Grievance Procedures: Introduction

All members of the University community are expected to observe high standards of professional conduct and ethical behavior in graduate education and in the supervision of graduate research and teaching (Guiding Standards for Faculty Supervision of Graduate Students, March 31, 1997). In a large and heterogeneous scholarly community however, problems arise. Thus the University articulates its policies and provides effective informal and formal procedures for resolving these problems involving graduate students. (The policies and procedures described in this document do not override or supersede any other policies as established in the University statutes and campus policies. For more information, see the Graduate College Handbook.)

The purpose of this policy is to protect the interests of graduate students in the College of Education by providing informal and formal means of seeking resolution in case of an inappropriate action of a member of the faculty or administrative staff or an inappropriate application of a department or college policy. Any graduate student in the College of Education may informally pursue or formally file a grievance when he/she believes that a decision or behavior adversely affects his/her status as a graduate student.

This Policy and Procedures on Grievances by Graduate Students in the College of Education specifies the policy and describes the procedures to be employed to resolve grievances by graduate students in this College. It was approved by the Graduate College on May 19, 2000. This policy does not apply in cases of academic misconduct. Breaches of academic integrity in research and publication are handled under the campus’s Policy and Procedures on Academic Integrity in Research and Publication. Similarly, this policy does not apply to cases that arise under the Student Code (“CODE”), such as capricious grading in a course (Section 26) or academic integrity (Section 33)