Federal Mandate 4.5 (written student complaints)
The institution has adequate procedures for addressing written student complaints and is responsible for demonstrating that it follows those procedures when resolving student complaints.

Compliance
North Carolina State University is in compliance with this mandate.

Explanation
NC State University has established and follows adequate procedures for addressing written student complaints.  Under the Uniform Student Grievance Procedure, Policy 11.40.1, the Board of Trustees confers on the chancellor the authority to write and implement a single university-wide grievance procedure for students.  This policy is written in consultation with student government.    

The Grievance Procedure for Students, Administrative Regulation 11.40.1, is the university-wide procedure for resolving grievances against decisions or actions made by either employees or agents of the university.  Students are informed about the Grievance Procedure for Students via the Student Handbook, which is distributed in hard copy to new students and is available online.

An action or decision is grievable using the grievance procedure if it involves a misapplication or misinterpretation of university policy, regulations, rules, or state or federal law. Examples may include grievances over receipt of academic degrees, grades, admissions decisions, matters of student conduct, activities or government. 

However, the grievance procedure may not be used to challenge policies or procedures of general applicability or under three exceptions.

First, the grievance procedure may not be used to grieve disciplinary decisions because the Office of Student Conduct administers a separate procedure for such appeals.  Disciplinary decisions are resolved using the Procedures Manual for Implementing the Disciplinary Process, described within the Code of Student Conduct, a section of the Student Handbook.

Second, the grievance procedure may not be used for formal complaints of harassment since the Office for Equal Opportunity administers a separate procedure for such complaints.  Harassment complaints are adjudicated using the Resolution Procedures for Harassment Complaints, Administrative Regulation 04.25.2.

Third, the grievance procedure may not be used where another university procedure could have been used for the matter being grieved, such as in residency appeals or financial aid decisions.

Supplementary Information
More information about the Office for Equal Opportunity and its outreach program-including its rights and procedures workshops with students, faculty and staff-is available online.  Two sections of the Office for Equal Opportunity homepage are especially informative for students: Harassment Prevention and Resolution and Disability Resources.

References

• Administrative Regulation 01.25.07, Residency Appeals Procedures (http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/governance_admin/gov_gen/REG01.25.7.php)

• Administrative Regulation 04.25.2, Resolution Procedures for Harassment Complaints (http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/campus_environ/non-discrimination/REG1120.00.2.php)

• Administrative Regulation 11.00.2, Hearing Procedures for the Scholarships and Student Aid Committee (http://www2.ncsu.edu/prr/student_services/REG400.00.3.htm)

• Administrative Regulation 11.40.1, Grievance Procedure for Students (http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/student_services/student_griev/REG450.00.1.htm)

• NC State University Board of Trustee Policy 11.40.1, Uniform Student Grievance Procedure (http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/student_services/student_griev/POL450.00.1.htm)

• Office for Equal Opportunity (http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/offices/affirm_action/)

• Procedures Manual for Implementing the Disciplinary Process (http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/student_services/student_conduct/implementing_disciplinary_process.htm#appeals)

• Student Handbook (http://www.ncsu.edu/for_students/handbook/)

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