relative or close friend, appropriate confirmation should be provided.
or
(d) For other circumstances evidence from a reliable and objective and verifiable source.

The documentation must be lodged in the relevant school office within 5 days of the examination in question. A receipt will be given to the student. The documents will be provided by the school office to the relevant course board and the relevant examination board will consider the mitigating circumstances. The circumstances covered by this section ((i) Mitigation) may not form the basis of a formal appeal.

(ii) Substantive Irregularities
Examination results may be appealed on the basis of perceived substantive irregularity or inequity in the examination process or in the delivery of the prescribed curriculum in accordance with criteria approved and ratified by the Academic Council or other Validating Authority.

Appeal Procedures
A student who wishes to appeal an examination result must do so in writing, on the appropriate form (App1b form available from WIT Web site setting out the grounds for the appeal in full to the Registrar . Closing date for Autumn appeals is 4pm Friday 17th February 2012. There shall be a fee of €60 for an examination appeal. This fee will be reimbursed should the appeal be upheld. Requests received after this deadline will only be considered following the next examination session (i.e. the following Summer or Autumn as appropriate). Upon receipt of a written appeal, the Registrar shall refer the matter to the Examinations Appeal Board, and shall inform the relevant Head(s) of Department and School that an appeal has been lodged. Pending the outcome of an appeal, students should be advised as follows:

(a) An appeal may not necessarily be successful.
(b) Candidates should avail themselves of any opportunity to repeat the examination, on the understanding that to repeat an examination would not prejudice their appeal in any way.
(c) The conferring of an academic award, where relevant, may be deferred, pending the final outcome of the appeal.

Examinations Appeal Board

(a) The Board shall normally consist of ten members, including the Registrar or nominee who shall chair the board.
(b) Four of the remaining members shall be members of the Academic Council, appointed by the Academic Council and 4 shall be Heads of School.
(c) The tenth member to be appointed when necessary shall be a suitably qualified and experienced person from outside the Institute.
(d) The Examinations Appeal Board shall consider the appeal on the grounds on which it is presented, and shall, as appropriate, consult with the Course Board, with individual Internal Examiners and with External Examiner(s).
(e) The Examinations Appeal Board shall determine the appeal by giving a decision. The Registrar shall inform the appellant, the Head of Department and the Course Board of the outcome of the appeal.
The major difference between these and earlier arrangements is that anything known to the student which may affect examination performance must be made known to the examination board. Only matters arising subsequently, or matters that natural justice would preclude the examination board from hearing, should be the basis of a formal appeal.