Resolution of Grievances and Appeals

Student Complaint Against University Officials

Complaints can only be filed for the following: capricious, arbitrary, discriminatory, or prejudiced acts from university officials, including JIU faculty. (Please refer to the Grade Appeals policy for grade appeals of final course grades.) The process is a two step procedure: first, an attempt to mediate the complaint, and, if unsuccessful, then filing of a formal complaint.

A student who has a complaint (or grievance) against a faculty member, JIU staff member or fellow student will contact Student Affairs (StudentAffairs@international.edu; fax: 720-249-0144).
Where possible, the student will be instructed to mediate this complaint by contacting the faculty member, fellow student or staff member. (See Mediation Process, which follows.)
Where the complaint cannot be mediated, the student will file a formal complaint with Student Affairs. (See Formal Complaint Process and Investigation, which follows.)
The party or parties identified in the complaint will be notified and will be instructed to submit a written response to Student Affairs (StudentAffairs@international.edu; fax: 720-249-0144).
The JIU Academic Review Committee will review the complaint and the response(s) and issue a decision and resolution.
The decision of the Academic Review Committee is final.

Grade Appeals

Students with questions about a final course grade should first contact their instructor for explanation and possible remediation. Where a grade change is necessary because of a grading error, or for other sufficient reason, the instructor will submit a Grade Change Form to the Office of the Registrar.

Students unable to resolve a final grade dispute with their instructor can file a grade appeal by following the Formal Complaint/Appeal Process and Investigation (which follows). Appeals of final course grades must be based on capricious, arbitrary, discriminatory, or prejudiced acts by JIU faculty.

Mediation Process

The mediation process provides students, JIU staff and faculty with a procedure in which a mutually accepted agreement between the parties involved can be reached using an objective, third party facilitator. The process is intended to resolve issues that involve simple errors or misunderstandings.

Prior to submitting a formal complaint, the student should contact the Director of Student Affairs (StudentAffairs@international.edu; fax: 720-249-0144) who will counsel the complainant regarding resolution options and will help mediate the complaint by:

Informing the accused person(s) of the nature of the complaint
Identifying possible actions necessary for a final agreement between the parties

A written record of the mediation process will be kept on file.

Formal Complaint/Appeal Process and Investigation

In such cases where a resolution cannot be solved by mediation, a written complaint must be submitted by email to Student Affairs (StudentAffairs@international.edu; fax: 720-249-0144) within 30 days of alleged violation or, in the case of a grade appeal, 30 days from the end of the course in which the grade is being appealed. The formal complaint must include:

Name, address, and phone number of the person filing the complaint
Nature of the complaint
Date of occurrence
Evidence on which the complaint is based which includes supporting documentation which demonstrates the arbitrary, capricious, discriminatory, or prejudiced acts., and
Relief sought by the complainant

The formal complaint will be recorded in the student’s file and directed to JIU’s Academic Review Committee for review and investigation. Both the complainant and the accused parties will submit all supporting evidence and names of witnesses to be interviewed within 14 days of the filing of the complaint.

An investigation will be conducted within 14 days by the Academic Review Committee. Upon completion of the investigation, a written report will be produced, which will provide details of the findings, recommended actions, or decisions. JIU’s Academic Review Committee decision is final and will be communicated to the complainant in writing.

Please be advised that JIU must share summary information about all formal, written complaints with its accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission. No identifying information regarding individual complaints will be made available to anyone without the express permission of the complainant, except as required under applicable laws, rules, and regulations including those relating to accreditation and university governance.

Appeals of Academic Review Committee Rulings

Appeals of Academic Review Committee rulings can be filed with the Vice Chancellor of Academics within 14 days of the ruling. Appeals must be in writing and based upon a violation of the established policies and procedures for reviewing a complaint rather than on the outcome of the case.