Policies & Procedures

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Student Grievance and Appeals Procedures
The purpose of the School of Education’s Bloomington Student Grievance Hearing Committee (BSGHC) is to provide a five-member hearing board for any student who believes that his/her rights, as defined in Part I of Indiana University’s Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, have been violated by a member of the faculty or administration (a grievance), or for a student wishing to appeal the action of an instructor taken in response to alleged academic misconduct taking place in a course.

After considering the appeal during a formal hearing, the hearing board votes in private and forwards its recommendation for action to the Dean of the School of Education, who makes final disposition of the appeal in the School of Education. Should the student wish to appeal further, the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct provides an avenue through the Dean of Faculties (see below for details).


Grievance and Appeal Jurisdiction
The BSGHC hears grievances in the following categories: Violations of “Student Rights” as defined in Parts I and II of the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. These include:
  • Student Rights (A-G)
    • Pursuit of Education
    • Freedom from Discrimination
    • Freedom from Harassment
    • Access to Records and Facilities
    • Freedom of Association, Expression, Advocacy and Publication
    • Contribute to Faculty Governance
    • Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities

The BSGHC hears appeals of instructor decisions in the following categories: “Student Responsibilities: Academic Misconduct” as defined in Part II of the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. This includes:

  1. Cheating
  2. Fabrication
  3. Plagiarism
  4. Interference
  5. Violation of Course Rules
  6. Facilitating Academic Dishonesty

The Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct distinguishes between personal misconduct and academic misconduct. Appeals regarding personal misconduct are not within the jurisdiction of the BSGHC and are handled by the Dean of Students according to the Code (Procedures; Student Disciplinary Procedures; A,2). Grievances concerning student rights H-I (Judicial Process and Students as University Employees) are handled by the Dean of Students and not the School of Education Grievance Committee.
 

Procedures
The Bloomington Student Grievance Hearing Committee (BSGHC) follows the procedures in the “Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct: Procedures for the Bloomington Campus” document with the following additions: 

  1. The School of Education Dean designates the Assistant Dean for Teacher Education as the administrative officer for undergraduate student hearings.
  2. The School of Education Dean designates the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies as the administrative officer for graduate student hearings.
  3. Necessary exceptions will follow procedures in the “Student Code of Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct: Procedures for the Bloomington Campus” document.
  4. The presiding officer will submit the committee’s conclusions and recommendations to the School of Education Dean following the directives in the “Student Code of Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct: Procedures for the Bloomington Campus” document.
  5. The School of Education Dean can accept, modify, or reject the committee’s conclusions and recommendations following the directives in the “Student Code of Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct: Procedures for the Bloomington Campus” document.
  6. Either party may appeal the decision of the School of Education Dean following the directives in the “Student Code of Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct: Procedures for the Bloomington Campus” document.
  7. Forms to facilitate a complaint process in the School of Education and copies of the “Student Code of Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct: Procedures for the Bloomington Campus” document are available on the School of Education website.

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