wwwdev@monash.edu.au
Wed Dec 2 13:01:52 EST 1998
Auth: C Whip, University Webmaster's Office
Copyright © Monash University 1998 - All Rights Reserved - Caution
These procedures are designed to facilitate confidential resolution of
grievances with a minimum of delay and formality for any student who believes
that he or she has a grievance against the faculty, where procedures for the
resolution of that grievance are not provided for by other means. Such
grievances may include, but are not limited to, equal opportunity complaints,
complaints related to access and conditions, and complaints related to teaching
or support services, or provision of faculty facilities.
The University Council has recently endorsed a policy on student academic
grievances. This policy is outlined below.
1 The
student is encouraged to resolve the difficulty with the staff member(s) in
question, in accordance with the relevant faculty or departmental procedures
(see below).
2 If a resolution cannot be reached, the student is encouraged to
discuss the difficulty with the head of the appropriate department or school
(or nominee), or the relevant chief examiner, on a confidential basis.
3 If the difficulty has still not been resolved, a written request
for resolution of the matter may be made to the senior member of staff
nominated by the dean by either the student or the person with whom the matter
has been discussed at step 2. The matter is now considered a grievance.
4 The senior member of staff nominated by the dean may then attempt
to resolve the grievance through further negotiation or mediation, or may
advise the complainant in writing that the grievance is considered to be
frivolous and/or vexatious, and that no inquiry is to be made.
5 If the grievance has not been resolved nor the complaint
dismissed, the senior member of staff nominated by the dean must convene a
faculty grievance committee (see 'Composition of the student grievance
committee' below), which would be established on an ad hoc basis and
would usually consist of three or four people for each case.
6 The outcome of the faculty grievance committee's deliberations
must be communicated in writing to both parties involved in the grievance. This
communication should normally include an offer from the senior member of staff
nominated by the dean to debrief or otherwise provide further assistance to
either party. This communication should be registered, in order to provide
evidence of the receipt of the document.
7 The senior member of staff nominated by the dean may monitor, or
be directed by the faculty grievance committee to monitor, the resolution of
the dispute for a maximum period of six months, and may wish to make further
recommendations (in writing) should the settlement not resolve the dispute to
the satisfaction of both parties.
8 A grievance case would be considered closed upon receipt by the
senior member of staff nominated by the dean of a written withdrawal of the
grievance by the complainant, or of a written agreement between the parties.
9 Decisions of the faculty grievance committee or of the senior
member of staff nominated by the dean may be appealed in writing to the dean of
the faculty.
10 The dean of the faculty shall then investigate the matter, and
may establish a grievance appeal panel to consider the matter.
11 The decision of the grievance appeal panel shall be communicated
in writing to both parties.
12 The decision of the dean or of the grievance appeal panel shall
be considered to be final.
Any
student (as defined by Statute 1.1) or any student enrolled in a non-award
course, who believes that he or she has been unfairly treated by an academic or
administrative decision (other than a decision made pursuant to Statute 4.1,
Statute 6.2 or Statute 6.3), has the right to seek redress through these
procedures.
Any grievance may relate to any matter other than:
In these procedures the term 'the parties' means the aggrieved student (and any person who represents the aggrieved student) who constitutes the aggrieved party, and any member of staff or any School/department of the faculty (and any person who represents that member of staff or school), being the other party.
Members
of the student grievance committee and parties to the proceedings or their
witnesses must not divulge any information relating to a matter which is, or
has been, before the committee to any person who is not a member of the
committee or a party to the proceedings.
Proceedings will be conducted in closed hearing. Statements, claims and other
matters put forward in these proceedings must not be used or made available for
consideration in other areas without the approval of all parties and the
committee.
It is expected that in the first instance students will attempt to resolve grievances in an informal manner. However, if this preferred procedure is inappropriate, an alternative 'grievances pathway' may be followed.
Any student who has a grievance may wish
to discuss the matter confidentially with any of the following university
personnel in addition to those faculty personnel outlined above: a member of
the university counselling services; an officer of the appropriate student
association; the equal opportunity manager or his or her staff, who may assist
with equal opportunity matters.
Where a grievance is not resolved informally it may be referred by the student
in writing to the dean through the associate dean (undergraduate teaching),
associate dean (graduate teaching), or associate dean (research) as appropriate
or the faculty academic registrar who must either convene a student grievance
committee; or enquire into the complaint and attempt to negotiate a resolution.
Membership
of the student grievance committee will normally be: a member of the faculty
staff as chairperson appointed by the dean; a nominee of the appropriate
student association; a course director or nominee, nominated by the relevant
head of department and who is acceptable to the complainant; a nominee from the
appropriate staff association to which the respondent belongs or is eligible to
belong, and who is acceptable to the respondent, or other staff member
acceptable to the respondent; and one other representative from the university
for each party.
An additional member may be co-opted from the relevant professional body where
professional matters are involved.
The secretary to the student grievance committee will be appointed by the
faculty's dean and the faculty registrar.
If
an appeal panel is convened, membership will normally be the dean (chair); two
associate deans (teaching) of other faculties; one member of academic staff at
the level of associate professor or above; two students from the courses
managed by the faculty nominated by the appropriate student body.
Such a panel would include none of the members of the faculty grievance
committee (although the chair of the faculty grievance committee may be invited
to address the appeal proceedings) and would include the dean of another
faculty (or nominee). The academic staff member would usually be appointed from
within the managing faculty, but may be appointed from another faculty if it is
considered necessary. The chair would appoint the staff members to the
grievance appeal panel.
The manager, Student Relations Branch, Clayton campus is charged with investigating and settling complaints about administrative matters.
wwwdev@monash.edu.au
Wed Dec 2 13:01:52 EST 1998