Grade Appeal Procedures

Each academic college will implement the following procedures for the resolution of final grade appeals filed by students. A student may only appeal the final grade in a course, individual assignments or test grades are not subject to appeal. The student may seek the assistance of the SGA Director of Student Rights and Grievances at any time during the informal and formal procedures. It is the responsibility of the student to contact SGA. All grade appeals must be initiated within the prescribed time period(s) indicated in the following Informal and Formal Procedures.

Informal Procedures

1. The student must attempt to resolve the academic grievance with the faculty member involved within 30 calendar days of when the final course grade is posted.
2. If the matter is not resolved with the faculty member, for whatever reason, the student may pursue the issue with the head of the faculty member’s department within 60 calendar days when the final course grade was posted by completing a Grade Appeal Form and submitting it to the head of the department in which the faculty member teaches. The department head may use a department-based group to review and make recommendations regarding the matter. A copy of the Grade Appeal Form is available in every academic department office and Student Life.
3. If the matter is not resolved at the department level, the student may submit a copy of his/her final Grade Appeal Form to the Academic Dean of the College in which the faculty member teaches. The Grade Appeal Form must be filed with the Academic Dean within 90 days of when the final course grade was posted. The Dean should informally review the merits of the complaint and attempt to facilitate a resolution of the matter before initiating the formal process.

Student Final Grade Appeal Form

Formal Procedures

1. The Academic Dean shall verify that the 90-day deadline for filing final grade appeal has been met. If so, the Academic Dean shall refer the matter to the College Academic Grievance Committee (see committee composition requirements below) within ten (10) work days after receipt of the appeal form and/or attempts to facilitate an informal resolution. If the form is not submitted to the Academic Dean within 90 days of when the final grade was posted, the Academic Dean shall inform the student in writing that the period for acting on the matter has expired and therefore, the Grade Appeal Form (petition) is rejected and the matter closed.
2. If the student has met the deadline, the Academic Dean shall provide the Chair of the Academic Grievance Committee (Chair) with copies of all pertinent documents related to the grade appeal.
3. The hearing will be scheduled by the Chair at a date and time agreed upon by the student (complainant) and the faculty member. If an agreement is not reached, the Chair will set the date and time for the hearing. The Chair will make every attempt to schedule the hearing within 30 work days of receiving the grade appeal. The Chair may postpone the hearing for good cause. The decision of the Chair to postpone or reschedule a hearing is final and not subject to appeal.
4. The Chair will caution both parties that there should be no communication between them concerning the grade appeal. Both the grievant and the faculty member shall refer all matters pertinent to the grade appeal to the Chair.
5. The grievant and the faculty member will provide the Chair with a list of witnesses to be called. Each party is responsible for notifying his/her witnesses of the meeting. The Chair may assist with summoning witnesses to the hearing; however, the responsibility of producing witnesses rests with the respective parties involved.
6. The Chair will provide the Academic Dean with the Academic Grievance Committee’s recommendation within ten (10) work days of the formal grade appeal hearing.
7. The Dean will notify his/her final decision in writing to the student, faculty member, and Department Head, and, if a grade change is involved, the Registrar within ten (10) work days of receipt of the report from the college Academic Grievance Committee. The decision of the Dean is final and ends the grade appeal process.

1. A copy of the Student Grade Appeal Form documenting the outcome of the appeal procedure will be filed in the Dean’s Office.

Academic Grievance Committee

Composition

The Academic Dean of each college will appoint the College Academic Grievance Committee. The Undergraduate Committee will consist of five members: three faculty members from the college and two students. An ad-hoc committee will be appointed to hear graduate student issues. Membership of the graduate ad-hoc committee will be three graduate faculty and two graduate students. One alternate faculty member and one alternate student will be named in the event that a seated committee member finds it necessary to excuse himself/herself or is successfully challenged. The Academic Dean will appoint one of the three faculty members to serve as Chair.

Duties

The College Academic Grievance Committees will hear academic dishonesty cases as well as student final grade appeals. Complaints involving discrimination or harassment will be handled in accordance with the Standards of Conduct. If the case concerns academic dishonesty, the procedures followed are the same as for disciplinary matters. When the student or student group lodges a formal final grade appeal against a faculty member, procedures for conducting a hearing will be followed as described below.

Hearing Procedures

1. Rules of evidence, disclosure, procedure, and the burden of proof for deciding issues found in a court of law do not apply to these procedures. The purpose of an administrative hearing in a university environment is to search for the truth and to make reasonable decisions regarding the pursuit of truth and recommendations regarding such matters.  To that end, the weight of proof when deciding an issue is “more likely than not.” For example, do the evidence and argument presented during the hearing weigh more for accepting or rejecting the allegation? The answer to that question will provide the basis for the committee’s finding.
2. The committee may consider those issues that a reasonable employee or student would likely consider in making decisions. The committee will operate in the spirit of fairness to all parties and thus all reasonable evidence and testimony that the Committee deems appropriate may be heard in the committee’s attempt to determine the merits of the allegation and to determine recommendations regarding such matters.
3. Any member of the committee who is directly involved with the academic grievance before the committee shall excuse himself/herself in order to ensure a fair hearing.
4. Either the student or the faculty member may challenge any member of the committee for lack of impartiality. The challenging party shall present grounds for the challenge. The Chair will rule on such challenges.
5. All parties concerned with the academic grievance shall appear in person and remain until the Chair releases them.
6. Parties may appear alone or with one other person. This person may be a friend, an advisor, or an attorney. If any party chooses to be accompanied by an attorney, he/she must so inform the Chair of the committee at least 3 days in advance of the hearing. The attorney, advisor or friend may not address the committee, witnesses or the other party (s) directly. If the student chooses to invite the SGA Director of Student Rights and Grievances to attend the meeting, this person will be permitted to attend the meeting as the advisor.
7. The student and the faculty member may present documentary evidence, witnesses, and testimony. Only three witnesses may appear for each side. The committee will grant exceptions to the number of witnesses upon demonstration that three witnesses cannot adequately present a party’s case. The Chair will rule on all exception requests.

The following sequence shall be followed for the presentation of testimony

1. Grievant opening statements
2. Faculty opening statements
3. Testimony and cross-examination of witnesses
4. Student closing statement (10 minute limit)
5. Faculty closing statement (10 minute limit)
6. Student rebuttal (5 minute limit)
7. Faculty rebuttal (5 minute limit)
8. The committee reserves the right to question any party appearing before the committee at any time.
9. All testimony on behalf of the student and the faculty member shall be heard unless judged by the Chair to be repetitious or irrelevant. The decision of the Chair is final.
10. Neither the student nor faculty member shall question the other directly but may suggest questions to the Chair.
11. A tape recording of the proceedings, except for the committee deliberations in executive session, will be maintained along with the written record.
12. After all the evidence has been presented, the committee will move into executive session to evaluate the testimony, including documentary evidence presented, and will reach a decision on the validity of the academic grievance and action to be taken. The committee may take notes or materials with them into executive session. All individual notes will be collected and destroyed at the conclusion of the hearing. The committee will review the findings and cast ballots in executive session. Each member is allowed one vote. The weight of proof for deciding an issue is “more likely than not.” See the first paragraph of the section titled “Hearing Procedures.”
13. The committee will reconvene in regular session for the purpose of informing the student and the faculty member of its findings and recommendation(s).
14. The committee will report its findings and recommendations to be taken to the Academic Dean of the college within ten (10) work days of the hearing. The Chair will forward the records of the hearing and minutes of the meeting to the Academic Dean.
15. The Academic Dean will conduct a procedural and substantive review of the matter. The Academic Dean will either accept the findings and implement the recommendations of the committee or, if the Academic Dean determines that a procedural or due process error has been made or there is cause for reconsideration based on substantive matter, reject the findings and/or recommendations of the committee and impose appropriate action or refer the matter back to the committee for reconsideration.
16. The Academic Dean will notify the student and faculty member in writing of his/her decision(s) regarding the matter within 10 days of receipt of the report from the college Academic Grievance Committee.

Each academic college will implement the following procedures for the resolution of academic grievances filed by students. These procedures are to be followed by a student who feels he/she has been mistreated with respect to an academic matter. The student may seek the assistance of the SGA Director of Student Rights and Grievances at any time during the informal and formal procedures.  Other types of complaints, such as those concerning harassment or discrimination, must follow the procedures published in the Student Policy and Procedure Manual.

All academic grievances must be initiated within the prescribed time period(s) indicated in the following Informal and Formal Procedures.

Informal Procedures

1. The student must attempt to resolve the academic grievance with the faculty member involved within 60 calendar days of the alleged incident.
2. If the matter is not resolved with the faculty member, for whatever reason, the student may pursue the issue with the head of the faculty member’s department within 90 calendar days of the alleged incident by completing a Student Academic Grievance Form, and submitting it to the head of the department in which the faculty member teaches. The department head may use a department-based grievance committee to review and make recommendations regarding the matter. A copy of the Student Academic Grievance Form is available in every academic department office.
3. If the matter is not resolved at the department level, the student may submit a copy of his/her academic grievance form to the Academic Dean of the College in which the faculty member teaches. The grievance form must be filed with the Academic Dean within six (6) months of the alleged incident. The Dean should informally review the merits of the complaint and attempt to facilitate a resolution of the matter before initiating the formal process.

Student Academic Grievance Form

Formal Procedures

1. The Academic Dean shall verify that the 6 month deadline for filing the academic grievance has been met. If so, the Academic Dean shall refer the matter to the College Academic Grievance Committee within ten (10) work days after receipt of the grievance form and/or attempts to facilitate an informal resolution. If the form is not submitted to the Academic Dean within six months of the alleged incident, the Academic Dean shall inform the student in writing that the period for acting on the matter has expired; therefore, the form (petition) is rejected and the matter closed.
2. If the student has met the deadline, the Academic Dean shall provide the chair of the committee with copies of all pertinent documents related to the academic grievance.
3. The hearing will be scheduled by the chair at a date and time agreed upon by the complainant, and the alleged offender. If an agreement is not reached, the chair will set the date and time for the hearing. The chair will make every attempt to schedule the hearing within 30 work days of receiving the grievance. The chair may postpone the hearing for good cause. The decision of the chair to postpone or reschedule a hearing is final and not subject to appeal.
4. The chair will caution both parties that there should be no communication between them concerning the grievance. Both the grievant and the faculty member shall refer all matters pertinent to the academic grievance to the chair.
5. The grievant and the faculty member will provide the chair with a list of witnesses to be called. Each party is responsible for notifying his/her witnesses of the meeting. The chair may assist with summoning witnesses to the hearing; however, the responsibility of producing witnesses rests with the respective parties involved.

College Academic Grievance Committee Composition

The College Academic Grievance Committee will be appointed by the dean of each college. The Committee will consist of five members: three faculty members from the college and two students. An ad-hoc committee will be appointed to hear graduate student issues. Membership of the ad-hoc committee will be three graduate faculty and two graduate students. One alternate faculty member and one alternate student will be named in the event that a seated committee member finds it necessary to excuse themselves or is successfully challenged. The dean will appoint one of the three faculty members to serve as chair. The College Academic Grievance Committee will hear academic dishonesty cases as well as allegations of unfair/unacceptable treatment of students by faculty. Complaints involving discrimination or harassment will be handled in accordance with the Student Policy and Procedure Manual, Title IX and Power-based Violence. If the case concerns academic dishonesty, the procedures followed are the same as for disciplinary matters. When the student or student group lodges a formal academic grievance of unfair/unacceptable treatment against a faculty member, procedures for conducting a hearing will be followed as described below.

Hearing Procedures

Rules of evidence, disclosure, procedure, and the burden of proof for deciding issues found in a court of law do not apply to these procedures. The purpose of an administrative hearing in a university environment is to search for the truth and to make reasonable decisions regarding the pursuit of truth and recommendations regarding such matters. To that end, the weight of proof when deciding an issue is “more likely than not.” For example, does the evidence and argument presented during the hearing weigh more for accepting or rejecting the allegation? The answer to that question will provide the basis for the committee’s finding.

The committee may consider those issues that a reasonable employee or student would likely con­sider in making decisions. The committee will operate in the spirit of fairness to all parties and thus all reasonable evidence and testimony that the Committee deems appropriate may be heard in the committee’s attempt to determine the merits of the allegation and to determine recommendations regarding such matters.

1. Any member of the committee who is directly involved with the academic grievance before the committee shall excuse himself/herself in order to ensure a fair hearing.
2. Either the student or the faculty member may challenge any member of the committee for lack of impartiality. The challenging party shall present grounds for the challenge. The chair will rule on such challenges. The decision of the chair is final.
3. All parties concerned with the academic grievance shall appear in person and remain until they are released by the chair.
4. Parties may appear alone or with one other person. This person may be either a friend, an advisor, or an attorney. If any party chooses to be accompanied by an attorney, he/she must so inform the chair of the committee at least 3 days in advance of the hearing. The attorney, advisor or friend may not address the committee, witnesses or the other party(ies) directly. If the student chooses to invite the SGA Director of Student Rights and Grievances to attend the meeting, this person will be permitted to attend the meeting as the advisor.
5. The student and the faculty member may present documentary evidence, witnesses, and testimony. Only three witnesses may appear for each side. Exceptions to the num­ber of witnesses will be granted by the committee only upon demonstration that a party’s case cannot be adequately presented by three witnesses. The chair will rule on all exception requests. The decision of the chair is final.
6. The following sequence shall be followed for the presentation of testimony:
   1. 1. Grievant opening statements
      2. Faculty opening statements
      3. Testimony and cross examination of witnesses
      4. Student closing statement (10 minute limit)
      5. Faculty closing statement (10 minute limit)
      6. Student rebuttal (5 minute limit)
      7. Faculty rebuttal (5 minute limit)
7. The committee reserves the right to question any party appearing before the committee at any time.
8. All testimony on behalf of the student and the faculty member shall be heard unless judged by the chair to be repetitious or irrelevant. The decision of the chair is final.
9. Neither the student nor faculty member shall question the other directly but may suggest questions to the chair.
10. A tape recording of the proceedings, except for the committee deliberations in executive session, will be maintained along with the written record.
11. After all evidence has been presented, the committee will move into executive session to evaluate the testimony, including documentary evidence presented, and will reach a deci­sion on the validity of the academic grievance and action to be taken. The committee may take notes or materials with them into executive session. All individual notes will be collected and destroyed at the conclusion of the hearing. The committee will review the findings and cast ballots in executive session. Each member is allowed one vote. The weight of proof for deciding an issue is “more likely than not.” See first paragraph of section titled “Hearing Procedures.”
12. The committee will reconvene in regular session for the purpose of informing the stu­dent and the faculty member of its findings and recommendation(s).
13. The committee will report its findings and recommendations to be taken to the dean of the college within ten (10) work days of the hearing. The chair will forward the records of the hearing and minutes of the meeting to the dean.
14. The dean will conduct a procedural and substantive review of the matter. The dean will either accept the findings and implement the recommendations of the committee, or if the dean determines that a procedural or due process error has been made, reject the findings and/or recommendations of the committee and impose appropriate action or refer the matter back to the committee for reconsideration.
15. The dean will notify the student and faculty member in writing of his/her decision(s) regarding the matter within 10 days of receipt of the report from the college Academic Grievance Committee. The dean’s letter will advise the student of his/her right to appeal and the procedures for submitting an appeal.

Appeal Procedures

The student or the faculty member may appeal the decision of the dean of the college by petitioning the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs in writing within 10 work days from the date of the letter sent by the dean. The Provost/Vice President shall forward the petition to the Chair of the Academic Appeals Committee (undergraduate) or Graduate Council (graduate stu­dent appeals).

The petition must indicate the basis for the appeal one or more of the following:

1. Published procedures were not followed;
2. There was insufficient evidence to support the Committee’s decision(s);
3. Sanctions imposed were inappropriate;
4. Subsequent to the hearing, information was discovered which indicates that member(s) of the committee were not impartial.

No new evidence may be presented. The decision on appeal will be based on the records of the College Academic Grievance Committee hearing, the contents of the official file including the letter of notification issued by the Dean, and the appeal petition submitted by the student or faculty mem­ber. The Academic Appeals Committee (Graduate Council) will, within 10 work days of the receipt of the petition by the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, complete a review of this matter and send its findings and recommendation(s) to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs for review, implementation, rejection or referral back to the appropriate committee or academic ad­ministrator for further consideration. The Vice President will notify in writing the student, faculty member, and other appropriate parties of the decision in this matter.

The student or faculty member may appeal the decision of the Provost/Vice President by submitting a petition to the President for review and recommendation by the President’s Executive Appeals Com­mittee. The petition must be filed with the Office of the President within 10 work days of the letter sent by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The petition must indicate the basis for the appeal as noted in items 1, 2, 3 and 4 above. No new evidence may be presented. The review will be based on the records of the case and the appeal petition submitted by the student or faculty member.

The President will notify the appropriate parties of the decision. The decision of the President is final.

A copy of the Student Academic Grievance Form documenting the outcome of the grievance procedure will be forwarded to the Academic Dishonesty Data Warehouse in the Office of Academic Affairs.

As members of the Nicholls State University community, students are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic and personal conduct. Academic dishonesty violates these standards as well as the trust and commitment among students and faculty to instill and to maintain the principles of integrity, responsibility, and respect for others.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy: This policy covers any generative AI tool such as ChatGPT, Elicit, etc. This includes any work submitted by a student for course credit.

1. You are discouraged from using AI tools UNLESS under direct instruction to do so from your instructor. If you are unsure or have questions, contact your instructor BEFORE using AI for any assignment.
2. If the use of AI is permitted, you must indicate what part of the assignment AI produced, and what you produced.
3. Failure to correctly acquired permission and/or attribute AI generated content is plagiarism and will be treated as such.

Cheating is the actual or attempted deception or fraud to improve one’s grade or academic standing or to aid another student in doing so. Individual faculty members may restrict, extend, or modify the university’s general definition of cheating to accommodate specific course learning outcomes. All students should carefully review course syllabi and talk with their instructors to ensure their understanding of each instructor’s cheating policy.

Examples of cheating include but are not limited to:

• use of unauthorized materials during an exam
• giving aid to or receiving aid from another student during an exam
• taking an exam for another student
• stealing, distributing, or having any unauthorized access to a copy of an exam or revising one’s answer on a graded exam for the purpose of claiming a grading error
• use of falsified data and/or references
• use of unauthorized materials in preparation of an assignment representation of the work and ideas of others as one’s own (see definition of plagiarism below)

Plagiarism is the presentation of the works, words, or ideas of others as one’s own, or the use of others’ works, words, and ideas without giving proper acknowledgment through appropriate others to present one’s work as their own. Individual faculty members may restrict, extend, or modify the university’s general definition of plagiarism to accommodate specific course learning out­comes. All students should carefully review course syllabi and talk with their instructors to ensure understanding of each instructor’s plagiarism policy.

Examples of plagiarism include but are not limited to:

• Copying someone else’s phrase or sentence(s) without placing quotation marks around the copied phrases or sentence(s), even when the copied wording is made part of one’s own sentence.
• Not supplying proper documentation or bibliographical information for the ideas, arguments, findings, or interpretations of data made by others paraphrased or quoted in an assignment.
• Submitting another person’s work as one’s own (including, but not limited to submitting a paper or report purchased or retrieved from a term paper service or one composed by a tutor, hired writer, student, friend, or relative).
• Allowing another student to copy one’s own work or writing a paper, report, or any part of an assignment for another student.

Violations of the university cheating policy (or of a faculty member’s cheating policy) will be dealt with in accordance with the disciplinary procedures published Student Policy and Procedure Manual. The faculty member is required to file a charge complaint statement with the Dean (who will then forward it to the Office of Academic Affairs) whenever a student is confronted and/or disciplined for cheating (Academic-Dishonesty-Reporting-Form). The Office of Academic Affairs will maintain these records, and any student confronted and/or disciplined for multiple offenses (more than one) of academic dishonesty will be brought before the Academic Affairs Integrity Committee (AAIC) for further review and/or sanctions.

Academic-Dishonesty-Reporting-Form

Academic Dishonesty and Disruption of Class/Lab Activities

The Student Policy and Procedure Manual recognizes that the student-instructor relationship within the classroom is the basic level of University life.

Expulsion from Course with Failing Grade

1. In cases of academic dishonesty or severe or repeated disruption of class/lab activities, the instructor may invoke a maximum sanction of immediate expulsion from the course with a failing grade. If the student wishes to pursue the matter further, he/she must follow the procedures detailed in the Student Academic Grievance section of this policy.

More Severe Penalties

1. If a more severe penalty than expulsion from the class with a failing grade is warranted by the student’s conduct, the faculty member will file a formal charge with the dean of the college offering the courses (in the case of academic dishonesty) or with the Dean of Students’ Office (in the case of disruptive behavior). The Dean will dispose of the violation administratively.
2. Academic Dishonesty: The College Academic Grievance Committee of the college offering the course will serve as the hearing panel for cases of academic dishonesty. The College Academic Grievance Committee will follow hearing procedures detailed in the Student Academic Grievance Section of this policy.
3. Disruptive Behavior: The Discipline Committee will hear cases of disruptive behavior. The hearing will be conducted in accordance with discipline procedures listed in the Student Policy and Procedure Manual. A designee from the Dean of Students’ Office will perform the duties of the dean listed in the policy.

Academic Dishonesty Cases and Disruptive Behavior Cases

1. The student has the right to appeal the decision of guilt or sanction imposed by the instructor, department head, or academic dean.
2. Appeals of decisions involving Disruptive Behavior Cases (discipline) must be made in accordance with the Student Policy and Procedure Manual. Appeals involving Academic Dishonesty must be made in accordance with the Student Grievance Procedures of this policy.

Defying Academic Integrity  

When a student defies academic integrity (including but not limited to disruption of class/lab activities), the instructor may;

1. Assign a grade of “zero” for the assignment
2. Invoke the maximum sanction of immediate expulsion from the course with a failing grade
3. If the student’s conduct warrants a more severe penalty than expulsion from the class with a failing grade, the faculty member will file a formal charge with the Academic Dean of the college offering the course.
4. The Academic Dean may dispose of the violation administratively and contact the Director of Conduct and Accountability for further sanctions as warranted.
5. The Office of Academic Affairs will maintain these records, and any student confronted and/or disciplined for multiple offenses (more than one) of academic dishonesty will be brought before the Academic Affairs Integrity Committee (AAIC) for further review and/or sanctions. Students with multiple violations may be charged with additional violations
6. The Office of Academic Affairs will forward a copy of the Academic Dishonesty/Disruption Report to the Nicholls State University athletic compliance officer if the student involved is a student-athlete.

1. Academic Dishonesty – any action or effort by a student to use illegal, deceitful, or unacceptable means in any academic work or setting. Examples include but are not limited to falsifying data, information or citations, providing false excuses or information to an instructor concerning an academic exercise, bribery, sabotage, or willfully disrupting or disturbing the academic progress of others, cheating, and plagiarism.
2. Cheating – the actual or attempted deception or fraud to improve one’s grade or academic standing or to aid another student in doing so. Individual faculty members may restrict, extend, or modify the university’s general definition of cheating to accommodate specific course learning outcomes. All students should carefully review course syllabi and talk with their instructors to ensure their understanding of each instructor’s cheating policy.
3. Contract Cheating–Students are prohibited from engaging a third-party to complete assignments. (Someone other than the student completes an assignment and the student then submits for credit). Including but not limited to:

• • • The student submitted work found online.
    • The student hires another person to complete work.
    • The student completed work for another student.

4. Dishonesty– A student is prohibited from being dishonest in such a way that includes but not limited to malfeasance in or misuse of elective or appointive office in a student organization or as a student employee, cheating, plagiarism, knowingly furnishing false information to the University, its officials or duly constituted committees, forgery, and the alteration or use of institutional documents or identification with the intent to defraud. Also located in the Academic Integrity section.
5. Disorderly Conduct– Disorderly conduct includes but not limited obstruction or disruption of teaching, research or administrative activities, discipline procedures, any behavior that adversely affects the educational processes of the University or the performance of duties by University personnel and/or any behavior that unreasonably disturbs the peace and/or comfort of a person or persons.
6. Disruptive Behavior – any action or effort by a student to disrupt or disturb the academic progress of other individuals within the academic setting or a setting related to academic activities.
7. Plagiarism – the presentation of the works, words, or ideas of others as one’s own, or the use of others’ works, words, and ideas without giving proper acknowledgement, or the inappropriate presentation of someone else’s work as their own. Individual faculty members may restrict, extend, or modify the university’s general definition of plagiarism to accommodate specific course learning outcomes.
8. Student – 1) any person seeking admission or accepted for admission to Nicholls State University, 2) any person enrolled at Nicholls State University (full time, part-time, Online)
9. Student Academic Grievance – procedures sanctioned for a student who feels he/she has been mistreated with respect to an academic matter. These procedures do not include grade appeals.
10. Student Educational Records – any student record maintained by the University for the purpose of recording student accomplishments, conduct sanctions, participation in activities.
11. Unauthorized Recording – Any unauthorized use of electronic or other devices to make an audio or video still frame or photographic record of any person without their prior knowledge or without their effective consent when the person or persons being recorded have a reasonable expectation of privacy and/or such recording is likely to cause injury or distress; this includes but is not limited to surreptitiously taking pictures of another person in a gym, locker room, or restroom.  If a recording is made that captures a student conduct violation or the violation of law, the Dean of Students or designee may elect not to enforce this section of the rules against the student making the recording (Amnesty).
12. University premises or related premises – all lands, buildings, and facilities owned, leased, or controlled by the University.
13. Work Day – a day on which the University is officially open (Monday through Friday) except for official University holidays.