17. Grievance Procedure

In the event a student has a grievance with respect to department matters associated with the graduate program, the student should discuss this matter with his/her advisor. If a satisfactory solution cannot be reached at this level or if the student does not have an advisor, the grievance should be brought to the Department Chair. Again, if a satisfactory solution cannot be achieved at this level, the Department Chair will convene a special Grievance Committee which includes department faculty and graduate students. If the committee and the Department Chair together cannot resolve the grievance it will be referred to the Divisional Committee of the Graduate School and the chair of that committee will decide whether a new faculty-wide committee should be convened to investigate the grievance. At this point, the grievance procedure is no longer within the jurisdiction of the department.