Academic Complaints: Conflict Resolution

Conflict Resolution Process for Student Academic Complaints

Excerpted from Administrative Procedure: Conflict Resolution Process for Student Academic Complaints: Twin Cities; edited for application to CIS.

The goal of this procedure is to provide a simple and fair process that allows for both informal and formal resolution of conflicts.

This procedure applies to student academic complaints, which are complaints brought by students regarding the University’s provision of education and academic services affecting their role as students.

Student academic complaints:

• Must be based on a claimed violation of a University rule, policy, or established practice
• If alleging discrimination in the University-student relationship, may be filed under this procedure or with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Active, but not both

This procedure does not limit the University’s right to change rules, policies or practices.

This procedure does not apply to student complaints regarding:

• University employment
• Disciplinary action under the Student Conduct Code
• Grades
• Applicant complaints regarding University admission decisions

Informal Resolution

The first step of any resolution should be at the lowest unit level, between the parties involved or the parties and an appropriate third party (e.g., other faculty, department chair, administrator). [In CIS, if complaint remains unresolved after working with the instructor, contact Jan M. Erickson. This conversation often serves to clarify the nature of the problem and determine which University policy applies to the situation.]

Formal Resolution

If no informal resolution has been reached, colleges and administrative units will provide a review process appropriate to the issue raised by the student academic complaint.