Section XI. Student Grievance Procedures When the Issue is Not Academic

It is the policy of the university that a student may have prompt and informal resolution of grievances and that this be accomplished under orderly procedures.

Definitions

  1. A “student” who may process a grievance under this procedure is defined as a currently enrolled student at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR).
  2. A “grievance” means a dispute concerning the status, rights, benefits, obligations, and responsibilities of a student, including the availability of services under established university programs and activities pursuant to regulations, policies, and practices of the university. Not included are alleged violations of traffic and parking regulations for which other procedures exist.
  3. A “decision” means a determination that the grievance, issue or issues were, or were not, in violation of rights, benefits, obligations, and responsibilities of a student including the availability of services for that student. An analysis of the issues and the reasons for the determination shall be included in the decision.

Application

This procedure is directed to resolution of the dispute of a student under existing programs and activities with established regulations, policies, and practices of the university and shall not be used as a means of seeking or securing any amendment, deletion, addition to or modification of existing university programs and activities and their regulations, policies, and practices. For more information regarding these procedures, contact the Office of the Dean of Students, Donaghey Student Center Room 215, 501-916-3328.

Procedures

A student having a complaint concerning terms and conditions of his or her student status with the university as described in Definition 2 above, may present this matter to and discuss it with the person in charge of that part of the university where the issue arises. Such presentation and discussion shall be entirely informal. The person in charge shall attempt to resolve the complaint. A complaint may, but need not, become a grievance.

Grievance Steps

  1. When a complaint is not satisfactorily resolved within five (5) class days of the date it is presented, and the issue is an administrative decision of a nonacademic nature, a student has the right to reduce the complaint to writing as a grievance and forward it to the appropriate vice chancellor or associate vice chancellor in charge. The vice chancellor or associate vice chancellor shall conduct such investigation as may be needed and issue a decision within ten (10) class days of receipt. Copies of the decision shall be furnished to the student and the person in charge where the issue arose.
  2. The student or person in charge where the issue arose may appeal the Step 1 decision to the chancellor by forwarding his or her grievance in writing, together with a copy of the Step 1 decision, to such officials within three (3) class days of its receipt. On receipt of same, the official shall within five (5) class days appoint an ad hoc Grievance Committee to investigate the matter and make recommendations for its solution. The committee shall consist of three (3) staff members having administrative responsibilities drawn from the campus staff broadly and as fairly representative thereof but including persons in the administrative department or unit where the issue arose, and two (2) students from the campus.
  3. If the grievance is not satisfactorily resolved through Step 2, the student or the person in charge may submit the Step 2 decision, with all relevant materials, to the president of the university system. The president shall promptly decide the matter and his or her decision shall be final pursuant to his or her delegated authority from the Board of Trustees. His or her decision shall be forwarded in writing to all interested parties.

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