1. The purpose of the Student Grievance Committee is to consider student academic grievances that have not been resolved at the college/institute level and to make recommendations.

2. The undergraduate committee shall include one faculty member from each College and degree granting Institute and one undergraduate student to be appointed by the Student Government Association.

3. The graduate committee is comprised of the Graduate Council.

4. If a student believes that her/his academic rights have been violated, and the complaint has not been resolved satisfactorily at the college/institute level (i.e., via faculty person involved, department chair, and dean), she/he may petition the Student Grievance Committee to consider the complaint. The student must make the request to the Student Grievance committee in writing, stating the grievance and the procedure that has been followed in trying to resolve the problem.

5. If the grievance involves any member of the Committee, that member will abstain from participation on the Committee while that particular grievance is being considered. The Chief Academic Officer will appoint a replacement.

6. Upon receipt of a request for consideration of a grievance, the Student Grievance Committee must meet within three regularly scheduled school days to determine what data and materials to request from the student and faculty member. Such requests for materials will be made in writing from the Committee to the persons involved.

7. The Committee Chair shall set a hearing time that does not conflict with the class schedules of any Committee member, student or faculty involved. All persons involved shall be notified in writing of the hearing time at least three days prior to the date of the hearing.

8. Evidence and background material concerning a case should be submitted to the Committee at least three days prior to the hearing. This will allow the committee adequate time to examine the facts prior to being required to make a decision on the matter.

9. At the time of the hearing, both the student and the faculty member appearing before the Grievance Committee have the right to have a representative or advisor of their choice at the meeting. The advisors will be introduced to the Committee for the record. The student and faculty member may consult with their advisors during the proceedings, but the advisors may not address the Committee or question witnesses. The student and faculty member will be given full opportunity to present evidence and witnesses that are relevant to the issue at hand. Evidence introduced at the hearing must be confined to the particular ground or charge that has been predicated.

10. The decision of the Committee must be based on sufficient and credible evidence. The decision will be made by the Committee in closed session. All persons involved in the grievance will be notified in writing of the decision of the Committee within one week of the hearing.

11. Decisions made by the committee must be immediately enforced by both faculty and students; however, both students and faculty have "right of appeal". A request to appeal the decision of the Committee must be submitted in writing to the Chief Academic Officer within seven working days of receipt of the Committee’s decision.

12. The final level of appeal for both students and faculty members will be the President of the University.

Revised:  January, 1983; 11/28/05; November 2006