Academic Grievance Process: Other Academic Matters

When a student has a complaint about an academic matter other than a grade grievance, the following procedure will be followed if the problem cannot be resolved in an informal discussion between the student and the faculty member or administrator:

Step I –The student completes the Student Complaint and Appeal Form located under For Students in the MyUSF Portal within 10 work days of the contested occurrence. 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 faculty member or administrator by the Dean. The faculty member or administrator 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 faculty member or administrator also sends an email to the student with the results of the meeting. If a mutually agreed upon resolution is achieved between the faculty member or administrator 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 college Dean review the grievance. The Dean will request the student and faculty member or administrator to submit materials 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 faculty member or administrator, 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 Dean’s decision is final and will be provided in writing to the student and faculty member or administrator 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. Anonymous academic grievances are resolved at the discretion of the Dean. In the case of a grievance against a Dean, the Provost will serve in the Dean’s role.