Academic Grievance Procedure
The academic grievance procedure shall be used in all cases involving grievances by students involving faculty or other students concerning alleged academic injustices relating to grades, or unprofessional conduct.
Step 1
The student shall take a complaint to the instructor within two weeks into the following term (mid-February for Fall or Interim issues; mid-September for Summer or Spring issues.) If the student feels unable to approach the instructor, the grievance may be taken to the chair of the department in which the instructor is a member (if the instructor is the department chair, the grievance should be taken to the division chair). If the grievance is redressed or the student is satisfied in this meeting with the instructor or the department/division chair, the matter is settled.
Step 2
If the student is dissatisfied with the instructor's response to the grievance the student may take the grievance to the chair of the department in which the instructor involved is a member or to the division chair if the instructor is the chair of the department. This appeal must be brought within one week of the unsatisfactory response to the initial statement of grievance. The department (or the division) chair shall require the student to submit the grievance in written form and shall ask for a written response from the instructor involved. On the basis of this information and any other that the department (or division) chair shall judge pertinent, the chair shall render a decision. This decision shall be given to the student in writing and a written record of the decision and its basis must be kept by the chair and shared with the instructor. If the student and the instructor are satisfied, the matter is settled.
Step 3
If the student or the instructor feels dissatisfied with the decision regarding the grievance rendered by the department (or division) chair, either may appeal the decision to the Academic Dean within one week of the unsatisfactory decision. This appeal must be in writing and must indicate why an appeal should be heard. The Academic Dean shall ask the department (or division) chair for the written record of the grievance procedure to that point. Through consultation with the Dean of Students, the grievance shall be reviewed and the appeal considered. The decision of this appeal body shall be final.