Students accused of academic misconduct can now appeal penalties through the grade appeal process.

The Faculty Senate passed the new rule during its Wednesday meeting by a vote of 22-12.

Under old rules, faculty could penalize a student in whatever way seen fit as long as the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct approved it.

This revision was added because there was concern that a faculty member could make unfair judgments found to be capricious, according to the Undergraduate Coordinating Council’s annual report.

The measure was put into place because there was concern that a faculty member could be a “loose cannon,” said Faculty Senate President Alan Rosenbaum.

One example presented at the meeting involved a scenario where a student’s cell phone rings during class. If it is against a professor’s rules under academic misconduct for students’ cell phones to ring, the professor would be able to fail the student since it is a violation.

With the new appeal process, a student can go to the Grade Appeals Committee to present his or her case. The committee is made up of a student and two faculty members. If they decide that the penalty is excessive, the Grade Review Board notifies the department chair.

Senior communications major Rebecca Schulz said the measure is a good idea, as long as the students don’t abuse the appeal process.

“It’s a good checks and balances [system],” Schulz said.