The Student Appeals Panel (SAP) is the group responsible for examining, considering and deciding upon the outcome of appeals against academic decisions and misconduct matters at a University level.
The panel has between 12 and 48 active members, appointed according to the criteria outlined in the University of Sydney (Student Academic Appeals) Rule 2021. Of these, at least half of the members are University academic staff and students (at least six of each). Members are appointed for one year, but it is possible to serve for longer.
Membership of the SAP is voluntary. If you would like to nominate yourself as a member, submit your Expression of Interest (EOI).
Applications are typically open during the first half of Semester 2 each year (August through September).
As a new panel member, you will need to complete training before officially joining the SAP and attending a hearing. If you have any questions about your role on the SAP, you can contact the Student Affairs Unit (SAU) Appeals team.
Usually, two to four weeks before every hearing, SAU Appeals will seek to establish a suitable panel from the SAP members. Each panel consists of three members: a Chair, an academic member of staff, and a current student.
Each hearing is usually allocated 60 minutes and scheduled in blocks of two appeals.
If you agree to attend a hearing block for a specific date and time, about one week before that date, SAU Appeals will send you a copy of the appeal documents. You will need to read all documents carefully before the hearing.
You are not allowed to be on an appeal panel concerning your home faculty or where it might be considered a conflict of interest (such as if you are acquainted with someone connected to the appeal). If this is the case, you need to notify SAU Appeals as soon as possible to prevent unnecessary delays in the process.
If selected for an appeal, you will meet with the other SAP members for 15 minutes to discuss the matter before other parties – for example, the student or the University representative – are invited into the meeting. During those 15 minutes, you will decide what questions to ask and can seek clarification on policy or procedure, if required.
The student, the University/faculty representative, and any support people will then enter the meeting for the hearing.
Once the SAP is satisfied with their understanding of the matter, the student, the University/faculty representative, and any support people will leave the meeting. The three SAP members will deliberate and make a decision, in accordance with the University of Sydney (Student Academic Appeals) Rule 2021 or the University of Sydney (Student Discipline) Rule 2016, as relevant.
After you have considered all the information, you and the other SAP members will either:
This SAP decision (to dismiss or allow the matter) is final in that the University can then implement the decision under appeal. However, there are further avenues available to students external to the University.
