Petition, Appeals, and Grievances (Academic)

During a student's academic career, there may be occasion to file a petition, an appeal or a grievance. A petition is used to request an exception to an academic policy. Academic petitions are available at the RAS Office located in the student center or at https://myiwu.indwes.edu/directory/RAS/forms. An appeal is used either to request a change in grade or to appeal the decision of a petition. The appeal will be decided by the other academic deans that did not make the decision on the initial petition. In the School of Nursing the Dean of SON will review the appeal. An academic policy and non-academic policy grievance involves those situations in which a student believes that the university has not followed published policies regarding an academic or non-academic decision or discrimination based on race, national origin, color, sex, disability, or age including Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504.

A student who has a grievance related to a course grade or an academic policy decision, including those believed to be discriminatory based on race, national origin, color, sex, disability, or age, should follow these procedures for resolution.

Students must begin with the awareness that the university follows generally accepted college and university practice in the development of academic policies, the operation of classrooms, and use of grading techniques. These differ widely from professor to professor and from college to college. Indiana Wesleyan University allows its instructors independence in following generally accepted practices.

Protest of Grade

If the student feels that an instructor has not followed fair practice nor followed his or her own published grading policy, the following procedures should be followed:

A. Protest of a Grade - Informal Procedure

1. The student should contact the professor for a full explanation of the grade given and the basis for making the grade.

2. If there is no resolution of the problem, the student may request a review with the academic leader of the School in which the course is governed if the complaint involves the chairperson).

3. The academic leader of the college will notify the faculty member of the grievance and its nature and seek to mediate the dispute through the following steps:

   • Informal discussion of the facts of the case seeking resolution within 15 working days.
   • If the faculty member’s stated policy for calculating the grade has not been followed, the academic leader of the School in which the course is governed will insist that it be followed.
   • If the dispute is about a grade on a specific paper or an examination, the academic leader of the college will request that the professor re-evaluate the paper or the examination to examine the grade given.
   • If the student is not satisfied with this informal process, the formal procedure may be initiated.

B. Protest of Grade - 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 form within 30 days of receiving the grade. Grievance forms are available in the Academic Affairs Office.
2. The School Deans within 15 working days will request a second reading of the specific paper or examination by two faculty members with knowledge in the academic discipline. They will submit their evaluations to the academic leader of the college within 15 working days. That person will make a judgment, within 15 working days, as to whether the grade has been definitely misevaluated by more than one full grade. If so, the grade may then be changed by the academic administration. The decision of the academic leader of the college will be final in all grade disputes.

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 Academic Affairs Office in whose office all files will be kept.

Protest of Policy

If a student believes that the university has not followed published policies regarding academic decisions or has been discriminated against based on race, national origin, color, sex, disability, or age, including Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504, the student may follow the following procedures:

A. Informal Procedure

1. The student should contact the person who has made the decision for a full explanation of the university policy, or the federal or state policy, and how the policy was followed. If the university policy has been followed, that should resolve the complaint.

2. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved, the student may request a hearing with the division chairperson.

3. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved with the division chairperson, the student may request a hearing with the School's Academic Dean, the vice president for Adult and Professional Studies, dean of the School of Nursing or the dean of the Seminary.

4. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved with the academic leader informally, the formal procedure may be initiated.

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 form within 30 days of the policy decision. Grievance forms are available in the Academic Affairs Office for CAS or the School of Nursing Pre-licensure Office.

2. The student may then make a request within 15 working days for a hearing with the School Dean or the vice president for Adult and Professional Studies to review the formal grievance.

3. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved with the vice president, the student may then request within 15 working days a hearing with the Academic Affairs Council of the university.

The decision of the Academic Affairs Council will be made within 15 working days of such a request and will be final in all academic policy disputes.

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.