Ohio Administrative Code › Title 3364 - University of Toledo › Chapter 3364-77 - Graduate Student › Section 3364-77-02 - Graduate student academic grievance

Current through all regulations passed and filed through July 1, 2024
(A)
								Policy
			 statement
This policy supersedes and replaces all
				previous policies on graduate student academic grievance.
(B)
								Purpose of the policy
The purpose of this policy is to
				provide graduate students and their colleges with the procedures to be followed
				when an academic grievance is desired after grievance procedures within the
				student's program and academic college are exhausted. This policy grants the
				graduate student the right to appeal in writing to the dean of the college of
				graduate studies for further and final consideration of an academic
				grievance.
(C)
								Scope
These grievance procedures shall apply
				to students in all graduate programs at the university of Toledo. Students
				should refer to college specific handbooks in which their particular graduate
				programs reside for more detailed information about the administration and
				academic policies that govern their program and college. This policy provides
				the process for a graduate student to grieve any actions or failures to act or
				alleged violations of university, college or departmental policy (e.g., program
				dismissals, grade appeals, oral exam results, or any other academic decisions)
				that are perceived to impede their progress toward completion of their academic
				program.
Appeals dealing with academic
				dishonesty, including, but not limited to, cheating and plagiarism, are
				explicitly exempt from this process and shall be dealt with under the
				procedures outlined in rule
				3364-77-01
				of the Administrative Code (graduate academic dishonesty) or equivalent. This
				policy does not apply to grievances related to responsible conduct of research
				and/or authorship which are addressed in rule
				3364-70-02
				of the Administrative Code (responsible conduct of scholarship and research)
				and rule
				3364-70-02
				of the Administrative Code (integrity in research and procedures for
				investigating allegations of research misconduct).
(D)
								Procedure
Before a grievance can be submitted to
				the dean of the college of graduate studies, all processes and procedures
				established to resolve academic grievances in the graduate student's program
				and academic college must be exhausted. Any student questions on the processes
				and the documentation required for these initial steps should be addressed with
				the individual's program director and the office of the academic dean of the
				program's college. Students are responsible for understanding these procedures
				prior to submission of an appeal or grievance to their academic
				college.
Each academic college must have a
				graduate-level academic grievance committee to adjudicate such cases. It is
				recommended that each academic college constitute a committee for adjudicating
				graduate grievances separate from committees which hear undergraduate
				grievances. In the case where a college has only a single grievance committee
				for cases involving either undergraduate or graduate students, only graduate
				faculty members may adjudicate the cases involving graduate students or other
				graduate faculty members. No individual may sit in judgment of an appeal or
				grievance at more than one level of review (i.e., department level or college
				level or university level). Any appealed decision should be communicated to the
				college of graduate studies according to the procedures of the academic
				college.
After appeals within the academic
				college are exhausted, the graduate student may appeal in writing to the dean
				of the college of graduate studies. In such cases, the appeal process will
				follow the procedures established by this policy and the university of Toledo
				graduate council. Any procedural conflict existing between an academic college
				and the college of graduate studies will be resolved by the provost or
				designee.
An appeal to the dean of the college of
				graduate studies must comply with the following requirements:
(1)
									The academic
			 appeal must be initiated no later than the end of the semester following
			 receipt of the contested grade, action, or decision perceived to impede the
			 student's academic progress.
(a)
										This appeal must include a statement of the specific
			 grounds for appeal, the corrective action the student desires, and a summary of
			 decisions made at all previous levels of review.
(b)
										The dean of the
			 college of graduate studies or designee will notify the program director and
			 academic dean from the college in which the student appeal originates, to
			 request that all departments and colleges involved submit to the graduate
			 college all documents, including written communications, pertaining to the
			 appeal along with copies of relevant department and college procedural
			 manuals/handbooks, and shall attempt to resolve the case by meeting or
			 otherwise communicating with both the student and the college within twenty
			 working days (Mondays through Fridays, not counting university holidays and
			 school breaks).
If a resolution is not achieved, the
				dean of the college of graduate studies has five working days to refer the
				appeal to the graduate council's academic standing committee (ASC). Membership
				of the ASC shall be determined by the university of Toledo graduate council.
				The ASC must hold an initial hearing to consider the appeal no later than
				thirty working days (Mondays through Fridays, not counting university holidays
				and breaks) after the date of referral. A quorum of one-half of committee
				members must attend the meeting to begin conducting business and hear the
				appeal. Any member of the committee who has firsthand knowledge of the alleged
				violation must recuse themself from the hearing panel and a replacement will be
				identified by the ASC chair. All communication from the committee, the student,
				faculty, advocates, etc. during the appeal should be directed to the dean of
				the college of graduate studies.
(c)
										The ASC may
			 request additional documentation from the student, the student's college
			 office, or the graduate college. The ASC's deliberations or other business may
			 be suspended for up to ten working days to receive the requested documents. If
			 one party fails to deliver an adequate response within ten working days, the
			 ASC may render a decision.