Pursuant to the policies established by the University and published in the UWF Student Handbook (see Appendix A), the College of Professional Studies will use the following system for addressing student grievances. Student grievances handled under this system can include the following:

1. Problems with student or academic services;
2. Contested grades for courses;
3. Being placed on academic probation or suspension;
4. Readmission actions; or
5. Other academic matters.

The following steps in the process must be adhered to by the Student and the University:

Step 1: Faculty Level

The Student must initiate an oral discussion with the person alleged to have caused the condition giving rise to the grievance. There should be a meeting to follow this discussion as soon as possible. If the Student disagrees with the outcome of this step, he or she should proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Chair Level

The Student should initiate a meeting with the supervisor of the person alleged to have caused the grievance. In order to initiate this meeting, within five (5) days of receiving the faculty member's response, the Student should file a written petition available in the Chair' s Office (see Appendix B), that includes the following information:

1. The Student's name and UWF student number;
2. The name and office of the individual by whom the Student feels aggrieved;
3. A concise statement of the event(s) being petitioned;
4. A statement of action previously taken to resolve the issue;
5. The results of these actions; and
6. The disposition desired by the Student.

The Chair or his or her designee should review the grievance fully and decide how to proceed. He or she can gather additional facts, take statements from interested parties, give interested parties an opportunity to be heard, and can then determine a fair outcome for the grievance. The Chair should render a written decision within five (5) days of receiving the petition or within a timeframe mutually agreeable to both parties. The agreement for an extension of time should also be in writing.

Step 3: Dean's Office Level

If the Student does not agree with the outcome of Step 2, the Student may appeal the decision to the Dean's Office. In order to appeal the decision, the Student must notify the Dean's Office in writing within five (5) days of receiving the written decision from Step 2. The Student should fill out a petition which contains the following information:

1. The written petition filed with the Chair's Office;
2. The written disposition from Step 2; and
3. The disposition desired by the student.

For all appeals involving academic matters, upon receiving the completed written petition, the Dean should immediately send a letter (See Appendix C) that acknowledges receiving the Student's petition, and that informs the student that the file has been sent to the College's Academic Standards Review Committee. The Committee should review the file fully, and decide what other information, if any, needs to be reviewed. The Committee should render a decision on the appeal within five (5) days of receipt of the petition, or within a time mutually agreed to by both the Student and the Committee. The agreement for an extension of time should be in writing.

Upon receiving the completed petition from the Dean's Office, the College's Academic Standards Review Committee should contact the Student in writing that the file has been received (see Appendix D). The Committee should consider all evidence in order to determine an outcome that is fair and just.