Grade Abuse Support Process

What we do:

When a student contacts BHAC, a Peer Advocate will reach out to them within 7 business days to follow-up on the concern. The Advocate will review the Student's specific situation, identify potential next steps, and the Student's goals. The Peer advocate will connect the student to available resources, and schedule a follow-up after one week.

Please note that our volunteer team is very small, and each Advocate must go through training before they can help students in distress. 

Process Steps:

Recommended: Contact BHAC to get a peer Advocate to walk you through the process. It's feasible to do independently, but a Peer Advocate can help write emails or be cc-ed for additional support.

1. Confirm the student's contact information, and review the Standard Operating Procedure before getting student consent to continue

2. Collect documentation of the Unsatisfactory grade, like an unofficial transcript from TritonLink or a timestamped screenshot.

3. Collect timestamped documentation of strike activity. This can be email receipts from UAW check-ins, photos, documents/spreadsheets, etc.

4. Student may decide to submit a Grievance with UAW. This is a legal action, and a UAW representative may need to be involved in filing. If a grievance is filed, any additional retaliatory actions may be added as it occurs.

5. Recommended: Send an email to OPHD reporting Grade (Employment Status) Retaliation. OPHD will not be able to respond or review the case, but the submission protects against any additional retaliation.

6. Submit a Grade Appeal by first emailing the Retaliating Professor asking for a response within 7 business days. If the Retaliating Professor does not respond, escalate per Academic Senate Policy 502

   1. Time Sensitive: Per Academic Senate 502.B.1 The student must attempt to resolve the grievance with the instructor within the first month of the following regular academic quarter.

   2. BHAC recommends including a time constraint in the initial email to prevent additional student distress from the socioeconomic consequences of an Unsatisfactory grade (loss of healthcare, stipend, and academic hold)

7. Evaluate Student’s current support needs. Students will be presented with the following categories and, if comfortable disclosing information, will self-report on projected stability over the next four weeks. Sections may be left blank. The Advocate should not prompt the Student to complete the Support Needs sections.

   1. Physical Health & Health Insurance Needs

   2. Psychosocial Health & Health Insurance Needs

   3. Financial Support

   4. Housing Support

   5. Food Security

   6. Transportation

   7. Support for Dependent(s), including pets

   8. Thesis Work Environment

   9. Interactions with Retaliating Supervisor

   10. Time Commitment to Grievance Process

8. File a Triton Concern Form with UCSD Case Management

9. Optional: Connect the Student with UCSD Student Legal Services, requesting an appointment specifically about Grade (Employment Status) Retaliation

10. BHAC Peer Advocate will schedule a debriefing and follow-up meeting after five (5) business days. This will give external bureaucratic processes time to act.