UNC CHARLOTTE
STUDENT GRIEVANCE
PROCEDURE
Purpose
The
primary objectives of this Student Grievance Procedure
are to ensure that students have the opportunity to
present grievances to the University regarding a certain
action or inaction by a member of the University community
and that the University has a consistent way of resolving
those grievances in a fair and just manner.
A
student may pursue a grievance if he or she believes that
a member of the University community has violated his
or her rights. (See Policy
Statement #75.) This Student Grievance Procedure
applies to alleged discrimination on the basis of race,
color, religion, sex, age, national origin, or disability
as well as problems arising in the relationship between
a student and the University that are not governed by
other specific grievance procedures (such as Policy Statement
#61, "Sexual Harassment Policy and Grievance Procedures,"
available online at http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-61.html
and “Policy and Procedures for Student Appeals of Final
Course Grades” available online at http://www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/GradeAppeal.html). Upon request from any student, the Office of the Dean of Students
will provide guidance about the appropriate system for
redress of a particular complaint.
Informal Resolution
Prior to invoking
the procedures described below, the student is strongly
encouraged, but is not required, to discuss his or her
grievance with the person alleged to have caused the
grievance. The discussion should be held as soon as the
student first becomes aware of the act or condition
that is the basis of the grievance.
Additionally or in the alternative, the student
may wish to present his or her grievance in writing
to the person alleged to have caused the grievance. In either case, the person alleged to have caused the grievance
must respond to the student promptly, either orally
or in writing.
Initial Review
If a student decides not to present his or her grievance to
the person alleged to have caused the grievance or if
the student is not satisfied with the response, he or
she may present the grievance in writing to the chair
or director (hereinafter “administrator”) of the department
or area where the person alleged to have caused the
grievance is employed. Any such written grievance must be received
by the administrator not later than forty-five calendar
days after the student first became aware of the facts
which gave rise to the grievance. (If the grievance
is against the chair or director of a department or
area, the student should address his or her grievance
to the next level director or appropriate dean or vice
chancellor.) The
administrator should conduct an informal investigation
as warranted to resolve any factual disputes.
Upon the student’s request, the administrator
shall appoint an impartial fact-finding panel of no
more than three persons to conduct an investigation. The administrator must state the terms and
conditions of the investigation in a memorandum appointing
the fact-finding panel.
A fact-finding panel appointed hereunder shall
have no authority to make recommendations or impose
final action. The
panel’s conclusions shall be limited to determining
and presenting facts to the administrator in a written
report.
Based
upon the report of the fact-finding panel if any, the
administrator shall make a determination and submit
his or her decision in writing to the student and to
the person alleged to have caused the grievance within
ten calendar days of receipt of the panel’s report.
The written determination shall include the reasons
for the decision, shall indicate the remedial action
to be taken if any, and shall inform the student of
the right to seek review by the appropriate vice chancellor
(or chancellor if the administrator is a vice chancellor).
Appeal Procedures
Within ten calendar days of receipt of the administrator’s
decision, a student who is not satisfied with the response
of the administrator after the initial review may seek
further review by submitting the written grievance,
together with the administrator’s written decision,
to the appropriate vice chancellor.
(If the administrator is a vice chancellor, the
student should seek further review by the chancellor.)
The vice chancellor may delegate another administrator
to act on his/her behalf.
The vice chancellor’s action will be limited to a review of
the basis for the administrator’s decision and need
not involve a de novo factual investigation.
The vice chancellor may, but is not required
to, direct that further facts be gathered or that additional
remedial action be taken. Within 15 calendar days of
receipt of the request for review, the vice chancellor
shall submit his or her decision in writing to the student
and to the person alleged to have caused the grievance.
The written disposition shall include the reasons
for the decision, and it shall direct a remedy for the
aggrieved student if any.
The student may elect to appeal the vice chancellor's
decision to the Chancellor.
Any such appeal must be filed not later than
fifteen calendar days after the student receives the
vice chancellor's decision.
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