Academic Fairness

Procedure
The Academic Fairness Procedure is the procedure to be used by students to resolve certain types of complaints of an academic nature. After action by the University Senate on Apr. 28, 1978, the resolution which follows was adopted by the Board of Trustees on May 17, 1978.

Resolution
There shall be a formalized academic fairness procedure established by the Faculty Council of each school or college of the University. Before a student can utilize the formalized academic fairness procedure, the student must first have attempted to resolve the complaint informally with the faculty member involved and then, if necessary, in schools or colleges with departments or divisions, with the chair of the department or division, and then, if necessary, with the Dean. The sole purpose of the academic fairness procedure is to redress student academic grievances relative to academic matters. The academic fairness procedure shall seek both: To assure an objective, impartial hearing of alleged student academic grievances and a timely response thereto; To assure that the good name and reputation of the faculty member are not unjustly or frivolously impugned. In any hearing of alleged grievances, the burden of proof shall be on the student lodging the complaint. The academic fairness procedure shall provide an appropriate academic remedy of any injustice judged to have been done to the student lodging the complaint. Each Faculty Council has adopted a formalized academic fairness procedure. For further details, students should contact their respective college office.