1999 Engineering Handbook - Faculty student grievance procedures

Faculty student grievance procedures

General
Complaints about administrative matters

General

A new university policy on student academic grievance has been adopted by Council and the full policy is published in the Student resource guide. Information is also available from faculty administration offices on each campus.
Procedures have been put in place 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. Where university procedures already exist for dealing with student complaints (ie appeals against exclusion etc) then these will take precedence over faculty grievance procedures.
These procedures do not relate to discipline or sexual harassment matters which are covered by special university procedures.
Any student who believes that he or she has been unfairly treated by an academic or administrative decision has the right to seek redress through the grievance procedures. Confidentiality relating to grievances is assured at all times. It is expected that in the first instance students will attempt to resolve complaints in an informal manner by discussing the matter confidentially with the dean, head of department, executive officer (Caulfield), head of administration, a member of the University Counselling Services, an officer of the Monash Association of Students or any officer of the Monash University Student Union or the equal opportunity manager.
Where a complaint is not resolved informally it may be referred by the student in writing to the dean, through the executive officer (Caulfield), head of administration (Clayton) or head of school (Gippsland), who must within ten working days either convene a student grievance committee or inquire into the complaint and attempt to negotiate a resolution. A grievance is deemed to have been resolved when the aggrieved party lodges a written withdrawal of the grievance, with the consent of the other party or a settlement has been agreed to in writing by the parties.
After considering a grievance the student grievance committee must make a confidential written report to the dean with a statement that the grievance has been settled; or the parties are to undertake certain agreed courses of action; or where the grievance remains unresolved a recommendation that the dean attempt a resolution or take other action as appropriate.
Following receipt of the advice from the student grievance committee the dean must advise the parties involved in writing of the outcome within five working days. The chairperson of the committee must monitor the settlement for up to six months after resolution to ascertain whether the desired effect has been achieved and may recommend to the dean that further steps be taken.
The head of administration will report annually to the faculty board on the operation of the student grievance procedures, including the number and general nature of grievances received.

Complaints about administrative matters

The manager for student relations and inquiries receives complaints from students about purely administrative matters and is charged with investigating and settling complaints.