|
FACULTY/STAFF >
DEPARTMENTS & OFFICES >
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS >
ACADEMIC POLICIES >
GRADUATE STUDENT-FACULTY DISPUTES POLICY
Graduate Student-Faculty Disputes Policy
- A student who has a complaint with an individual faculty member should discuss the complaint directly with the faculty member and try to resolve it at that level.
- A student who attempts to begin the process at a higher administrative level will be encouraged to address the issue with the faculty member first. The department head shall make a good faith effort to have the student confer initially with the faculty member.
- If a student refuses to confer with the faculty member, the student is to confer with the faculty member's department head. If such a meeting occurs, the department head will:
- If possible, inform the faculty member of the student's request and issue, if known, prior to the meeting;
- Not engage in a substantive discussion with the student (i.e., not inquire into the actual details or circumstances surrounding the complaint), but will listen to the student's concerns;
- Inform the student that the concerns expressed will be communicated to the faculty member;
- After the meeting, inform the faculty member of the concerns raised by the student;
- If the faculty member agrees to do so, arrange a meeting with the faculty member and the student in an attempt to resolve the issue.
- If an acceptable solution is not reached, the student must then document his or her complaint in writing and deliver a copy to the faculty member, the department head and the appropriate dean, respectively.
- The department head will make a judgment about the student complaint. If the department head judges against the complaint, then the student has the ability to appeal to the appropriate academic dean.
- If the department head judges the student complaint could be valid, the faculty member will be asked to respond in writing to the complaint.
- The department head will consider the faculty member's written response and could dismiss the complaint, at which time the student could appeal to the appropriate academic dean.
- Alternatively, the department head could conclude that there is a basis for the complaint and would then schedule a conference with the student and the faculty member in an effort to resolve the issue.
- If the issue is not resolved, the student can appeal to the appropriate academic dean.
- If the issue is not resolved at the dean's level, the student can appeal to the Deans' Council. The Deans' Council decision is final.
- Under no circumstances should a student become the subject of retaliation at any level of process when seeking resolution of a student-faculty dispute.
Revised July 2013
|
|
|
|