Chapter 6: Campus-Wide Policies
Academic Disputes
If there is a dispute between a student and a faculty member concerning
a decision of the faculty member, every effort should be made by them
to resolve the matter. If the disagreement cannot be resolved, the student
may request a review of this decision no later than the end of the following
semester, recognizing that the burden of proof is on the student.
In such cases, the following procedure is to be followed:
1. The student will submit a written statement of the matter under dispute,
with any supporting material, to the chair of the department of the
faculty member concerned (or to the Office of Academic Affairs, if the
dispute is with the chair), with a copy sent to the faculty member.
2. Within seven (7) days, the chair will review the dispute, consulting
with the faculty member and student concerned, with other department
members as appropriate, and will attempt to settle the dispute. If agreement
is reached at this level, the process ends.
3. If either party does not accept the recommendation of the chair,
the chair will forward all material including his/her recommendation
to the Dean of the Faculty.
4. The Dean of the Faculty will review the material submitted and will
determine whether or not further consideration of the matter would be
fruitful. If the decision is that it would not be fruitful, the Dean
of the Faculty will render a final decision. If further consideration
is needed, the matter will be referred to the Academic Review Board
to act as a conciliator between the student and the faculty member.
5. The Academic Review Board shall consist of the Associate Dean of
Academic Services (acting as chair), two members of the Committee on
Faculty Affairs, and the chair of the Student Association's Academic
Affairs Council or his/her appointee.
6. The Academic Review Board will hear the evidence of both the student
and the faculty member on the matter and, within two weeks of being
convened, communicate its recommendation to the Dean of the Faculty
with copies to the student, faculty member and chair involved.
7. The Dean of the Faculty will then render a decision, which will be
final.
If a student has a disagreement with regard to more than one individual
decision with a faculty member, or if the student believes the faculty
member has committed a breach of professional ethics, this may be conveyed
to the chair or to the Office of Academic Affairs, or through the departmental
representative, for administrative review.