The Scholastic Standing Committee (SSC) oversees the College of Engineering’s process for reviewing student petitions and academic appeals. This page outlines how to request exceptions to academic rules or degree requirements, how to appeal a course grade, and who serves on the committee that reviews these cases, in accordance with University policy.

Academic Appeal Process
The University of Rhode Island has established procedures for students who wish to request exceptions to academic rules or appeal academic decisions. These procedures follow the University Manual (Sections 8.26.10–8.26.13).

Types of Appeals.  You may file an appeal if you are:

• Requesting an exception to degree requirements, courses of study, or other academic rules.
• Challenging a recorded grade in a course.

Exceptions to Degree Requirements or Academic Rules

1. Submit the appropriate petition form (Major Course Petition, General Education Petition) to the College of Engineering Dean’s Office (coe-forms-group@uri.edu). Your petition must clearly explain your request and the reason(s) for it.
2. Copies of all petitions are kept by the Dean’s Office for at least two years.
3. No exception to a University or College rule will be granted outside this process.

Grade Appeals. If you believe a final grade in a course is incorrect:

1. Start with your instructor – discuss the grade directly.
2. If unresolved, submit a written appeal to the instructor’s department chair (or immediate supervisor in colleges without departments).
3. The chair will respond in writing. If they believe your case has merit, they will inform the instructor and provide copies of your appeal and their response.
4. If still unresolved, the case may be referred to the College of Engineering Scholastic Standing Committee (SCC). 
5. The committee will investigate and notify all parties in writing. The decision of the SCC is final. 

Possible outcomes:

• If the committee does not recommend a grade change, the original grade remains.
• If the committee recommends a change and the instructor agrees, the grade will be updated.
• If the committee recommends a change but the instructor refuses, the committee can, by unanimous decision, direct the department chair/supervisor to change the grade over the instructor’s objection.

Important notes:

• Appeals must be filed within two semesters of the grade being issued.
• Grades under appeal will not be considered when evaluating students for program continuation or scholarship eligibility.
• If an instructor is unavailable (e.g., deceased, cannot be located), the chair/supervisor may act in their place following committee recommendation.

Scholastic Standing Committee Membership
The College of Engineering’s Scholastic Standing Committee, responsible for reviewing petitions and appeals in accordance with University policy, is composed of one faculty representative from each undergraduate major in the College of Engineering, the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Affairs, and the Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs.

Major	SCC Faculty Member
Biomedical Engineering	Prof. Rick Vaccaro
Chemical Engineering	Prof. Darko Ljubic
Civil Engineering	Prof. Aaron Bradshaw
Computer Engineering	Prof. Rick Vaccaro
Electrical Engineering	Prof. Rick Vaccaro
Industrial and Systems Engineering	Prof. Valerie Maier Speredelozzi
Mechanical Engineering	Prof. Musa Jouaneh
Ocean Engineering	Prof. Bradford Knight