04.160 Grievance Procedure Student

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Reformatted July 27, 2005

UNC Code 502D (3)

• Code of Student Life

Dean of Students

Policy Details:

1. Purpose

   If you believe that you have a legitimate grievance against another student or university employee in a matter other than those covered by the Grade Appeals Procedure or those within the jurisdiction of the University Conduct System, you may seek a resolution of that grievance through this procedure. If your complaint involves an academic matter, it must be filed before the last day of the next regular semester; if it is not academic related, it must be filed within thirty (30) days of the date the alleged incident occurred or from the date of the consequences of the alleged incident.

2. Procedural Guidelines

   1. To initiate the procedure, first, discuss your complaint with the dean of students or the compliance officer who will advise you of the steps in the grievance process and, depending on the nature of your grievance, will direct you to the appropriate reviewing officer. You may make your complaint to this officer either orally or in writing, but this officer must record your complaint in a written statement identifying you, the conduct you are complaining of, and the employee alleged to have engaged in it. In every case, the compliance officer will be given a copy of this record.

   2. If you seek personal redress for an alleged wrong, you must be willing to be identified to the person charged. If you are willing to do so, the reviewing officer will notify, in writing, the person charged, stating the nature of the complaint and indicating that an informal inquiry will be conducted. If you are not willing to be identified or you cease to seek personal redress, the institution may pursue an inquiry on the institution’s behalf and in its name rather than yours, if it determines that such action is necessary. These latter administrative procedures are initiated by the institution to assure appropriate conduct by its employees (e.g., when the institution seeks to prevent likely recurrence of apparent improper conduct, even though no individual complainant wishes to pursue a personal grievance).

3. Formal Complaints

   If your grievance cannot be resolved at an informal level, then you may file a formal complaint with the vice chancellor who has administrative jurisdiction over the person named in your complaint. The vice chancellor will then convene the student grievance panel. This committee will hear your complaint and then make its recommendation to the vice chancellor, who will render the decision.

4. Appeal
   
   If you are unsatisfied with the resolution rendered by the vice chancellor, you may appeal it to the chancellor, who will render the final decision.