The procedure for handling academic grievances was revised in the Code of Student Conduct by the University after students complained about the process to the Student Government Association. According to Student Affairs and Enrollment Services Vice President Eugene Dial, the academic grievance’s policy was revised to provide a more detailed explanation of the steps to file an academic grievance with the University.
“The changes that were put in place were not major as far as filing a complaint,” Dial said. “We made it very detailed as to the steps of what will happen at each level.”
According to SGA Director of Student Rights and Grievances, Marquita Christy, students were told to use a certain procedure in one department and a different procedure in another department.
“If a student had a complaint; the student didn’t have a formal process to address the situation,” Christy said.
According to Dial, the grievance procedures were revised in the Code of Student Conduct so each person involved in the process, student or faculty member, would know his or her responsibility.
According to the Code of Student Conduct, the procedures for academic grievances are divided into two categories, informal and formal procedures.
In the informal procedure process, students should see the faculty member and try to resolve the issue within 60 days.
If the matter cannot be mutually resolved, the student should complete a student academic grievance form and submit the form to the department head of the faculty member. The department head can use any grievance procedure at the department level to review the grievance or make a recommendation.
If the situation cannot be resolved at the department level, the grievance is moved into the formal procedure process. The student should submit a copy of their grievance form to the dean of the college in which the faculty member teaches within six months of the grievance. The dean will refer the situation to the College Academic Grievance Committee, which will make a decision in the matter.
Students can appeal the decision made at the college level to the Academic Policies and Standards Committee for undergraduate students or the Graduate Council for graduate students.
“Revisions are made at least at a yearly basis, but can be made at anytime because it (code) is available on the web,” Dial said.
According to Dial, any student who filed a grievance before June will continue with the old procedure. Any grievance filed after June will be handled through the new procedure.
Before the procedure was placed in the Code of Student Conduct, grievances were not being handled in a consistent manner through the different colleges on campus. According to Dial, a student filing a grievance through any of the colleges will now use the same procedure.
“Students who follow the process generally feel they have had a fair chance,” Dial said.
The procedure for students to file a harassment or discrimination grievance was also revised in the Code of Student Conduct. Students should report a grievance of this nature to the dean of student life.
