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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.