500.00 Student Academic Grievance Procedures

TABLE OF CONTENTS

510.00   Introduction
520.00   Academic Decisions Reviewed
530.00   Student Academic Grievances

510.00 INTRODUCTION

Students who disagree with an academic decision made by an instructor or administrator, including the assignment of grades or decisions about program or degree requirements or eligibility, may file a grievance under these procedures

520.00 ACADEMIC DECISIONS REVIEWED

These procedures are available only to review allegedly unfair academic decisions and not mere differences of opinion regarding the professional judgment of the instructor in evaluating a student's work or making an academic decision. The academic decision, including the assignment of a grade, will be considered unfair if the decision is made:

a.    on some basis other than performance in the course and/or compliance with course assignments and requirements;

b.    by more exacting or demanding standards than were applied to other students in the same section;

c.    by a substantial departure from the instructor's, department's, college's or university's announced standards as articulated in the course syllabus, catalog descriptions and/or other written materials.

530.00 STUDENT ACADEMIC GRIEVANCES

531.00 Procedures.

A student who wishes to grieve an academic decision must proceed as follows:

531.01 Informal Meeting.

The student should attempt to resolve the matter directly with the instructor or administrator through a personal conference as soon as possible after the academic decision is known.

531.02 Department Head/Director Review.

If the student and instructor cannot reach a mutually satisfactory resolution to the problem, the student may file a formal grievance. The grievance must be presented in writing to the instructor's Department Head/Director before the end of the term but in no event later than the fifteenth day of university instruction of the following term. The student must describe the grievance, the date(s) of occurrence, why the student believes the decision was unfair, the student's attempts to resolve the grievance informally and the precise relief sought by the student. The student may attach copies of any relevant documents.

The student shall send a copy of the grievance to the instructor. The instructor shall have ten (10) working days to respond after receipt of the grievance.

Once a student files a grievance, he or she will be assigned an incomplete grade ("I") until the matter is concluded. A grade assigned before the filing of the grievance may be changed by the Dean or Graduate Dean, if, after the grievance procedures have been completed, the grade is found to be unfair or otherwise improper.

The Department Head/Director will receive and review all evidence, interview each party, if possible, and render a written decision with recommendations as to resolution within ten (10) working days of receipt of the instructor's response. If the grievance is not concluded within this time, the student may carry it forward to the Dean or Graduate Dean for resolution.

531.03 Dean's Review.

a. For Undergraduate Students.
Either party may appeal the Department Head/Director's decision in writing to the instructor's College Dean, with copies to the instructor, student and the Department Head/Director. Such appeal will be filed within five (5) working days of receipt of the Department Head / Director's determination. The Dean will submit a written decision to the student, instructor, and the Department Head/Director within ten (10) working days of receipt of the appeal. The decision of the Dean is the final decision of the University in grievances concerning grades for undergraduate students.

 b. For Graduate Students
Either party may appeal the Department Head/Director's decision in writing to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, with copies to the instructor, student and the Department Head/Director. Such appeal will be filed within five (5) working days of receipt of the Department Head/Director's determination. The Graduate Dean will discuss the appeal with the Dean of the student's academic college and will subsequently submit a written decision to the student, instructor, and the Department Head/Director within ten (10) working days of receipt of the appeal. The decision of the Graduate Dean is the final decision of the University in grievances concerning grades for graduate students.

531.04 Provost's Review.

a. For Undergraduate Students
Either party may appeal the Dean's decision, except decisions concerning grade grievances. Such appeal will be filed in writing and submitted to the Provost (or designee) within five (5) working days of receipt of the Dean's decision, with copies to the instructor, student and the Dean. The Provost will submit a written decision to the student, instructor, and the Dean within ten (10) working days of receipt of the appeal. The decision of the Provost is the final decision of the University.

 b. For Graduate Students
Either party may appeal the Graduate Dean's decision, except decisions concerning grade grievances. Such appeal will be filed in writing and submitted to the Provost (or designee) within five (5) working days of receipt of the Graduate Dean's decision, with copies to the instructor, student and the Graduate Dean. The Provost will submit a written decision to the student, instructor, and the Graduate Dean within ten (10) working days of receipt of the appeal. The decision of the Provost is the final decision of the University.

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