Student Grievance Procedure

Purpose

This appendix details the procedure for a student to resolve a student grievance or report a formal grievance against a student, faculty or staff member.

UNMC Definitions

University Day: The term “University Day” means a weekday on which the campus offices are open. Check the academic calendar on the campus website to determine the days on which the campus offices are closed.

E-Mail Address of Record: The term “E-Mail Address of Record” means the student’s University assigned email address. Because important notices may be sent to students by email, it is extremely important that students make sure they check that email regularly.

Grievance Resolution Procedure

Initial Steps for Resolving Student Grievances

1. As part of professional practice, it is recommended that the first course of action involve a discussion between the student and the student, faculty, or staff member to resolve the issue. All participants reserve the right to record any meeting that discusses these topics or have a third-party present to take notes regarding the meeting, with all parties having given consent and are aware of the recording.
2. If discussion with the involved student, faculty, or staff member is not possible or is not effective, the student should discuss the issue with their faculty advisor, specialty coordinator, program director or staff supervisor.
3. If no resolution is reached, the student will be referred to the division assistant dean.
4. If no resolution is reached in the meeting with the division assistant dean and ADAP, the student will be referred to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs (ADAP) and counseled on the formal grievance resolution procedure and may choose to file a formal grievance.

Student Formal Grievance Process

1. After the discussion with the ADAP, if the student wants to proceed with a formal grievance and an investigation of the incident(s), then the student submits a written grievance via the form in the student success software system (Nursing360). This written grievance must be received within 30 university days of the incident. The grievance should identify the following:
   • details of the grievance
   • the faculty member or any other person(s) involved
   • the incident including approximate date and time, and whether the incident is ongoing
   • the policy claimed to have been violated,
   • a brief statement of the preferred resolution.
2. The Nursing360 administrator will review the grievance and refer it to the appropriate person by the end of the next University day.
3. The formal grievance will be acknowledged through email to the student from the ADAP and documented in the student success software system within five university days. The faculty member involved will be notified that a formal grievance has been filed against them and the nature of the grievance.
4. Within ten university days of the acknowledgement of the formal grievance, the ADAP will meet with the student and the faculty involved separately to determine whether a preliminary resolution can be reached. All meetings between the ADAP and the involved parties will be recorded and maintained in the student success software system.
5. If a preliminary resolution cannot be achieved, the ADAP, in consultation with the appropriate curriculum committee chair, will be referred to the Disciplinary Appeals Committee.
6. The hearing must be held within ten university days after receiving the formal written grievance. The names of the hearing committee members must be provided to the student and persons involved at least five university days before the hearing so they can decide whether to challenge any of the members on grounds of lack of fairness or impartiality.
7. The disciplinary appeals committee chair will request submission of materials pertaining to the formal grievance from both student and persons involved. Materials or witnesses that either the student or persons involved intend to use in the formal hearing need to be submitted to the disciplinary appeals committee within five university days of the request. This will be the only time materials and witness names can be submitted. The committee may request additional clarification.
8. The student may be assisted by an advisor of their choice. The student must inform the committee chair of the advisor’s name at least 24 hours before the hearing. The student advisor may assist the student in formulating the case, and they may be present at the hearing, but they may not actually participate in the proceedings unless the chair specifically permits.
9. The disciplinary appeals committee chair will convene and record the hearing. Minutes will be kept of the proceedings and stored in the student success software system.
10. It is the chair’s responsibility to ensure that the hearing is conducted fairly. The chair will invite the involved parties to offer their testimony separately. The chair will determine the order of presentation and the relevancy of any evidence submitted and will direct the questioning of any witnesses.
11. After the decision is made, the disciplinary appeals committee chair will immediately notify the appropriate curriculum committee chair and ADAP of the decision. Within two university days, the disciplinary appeals committee chair submits a confidential report in the student success software system which describes the decision-making process, steps taken in the deliberation, and the decision.
12. If the disciplinary appeals committee identifies misconduct, the ADAP is responsible for timely corrective action in coordination with the faculty member’s division assistant dean, taking into consideration the recommendations of the disciplinary appeals committee.
13. Within ten university days of the decision, the ADAP will share the decision and, if appropriate, non-confidential recommended action(s) with the student.

Appeal of Formal Grievance Decision

1. The student(s) has the right to file a written appeal to the dean within ten university days of receiving the disciplinary appeals committee’s decision. Students should file their written appeal in the student success software system.
2. The dean will have ten university days to review the appeal and notify the student(s) of the decision. Documentation of this decision will be maintained in the student success software system.