I think it's not really an appeal. Instead you let your application for promotion continue to the next level up the chain. But letting it continue up after one

I think it's not really an appeal. Instead you let your application for promotion continue to the next level up the chain. But letting it continue up after one level has rejected it is essentially an appeal. "Appointments require full review and votes at all levels (including the department, school/college, PRB [President's Review Board], the Provost, and the President.)" http://www.buffalo.edu/content/dam/www/provost/files/FacultyAffairs/pdf_guidingPrinciples2004.pdf http://www.buffalo.edu/content/dam/www/provost/files/Faculty... I'm sure a strong majority at the school/college level would work! There are probably even a few (very rare) cases where a President has overturned department and school/college rejections. Probably ultimately it's the President's call. Here's a small qualitative report on university presidents overturning tenure decisions: http://www.eg.bucknell.edu/~mligare/governance/adhoc/crtp_final_appendix_D.pdf http://www.eg.bucknell.edu/~mligare/governance/adhoc/crtp_fi... (My rough back-of-napkin summary: it's a once-every-10-years type of occurrence, and can go either way).