Student Grievances

Policy Overview

A student may invoke a formal grievance only after exhausting all informal complaint procedures. The policy and procedures outlined below deal only with individual complaints and/or grievances against the actions and/or decisions of faculty, academic administrators, or staff professionals. Please note that the following are not classified as student grievances:

1. Group grievances are not permitted.
2. Student grade unrelated to Academic Integrity Issues—Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs
3. Violations of Code of Conduct (Interim Student Conduct Officer)
4. Violations of Sportsmanship (Athletics)
5. Student Policy Issues (Office that oversees the policy)
6. Parking Violations (Campus Security/Parking Services)
7. Sexual Harassment (Title IX)
8. Accommodations Complaints (Disability and Access Services)
9. Discrimination/Harassment (Human Resources)
10. Academic Suspension Appeals (Academic Affairs)
11. Satisfactory Academic Progress (Financial Aid)
12. Residence Hall Policies (Housing and Residence Life)

Complaints and/or grievances will not involve allegations of dishonesty or abuse of professional responsibility as such allegations fall strictly under formal University disciplinary proceedings. Procedures for redress of grievances must protect the respondent against unsubstantiated and false charges of bias or unfairness. Therefore, in a grievance there is a presumption that procedures have been fairly followed. It is the responsibility of the grievant to demonstrate otherwise. The final responsibility for assigning or changing a student’s record rests solely with the faculty, academic administrators, or staff professional.

• A student must first address the complaint to the concerned faculty, administrator, or professional responsible for the alleged action(s) and/or decision(s) resulting in the complaint.
• If the complaint cannot be resolved by the student and faculty, administrator, or professional, the student should meet with the Department Chairperson/Director to discuss their complaint.
• If the student and the Department Chairperson/Director cannot resolve the complaint, the student should meet with the appropriate school or Dean or Director to discuss their complaint.

Student Grievance Procedures

If the complaint is unresolved at this point, the student may file a Student Grievance by email to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs with supporting documentation electronically. The Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs shall forward the Grievance information to the appropriate Vice Chancellor’s Office that would handle the complaint and acknowledge to the student that “informal efforts have been exhausted to resolve the issues being grieved” and that the appropriate Vice Chancellor’s Office will respond. The appropriate Vice Chancellor’s Office will review the Grievance and follow up appropriately to address.

Students in distance learning courses have the right to address complaints or grievances in the same manner as any other student. If the complaint is still unresolved after exhausting the grievance procedures listed above, then the student may submit the grievance to the Hawaiʻi Post-Secondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP). Details and the complaint form can be found on the University of Hawaii System Grievance Policy website.