The University of St. Thomas

School of Education

School of Education Policies 2007-2008

Policy Appeals and Student Grievances

Appeals vs. Grievances

The School of Education makes a distinction between policy appeals and student grievances.

A Policy Appeal is a student request for an exemption from a particular policy. Students making such appeals should cite compelling reasons as to why a policy should not apply to them. Policy exemptions are not made routinely. Students making appeals must cite serious circumstances beyond their control. Such reasons as getting settled in a career, heavy workloads, or beginning a family are not, in themselves, compelling reasons. Policy appeals are generally decided by an associate dean in consultation with department chairs.

A Student Grievance is a petition brought by a student who believes her/his rights have been denied or violated in an arbitrary or capricious manner. Student Grievances are handled within the School of Education Student Grievance Process.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Students have the right to a comfortable, respectful classroom environment free of intimidation and focused on achievement. Students have the responsibility to commit time and energy appropriate to the learning challenge, to respond and interact with the instructor and other students, to expand the boundaries of their current knowledge and skill, and to share their experience and expertise in class. Students have the responsibility for collaborating in the learning process, respecting and attending to the views of others, and initiating attention to special needs. University of St. Thomas Graduate Student Bill of Rights

Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity is more than not cheating and not plagiarizing; it is defined as honesty.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the presentation of the words or thoughts of another writer as your own. It is the use of any source in any way without giving credit to the original author. It is the use of any quotation (even a few words) without properly identifying it as a quotation. The use of any ideas and the use of any quotations from another written source requires formal acknowledgement of that source.  If there is anything about plagiarism you do not understand, ask your professor.

Sanctions for Cheating and Plagiarism

In cases of cheating, the instructor will impose a minimum sanction of failure for the work involved. The instructor will inform the student and the dean of the college, in writing, of:

  • the nature of the offense;
  • the penalty imposed within the course; and
  • the recommendation of the instructor as to whether further disciplinary
    action by the dean is warranted.

If the instructor or the dean of the college determines that further disciplinary action is warranted, a disciplinary hearing shall be commenced at the request of either the instructor or the dean. (If there is a previous offense of this nature on the student's record, a hearing is mandatory.)

School of Education Student Grievance

A Student Grievance is a formal petition brought by a student who believes her/his rights have been denied or violated in an arbitrary or capricious manner. Student Grievances against School of Education are handled within the Student Grievance Process. 

School of Education Student Grievance Process

Students who believe they have been aggrieved according to the specifications in the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities should utilize the following "chain of command" sequence to seek a resolution of that grievance. Students are advised that skipping a step in the process and “going right to the top” simply wastes time, because persons “at the top” will need to send the grievance back down through the steps of the sequence. All persons involved in the process will consider the complaint and, if possible, attempt to resolve it. If satisfactory resolution is not possible, a student may opt to move it to the next step.

Grievance Against School of Education Program Personnel

The student complaint against School of Education program personnel works through the sequence identified below, starting with the most immediate person involved, moving as necessary, to the department chair, the associate dean, and finally the School of Education Student Affairs Committee.

The formal grievance process is initiated when a written complaint is presented to the School of Education member and copied to the department chair. The written complaint needs to outline the parameters of the problem and clearly indicate how the student feels her/his rights have been denied or violated in an arbitrary or capricious manner.

At the conclusion of each step in the process, a written document needs to be created by the school representative which outlines the complaint and the resulting decision. A copy of this document is shared with the student. The student then has five days to decide whether to pursue the complaint at the next level. All written documentation is forwarded to the next person in the chain.

The committee will first examine the facts presented (in writing) by the student. If the committee judges that there is sufficient evidence to investigate further, it will investigate the matter and hear testimony. If the Grievance Committee decides that the student's complaint is justified, it will discuss the matter with the person or persons concerned and determine the means to ensure the student's rights. The decision of the Grievance Committee will be binding on all parties concerned unless the decision is appealed to the executive vice president.

If the grievance cannot be settled through this process within the School of Education, a student may request that the complaint be submitted to the eecutive vce pesident in order to convene a university grievance committee. 


Student Program Grievance Sequence


Executive Vice President / University Grievance Committee

↑
School of Education Academic Affairs Committee
(in consultation with the School of Education Dean)

↑
Associate Dean
(in consultation with the School of Education Dean)

↑
Department Chair / Grievance Committee

↑
Program Personnel

↑
Student

 

Grievance Against Another School of Education Student

Student Grievances against another student bypass the School of Education Grievance Process and are handled within the university graduate student grievance process.