The purpose of this website is to provide students with a procedure for
resolving complaints against The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas
Southmost College (UTB/TSC) faculty and staff related to matters other than
discrimination policies or other illegal or inappropriate conduct.
Additional websites for UTB/TSC
HOOP 2.2.2 - Academic Probation and
Suspension
ACADEMIC GRIEVANCES PROCEDURES
Each student is responsible for all the work in
each of his or her classes. Failure to meet this obligation may lead to academic
penalties, which may include dismissal from the class, or in the case of a
student on probation, dismissal from UTB/TSC.
A grievance means a dispute concerning some aspect of the student's academic standing arising from an administrative or faculty decision that the student regards as incorrect or unjust. Grievances include, but are not limited to, disputes over course grades, course requirements, graduation/degree program requirements, and thesis and dissertation committee and/or adviser actions or decisions. Grievances, as defined in this section, do not include the right to appeal the termination of employment of a teaching assistant or research assistant during the term of the student’s appointment.
Complaint Procedures
A student having a grievance regarding academic concerns may have the issue
considered in the following manner:
a)
Initial Consideration of
Grievance:
Informal Procedure
In attempting to resolve any student grievance, the student must first make every effort to resolve the matter informally with the individual with whom the grievance originated as soon as possible but no later than 30 calendar days from the end of the current academic term.
b)
Appeal to the Department Chair:
Formal Procedure
If the matter cannot be resolved in discussions between the student and the
administrator or faculty member, the student must submit a formal complaint
online at
http://blue.utb.edu/complaints
no later
than (10) business days after the informal attempt. The formal complaint must
include reasons for the appeal and state the remedies the student is seeking.
The Department Chair will provide a written response to the student submitting
the formal complaint, the dean of the respective school or college, and the Dean
of Students within ten (10) business days of receipt of the complaint.
c)
Appeal to the School/College Dean
If the matter is not resolved by the written
response provided by the Department Chair, the student must submit a formal
complaint on-line to the dean of the respective college or school within ten
(10) business days of the date of the written response from the Department
Chair. The formal appeal to the dean of the respective college or school must
state the reasons the student is appealing the written response. The dean of the
respective college or school will review the appeal and prior responses, and
obtain additional information and opinions, if desired. The dean of the
respective college or school will provide a written response to the student and
the Dean of Students within (10) business days of receipt of the student’s
appeal to the dean of the respective college or school. The decision of the dean
of the respective college or school will be final.
NON-ACADEMIC GRIEVANCES
The
Complaint Procedures
A student having a grievance regarding non-academic concerns may have the issue
considered in the following manner:
a)
Initial Consideration of
Grievance:
Informal Procedure In an effort to resolve misunderstandings or concerns, a student must first make every effort to resolve the matter informally by discussing his or her concerns with the employee against whom the complaint is initiated within 30 calendar days of the time of the incident. The person to whom the complaint is presented must respond orally or in writing within ten (10) business days after receipt of the complaint.
b)
Appeal
to the Department Head: Formal
Procedure
If
the grievance cannot be satisfactorily resolved
in discussions between the student and the employee, the student must submit a
formal complaint on-line at
http://blue.utb.edu/complaints, within ten (10) business days after receipt of the
response to the Informal Procedure. After receiving the grievance, the
Department Head may solicit information from both the student and employee,
confer with anyone having information pertinent to the grievance, and/or may
hold a meeting between the student and the employee in an effort to mediate and
resolve the complaint. Department Head will provide a written response to the
student and the Dean of Students within ten (10) business days of receipt of the
formal complaint.
c)
Appeal to Assistant/Associate Vice President
If
the complaint is not resolved to the student's
satisfaction, the student must submit a formal appeal on-line to be forwarded to
the appropriate Assistant/Associate Vice President supervising the department
where the complaint originated. The student must submit this appeal within ten
(10) business days after the student receives the response from the Department
Head. The Assistant/Associate Vice
President will review the appeal and responses, and obtain additional
information and opinions, if desired. The Assistant/Associate Vice President
will provide a written response to the student and the Dean Students within ten
(10) business days of the receipt of the student’s appeal.
d)
Appeal to the Vice President
Additional appeals may be pursued through the appropriate
lines of authority to the Vice President level. The ten (10) business days time
limits apply to each appeal and to each notification of decision described
above. Decisions at the vice presidential level will be final.
A copy of the final decision by the Vice President will be forwarded to
the Dean of Students
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