Department- and College-level Grievance Policies
Department of Nursing Grievance Policy
Complaints, grievances, and appeals relating to admissions, academic status, financial
assistance, faculty oral English proficiency, student conduct, and other topics are
described at appropriate places in the CSU Undergraduate Catalog or student handbook.
When a grade or evaluation dispute occurs, students are required to file their written
petition or grievance within 60 days after the grade has been rendered. Petitions
or grievances initiated after the 60 day deadline will not be considered. Students
should take the following steps when filing a petition or grievance:
- Students who receive failing grades because of nonattendance due to illness are required
to submit medical evidence documenting their incapacity to complete the course during
the period in question. Such petitions are forwarded to the Appeals Committee in the
Registrar's Office for review. The decision of the Appeals Committee will be final.
- When a grade or evaluation dispute occurs, students should discuss how the grade was
determined with the instructor. This conference should be held as soon as possible
after the grade has been rendered. Many times, questions about grades can best be
resolved through communication with the instructor.
- If questions still remain following the conference with the instructor, the issue
should be referred to the course director and the matter shall be discussed by the
team instructing that course. At the request/discretion of the student or course director,
the person against whom the complaint is made may or may not be present at the initial
discussion. The course director representing the team will meet with the instructor
and student for the purpose of clarification as the matter warrants, and in an attempt
to arrive at a solution. A written statement will be given to the student within one
(1) calendar week regarding the decision. If no satisfaction is obtained, the student
can submit a written complaint to the Department of Nursing Admission, Progression,
Retention and Graduation (APRG) Committee.
Channeling to the Admission, Progression, Retention and Graduation Committee:
- Within one (1) calendar week after the student has received written notice regarding
the decision of the team the student may present a written complaint to the APRG Committee.
- Upon receiving the complaint, the APRG Committee will request from the team teaching
the course, a written account of the situation and the action taken.
- Within one (1) week, the APRG Committee will forward a written recommendation to the
Chairperson of the Department of Nursing. The chairperson of the Department of Nursing
will forward his/her decision to the student.
If no satisfactory decision is reached, the student will submit a written account
of the situation to the Chairperson of the Department of Nursing.
Channeling to the Department Chairperson:
- Upon receiving the complaint, the department chairperson will request from the course
director and the APRG Committee a written account of actions that have been taken.
- The complaint will be discussed with student and all other persons involved. If appropriate,
all persons involved will meet to discuss the details of the complaint.
- If the department chairperson or program chairperson is unable to arrive at a resolution
that is satisfactory to both the student and the instructor, the issue may be referred
to the appropriate academic dean.
College-Level Student Grievance Procedure
The programs in the College of Health Sciences provide professional level students
with a written copy of student and instructor responsibilities, and procedures for
enforcing them. Causes for grievances include:
- Admission to professional course sequence,
- Admission to clinical experiences,
- Evaluation of student performance in courses, clinical settings, or other program-related
activities. Student grievance procedures and guidelines and the "Petition for Hearing"
are available from the respective programs.
Steps Prior to Hearing:
- To initiate a formal grievance, the student must file a completed Petition for Hearing
with the student's program director/chairperson.
- Before a formal grievance can rise to the college level, it must have proceeded through
the prior levels of deliberation indicated below (Each department has detailed procedures
for action at each level.):
a) Conference between instructor and student.
b) Conference between program director/chairperson and student.
c) Hearing before program level grievance committee.
College Level Grievance Process:
The dean will appoint a grievance committee to hear the complaint and provide advice.
The ordinary rights of parties at a hearing (student or instructor) shall apply, including
the right to notice of hearing and decision reached; the right to be present at the
hearing; and the right to present and inspect evidence. Specific procedures for the
hearing of each case shall be determined by members of the committee. The primary
role of the grievance committee is to ascertain whether the department followed their
published policies and procedures. Following the hearing, the committee will present
its advice to the dean and communicate its recommendations to the department program
director/chairperson, to the instructor, and to the student. The decision of the dean
will be final.
If the student requests, and the instructor does not object, the dean may resolve
the problem without the intervention of a grievance committee.
Composition of College-Level Grievance Committee:
- The Dean of the College or his/her representative from the College of Health Sciences.
- One faculty member from the program involved.
- One faculty member from the other academic departments in the College.
- One College of Health Sciences student not from the program.
- One student from the program involved.
Resolution of the committee will be based on two-thirds of the majority.