A Guide to Student Academic Grievance

Student academic grievance procedures in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences normally treat matters involving a student's current or recent coursework where, in a claim of unfair treatment, the relief that is sought is a change of grade. The grievance procedures do not deal with matters that properly belong in personnel proceedings. Any such grievance must be started within the regular semester immediately following the course at issue, whether the student is enrolled in the university or not.

The grievance procedures of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are as follows:

1. The student should first discuss the problem with the instructor of the course.
2. If the matter cannot be resolved at the course instruction level, the student may appeal to the chair, or the chair-designated representative, of the department responsible for the course.
3. Only when the problem cannot be resolved at the department level should the student contact Director of Academic Affairs in the Office of Undergraduate Programs in Foundation suite 110, phone: 480/965-6506.
4. If the above measures fail to resolve the dispute, the student may file a written grievance with the Director of Academic Affairs in Foundation suite 110. The grievance will be forwarded by the Office of the Dean to the instructor with a request for a reasonably prompt response.
5. The student should read the response when it arrives in the Dean's Office and decide whether to request a hearing. The request must be in written form. Upon receiving a request, the Director of Academic Affairs shall arrange a formal hearing before the College Student Affairs and Grievances Committee. The committee is a regular faculty committee of the college.
6. The hearing shall be conducted by the committee chair and shall be closed. Participants may be accompanied by an advisor of their choice. Advisors may make an oral statement on behalf of, and confer with, their advisee. Advisors may not directly address the committee or other participants. Arrangements for the order of appearance, for submission of materials, testimony, and related matters should be made through and by the Director of Academic Affairs.
7. The Committee shall make a confidential report through the committee chair to Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs.
8. The Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs will review the report for confirmation of a final course of action, in keeping with university policy, and shall inform the student and the faculty member of the conclusion of the process.