regents university michigan ewing argued october decided december respondent enrolled program study university michigan known inteflex undergraduate degree medical degree awarded upon successful completion program qualify final two years program student must pass examination known nbme part respondent dismissed university failed examination lowest score recorded history inteflex program unsuccessfully seeking university authorities readmission program opportunity retake examination respondent brought suit federal district alleging right retake examination ground inter alia property interest inteflex program dismissal arbitrary capricious violation substantive due process rights guaranteed fourteenth amendment determining respondent constitutionally protected property interest continued enrollment inteflex program district found violation due process rights appeals reversed held even respondent assumed property interest gave rise substantive right due process clause continue enrollment free arbitrary state action facts record disclose action record unmistakably demonstrates decision dismiss respondent made conscientiously careful deliberation based evaluation entire academic career university including singularly low score nbme part examination narrow avenue judicial review substance academic decisions precludes conclusion decision substantial departure accepted academic norms demonstrate faculty exercise professional judgment pp reversed remanded stevens delivered opinion unanimous powell filed concurring opinion post roderick daane argued cause petitioner briefs peter davis michael conway argued cause respondent brief mary butler briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed acting solicitor general wallace acting assistant attorney general willard deputy solicitor general geller leonard schaitman freddi lipstein american council education et al eugene gulland catherine brown sheldon elliot steinbach joseph anthony keyes curators university missouri et al marvin wright william arnet duke university et al robert donin daniel steiner eugene mcdonald estelle fishbein michael weston peter ruger michael gottesman robert weinberg joy koletsky laurence gold david silberman filed brief national education association et al amici curiae urging affirmance anne franke jacqueline mintz filed brief american association university professors amicus curiae justice stevens delivered opinion respondent scott ewing dismissed university michigan failing important written examination question presented whether university action deprived ewing property without due process law refusal allow retake examination arbitrary departure university past practice appeals held constitutional rights violated disagree fall ewing enrolled special program study known inteflex offered jointly undergraduate college medical school undergraduate degree medical degree awarded upon successful completion program order qualify final two years inteflex program consist clinical training hospitals affiliated university student must successfully complete four years study including premedical courses courses basic medical sciences student must also pass nbme part written test administered national board medical examiners spring overcoming certain academic personal difficulties ewing successfully completed courses prescribed first four years inteflex program thereby qualified take nbme part ewing failed five seven subjects examination receiving total score passing score score required state licensure national mean ewing received lowest score recorded inteflex student brief history program july promotion review board individually reviewed status several students inteflex program considering ewing record detail nine members board attendance voted unanimously drop registration program response written request ewing board reconvened week later reconsider decision ewing appeared personally explained believed score test fairly reflect academic progress potential reconsidering matter nine voting members present unanimously reaffirmed prior action drop ewing registration program august ewing appealed board decision executive committee medical school giving ewing opportunity heard person executive committee unanimously approved motion deny appeal leave absence status enable retake part nbme examination following year ewing reappeared executive committee two separate occasions time unsuccessfully seeking readmission medical school august commenced litigation district eastern district michigan ii ewing complaint regents university michigan asserted right retake nbme part test three separate theories two predicated state law one based federal law matter state law alleged university action constituted breach contract barred doctrine promissory estoppel matter federal law ewing alleged property interest continued enrollment inteflex program dismissal arbitrary capricious violating substantive due process rights guaranteed fourteenth amendment entitling relief district held bench trial took evidence university claim ewing dismissal justified well ewing allegation university michigan medical students failed nbme part routinely given second opportunity take test district described ewing unfortunate academic history detail findings set forth margin reveal ewing encountered immediate difficulty handling work ewing board regents supp difficulties form marginally passing grades number incompletes makeup examinations many experienced ewing reduced course load persisted throughout period enrolled inteflex program ewing discounted importance academic record offering evidence students even academic deficiencies uniformly allowed retake nbme part see app statistical evidence indicated standard students medical school failed part nbme since inception permitted retake test allowed take test third time fourth time seven students inteflex program allowed retake test one student allowed retake twice ewing student failed test permitted retake robert reed former director inteflex program member promotion review board stated students routinely given second chance accord app ewing argued promotional pamphlet released medical school approximately week examination codified practice pamphlet entitled becoming doctor stated according gibson everything possible done keep qualified medical students medical school even extends taking passing national board exams student fail either part national boards opportunity provided make failure second exam regard ewing federal claim district determined ewing constitutionally protected property interest continued enrollment inteflex program state university academic decisions concerning qualifications medical student subject substantive due process review federal district however found violation ewing due process rights trial record emphasized devoid indication university decision based bad faith ill impermissible ulterior motives contrary evidence demonstrate decision dismiss plaintiff reached fair impartial manner careful deliberate consideration leave conjecture decision district judge expressly found evidence demonstrate arbitrary capricious action since regents good reason dismiss ewing program without reaching claims appeals reversed dismissal ewing federal constitutional claim appeals agreed district ewing implied contract right continued enrollment free arbitrary interference qualified property interest protected due process clause concluded university arbitrarily deprived property violation fourteenth amendment ewing qualified student university defined term time sat nbme part consistent practice university michigan allow qualified medical student initially failed nbme part opportunity retest ewing university michigan medical student initially failed nbme part allowed opportunity retest ewing board regents appeals therefore directed university allow ewing retake nbme part pass reinstate inteflex program granted university petition certiorari consider whether appeals misapplied doctrine substantive due process reverse iii board curators univ mo horowitz assumed without deciding federal courts review academic decision public educational institution substantive due process standard case ewing contends review appropriate constitutionally protected property interest continued enrollment inteflex program remembering justice brandeis admonition formulate rule constitutional law broader required precise facts applied ashwander tva concurring opinion conclude horowitz precise facts disclosed record afford appropriate basis decision therefore accept university invitation assume existence constitutionally protectible property right ewing continued enrollment hold even ewing assumed property interest gave rise substantive right due process clause continued enrollment free arbitrary state action facts record disclose action preliminary matter must noted substantive constitutional protection arbitrary dismissal necessarily give ewing right retake nbme part constitutionally protected interest alleged ewing complaint app found courts derives ewing implied contract right continued enrollment free arbitrary dismissal district find ewing separate right retake exam explicitly reject ed contract promissory estoppel claims finding sufficient evidence conclude defendants bound either expressly course conduct give ewing second chance take part nbme examination appeals overturn district determination ewing lacked tenable contract estoppel claim michigan law see supra accept reasonable rendering state law particularly party challenged university refusal allow ewing retake nbme part thus actionable however important element ewing claim dismissal product arbitrary state action proper analysis refusal may constitute evidence arbitrariness even actual legal wrong alleged question whether record compels conclusion university acted arbitrarily dropping ewing inteflex program without permitting reexamination important remember case procedures used university unfair respect quite contrary true regents accused concealing nonacademic constitutionally impermissible reasons expelling ewing district found regents acted good faith ewing claim therefore must university misjudged fitness remain student inteflex program record unmistakably demonstrates however faculty decision made conscientiously careful deliberation based evaluation entirety ewing academic career judges asked review substance genuinely academic decision one show great respect faculty professional judgment plainly may override unless substantial departure accepted academic norms demonstrate person committee responsible actually exercise professional judgment cf youngberg romeo considerations profound importance counsel restrained judicial review substance academic decisions justice white explained although regularly proceeds assumption due process clause procedural dimension must always bear mind substantive content clause suggested neither language preconstitutional history content nothing accumulated product judicial interpretation fifth fourteenth amendments underline justice black constant reminder colleagues license invalidate legislation thinks merely arbitrary unreasonable moore east cleveland white dissenting narrow avenue judicial review precludes conclusion decision dismiss ewing inteflex program substantial departure accepted academic norms demonstrate faculty exercise professional judgment certainly expulsion considered aberrant viewed isolation district found fact regents good reason dismiss ewing program failing nbme part ewing accumulated unenviable academic record characterized low grades seven incompletes several terms irregular reduced course load ewing failure medical boards words one professors merely culminate series deficiencies many ways straw broke camel back app accord moreover fact ewing qualified sense eligible take examination first time weaken conclusion ewing took nbme part entirely reasonable faculty reexamine entire record light unfortunate results examination admittedly may well unwise deny ewing second chance permission retake test might saved university expense litigation conceivably might demonstrated members promotion review board misjudged ewing fitness medical profession nevertheless remains true dismissal inteflex program rested academic judgment beyond pale reasoned academic decisionmaking viewed background entire career university michigan including singularly low score nbme part examination judgment appeals reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes later meetings ewing excused nbme part failure mother suffered heart attack months examination girlfriend broke six months examination work essay contest taken much time makeup examination pharmacology administered nbme part inadequate preparation caused panic examination fourth count ewing complaint advanced claim damages district held board regents state instrumentality immunized liability damages eleventh amendment dismissed count complaint ewing board regents supp ed fall ewing enrolled program encountered immediate difficulty handling work take final examination biology following semester completed course received performance first semester courses follows chemistry writing course incomplete freshman seminar next semester took chemistry freshman seminar psychology received freshman seminar chemistry withdrew psychology advised time take patient care course usually given fall inteflex student second year placed irregular program difficulties july meeting promotion review board requested leave absence approved left program summer leave took two physics courses point loma college california reentered inteflex program university michigan winter term term repeated chemistry received spring passed introduction patient care course year completed regular year ii program encountered new difficulty fall received incomplete clinical studies converted pass microbiology incomplete gross anatomy gross anatomy incomplete converted examination winter received genetics microbiology microanatomy general pathology creative writing pass clinical studies appealed microanatomy general pathology grade requesting change exam receive pass appeal denied grade appeal committee placed irregular program took clinical studies course spring semester july ewing submitted request promotion review board irregular program consisting course pharmacology fall winter course human illness neuroscience thus splitting fourth year two years board denied request directed take fourth year curriculum one academic year undertook removed deficiency microanatomy general pathology repeating course winter semester received spring term passed developmental anatomy grade received grade neuroscience reexamination fall received passing grade neuroscience pharmacology winter term received passing grade clinical studies deficiency pharmacology given makeup examination course received grade took part nbme ewing board regents appeals stated believe case disposed section claim expressly reach breach contract promissory estoppel claims ewing board regents university petition certiorari also presented question whether eleventh amendment constituted complete bar action brought board regents university michigan app body corporate cf florida dept health florida nursing home per curiam alabama pugh per curiam petition granted however respondent ewing filed motion amend complaint joining individual members board regents named defendants official capacities university oppose motion tr oral arg granting motion merely conforms pleadings course proceedings district cf kentucky graham brandon holt record reveals regents frequently referred plural defendants indicating understood suit individually official capacities rather board corporate entity app likewise district held defendants act violation ewing due process rights accordingly found favor defendants consequently grant motion thereby allowing ewing name defendants individual members board regents official capacities see patsy florida board regents given resolution case need consider question whether relief sought ewing available eleventh amendment principles ewing courts reasoned follows board regents roth held property interests protected due process defined existing rules understandings stem independent source state law see goss lopez companion case perry sindermann held agreements implied promisor words conduct light surrounding circumstances independent sources property interests see bishop wood implied contracts according antiquated race discrimination decision michigan whose principal holding since overtaken events one admitted college implied understanding shall arbitrarily dismissed therefrom booker grand rapids medical college foregoing ewing us conclude protectible property interest continued enrollment inteflex program tr oral arg consistent suggestion petitioner answer ewing complaint admit ted michigan law ewing may enjoyed property right interest continued enrollment inteflex program app although ambiguity opinion understand appeals found clearly erroneous district rejection ewing federal substantive due process claim solely undisputed evidence consistent pattern conduct namely substantial uncontroverted evidence trial record time ewing took nbme part medical students routinely given second opportunity pass appeals found rule effect medical students entitled retake failed examinations indeed relied university promotional pamphlet entitled becoming doctor extent memorialized consistent practice medical school respect students initially fail examination emphasis added property interest second examination however inferred consistent practice without basis state law yet case appeals reverse district finding ewing even aware contents pamphlet left standing holding statements promotional tract amoun either unqualified promise contract right retake examination state law recognize course mutually explicit understandings may operate create property interests perry sindermann understandings tacit agreements must support legitimate claim entitlement independent source state law quoting board regents roth district bears emphasis held university liberal retesting custom gave rise entitlement retake nbme part rejected argument similar ewing board regents roth case roth asserted property interest continued employment virtue fact four hundred professors four renewed particular academic year brief respondent board regents roth citation omitted absent state statute university rule anything approaching common law reemployment however held roth property interest renewal teaching contract board regents roth dealing issues state law enter judgments federal courts hesitant overrule decisions federal courts skilled law particular unless conclusions shown unreasonable propper clark accord haring prosise leroy great western butner bishop wood university faculties must widest range discretion making judgments academic performance students entitlement promotion graduation board curators univ mo horowitz powell concurring see opinion academic freedom thrives independent uninhibited exchange ideas among teachers students see keyishian board regents sweezy new hampshire opinion warren also somewhat inconsistently autonomous decisionmaking academy see university california regents bakke opinion powell sweezy new hampshire frankfurter concurring result discretion determine academic grounds may admitted study described one four essential freedoms university university california regents bakke opinion powell quoting sweezy new hampshire supra frankfurter concurring result internal quotations omitted even viewing case ewing perspective say explanations extenuating circumstances offered compelling rejection fairly described irrational example university might well concluded ewing sensitivity difficulties personal life suggested inability handle stress inherent career medicine inordinate amount time ewing devoted extracurricular essay writing may reasonably revealed university lack judgment inability set priorities university termination ewing substantially deviate accepted academic norms compared treatment students sure university routinely gave others opportunity retake nbme part despite tables recording students incompletes low grades permitted retake examination failing first time app charts indicating students lacked outside research honor grade clinical work ewing received position say students similarly situated ewing promotion review board presumably considered raw statistical data also nature seriousness individual deficiencies concentration particular disciplines ewing case hard sciences board able take account numerous incompletes makeup examinations ewing required secure even marginally passing grades view connection reduced course loads finally uniquely positioned observe ewing judgment ability handle stress thus especially well situated make necessarily subjective judgment ewing prospects success medical profession insusceptibility promotion decisions one rigorous judicial review borne fact inteflex students records judge might find better ewing dismissed faculty without even allowed take nbme part first time cf nine inteflex students terminated suffering one deficiency failing one course warning justice powell concurring although join opinion holding respondent presents violation substantive due process right asserts think unnecessary assume existence right facts case respondent alleges property interest continued enrollment university inteflex program dismissal arbitrary capricious dismissal allegedly violated substantive due process rights guaranteed fourteenth amendment providing basis claim correctly points respondent claim property right dubious best ante even one assumes existence property right however every right entitled protection substantive due process property interests protected procedural due process even though interest derived state law rather constitution board regents roth substantive due process rights created constitution history substantive due process counsels caution restraint moore east cleveland opinion powell plurality determination substantive due process right exists judgment certain interests require particularly careful scrutiny state needs asserted justify abridgment quoting poe ullman harlan dissenting context liberty interests careful examine asserted interest determine whether merits protection substantive due process see east cleveland supra roe wade griswold connecticut new claim substantive due process protection must considered background constitutional purposes rationally perceived historically developed poe supra harlan dissenting interest asserted respondent interest continued enrollment derives right retake nbme essentially contract right bears little resemblance fundamental interests previously viewed implicitly protected constitution certainly closely tied respect teachings history solid recognition basic values underlie society wise appreciation great roles doctrines federalism separation powers played establishing preserving american freedoms griswold supra harlan concurring judgment reasons briefly summarized think fact michigan may labeled interest property entitles join far important interests heretofore accorded protection substantive due process cf harrah independent school district martin ii agree fully emphasis respect deference courts accord academic decisions made appropriate university authorities view ewing academic record charitably characterizes unfortunate case never litigated trial district case reviewed appeals sixth circuit subject decision judicial review academic decisions including respect admission dismissal students rarely appropriate particularly orderly administrative procedures followed case see board curators univ mo horowitz opinion powell cited ante see also university california regents bakke opinion powell academic freedom though specifically enumerated constitutional right long viewed special concern first amendment keyishian board regents