Academic grievances involve matters such as the instructor’s management of a class, instructor’s failure to adhere to responsibilities specified in the UST Policy F.07.01: Faculty Teaching Responsibilities, or a grade received by a student.
Timing of Appeals – The student must initiate the grievance process no later than the first day of the next regular semester (fall/spring). All parties involved in an appeal (Steps Two through Five) will be notified in writing of a decision and any further appeals must be initiated within two weeks of that decision.
Step One – Ideally, academic grievances are to be settled between the instructor and the student, in person or in writing. Either party may invite a witness or mediator to attend any meetings in which the grievance is discussed.
Step Two – If either party is not satisfied with the decision, she/he may appeal in writing to the Department Chair (or Associate Dean if there is no department chair or if the faculty member in question is the Department Chair).
Step Three – If either party is not satisfied with the decision of the department chair, she/he may appeal in writing to the Dean of the School in which the specific course resides.
Step Four – If either party is still not satisfied, either may submit a written appeal to one of the following committees, as appropriate:
- Curriculum and Standards Committee-Graduate students in the Cameron School of Business
- School of Education Council-Graduate students in the School of Education
- School of Theology Council-Graduate students in the School of Theology
- Academic Committee-All other students (graduate and undergraduate)
Step Five – A final written appeal may be made to the VPAA.