Informal Grievance Procedure

If the dispute involves allegations of academic dishonesty, the student must inform the instructor within three business days of instructor notification to the student allegation of academic dishonesty.

The student consults with the appropriate individuals at each of the three levels indicated below and seeks resolution on the lowest possible level:

Absent unusual circumstances, the student consults with the instructor who renders a written decision and notifies the student at the student’s last address or email on file with the university within seven business days of the consultation.
If the matter is not satisfactorily resolved with the instructor, the student consults with the academic Division Chair within seven business days of the decision of the instructor and the academic Division Chair will notify the student in writing at the student’s last address or email on file with the university within seven business days of consultation. If the dispute is with the academic Division Chair, who is also the instructor, the student moves to step 3.
If the matter is not satisfactorily resolved in steps 1 or 2 above, the student may consult with the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs within seven business days regarding a formal appeal process. The Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs will confer with the instructor, the student, and the academic Division Chair to assure that the informal process was followed and will then advise the student in writing within seven business days as to the appropriate steps in initiating a formal appeal process, should the student so desire. The role of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs at this juncture is to assure due process, not to deal with the substantive matters of the appeal.