Grievance and Appeal Policy (Non-academic)

A student may seek recourse from any university nonacademic program or employment-related dispute, alleged discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, color, sex, disability, or age, including alleged violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments Acts of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or other state or federal legislation through the following procedures:

A. Informal Procedure

1. The student should seek informal resolution with the individual department concerned before initiating a written complaint.
2. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved, the student may request a hearing with the dean for mentoring and accountability, the assistant vice president for Student Development or the associate dean of Adult and Professional Studies.
3. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved at this level, the student may request a hearing with the vice president for Student Development or the vice president for Adult and Professional Studies.
4. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved at this level, the student may submit a written grievance form.

B. Formal Procedure

1. The informal resolution may be ended at any time and the complainant may begin the formal procedure by submitting a written grievance within 30 days of the event or action. Grievances must include the demographic information regarding the complainant, the clear facts of the case, the disposition or resolution achieved thus far and the requested resolution by the complainant. Additional information or clarification may be requested before a hearing is scheduled. NOTE: Appeals that are based solely on the severity of a sanction that upon investigation are within the parameters of the available sanctions for an event or action are not considered grounds for appeal.
2. A hearing will be held with the dean for mentoring and accountability, the assistant vice president for Student Development or the associate dean of Adult and Professional Studies, ordinarily within 15 working days from the filing of the written grievance.
3. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved with the respective assistant vice president, the student may then request, within 15 working days, a hearing with the vice president for Student Development or the vice president for Adult and Professional Studies. This hearing will ordinarily be held within 15 working days following the request.
4. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved with the respective vice president, the student may then request, within 15 working days, a hearing with the Student Development Council, which will make recommendations back to the vice president within 15 working days.
5. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved with the Student Development Council and the vice president, the student may then request, within 15 working days, a hearing with the president of the university. This final hearing with the president will ordinarily take place within 15 working days. This is the final appeal.

Each stated time frame will be the ordinary process. More time may be necessary in the event of a lengthy investigation, hearing, illness, or other unforeseen circumstances.

The complainant will be notified of results at each step of the grievance process. All grievances, with all papers, recommendations, and decisions related to federal or state regulations, will be reported to the vice president for Academic Affairs in whose office all files will be kept.

Because grievance and appeal processes are private university administrative hearings, legal counsel or representation is inappropriate.