When a student has a complaint about a given grade, the following procedure will be followed if the problem cannot be resolved in an informal discussion between the instructor and the student:
Step I –The student completes the Student Complaint and Appeal Form located under For Students in the MyUSF Portal within 10 workdays of the contested occurrence or receipt of grade report. The completed electronic form will automatically be sent to the appropriate Dean of the college in which the course is being offered. A copy of the complaint is then forwarded to the instructor by the Dean. The instructor must contact the student within 10 work days to discuss the grievance. The results of the discussion will be logged into the Student Complaint and Appeal Form and returned to the Dean. The instructor also sends an email to the student with the results of the meeting. If a mutually agreed upon resolution is achieved between the instructor and the student, no further action will be taken beyond the Dean recording the agreed upon decision on the Student Complaint and Appeal Form. The form will be stored confidentially in the student information system.
Step II –If the grievance is not resolved in Step I, the student can request that the appropriate program administrator review the grievance. The administrator will request the student and faculty member to submit material within 10 work days after the Step I decision has been received. The student may request a face-to-face or virtual meeting with the appropriate administrator, faculty member, the student, and a representative selected by student (if any). Students can receive assistance or advice during these procedures from persons of their choosing, including an attorney. The administrator’s decision will be provided in writing to the student and faculty member within five work days after the meeting. If the complaint is resolved, no further action will be taken beyond the Dean recording the administrator’s decision on the Student Complaint and Appeal form. The form will be stored confidentially in the student information system.
Step III –If the grievance is not resolved in Step II, the student can request that the appropriate college Dean review the grievance. The Dean may request that the student and faculty member submit additional material within 10 work days after the Step II decision has been received. The Dean will review the materials, confer with the faculty member and student as needed and arrive at a decision. The Dean’s decision is final and will be provided in writing to the student and faculty member within five work days after the meeting. The Dean will record the decision on the Student Complaint and Appeal Form and the form will be stored confidentially in the student information system.
Note: If the student fails to adhere to the stated timelines the grievance will be dropped. The timelines may be extended by mutual agreement of parties involved.
