Student Grievance Procedure

Phase One:  Attempt to Resolve the Matter Through Informal Resolution:

1. Direct Discussion:  Students wishing to grieve an alleged violation of the University’s policies shall first contact, within twenty (20) working days of any occurrence giving rise to the grievance or the time they could reasonably have learned of such occurrence, the person responsible for the matter being grieved (the respondent) and attempt to resolve the grievance informally.
2. Informal Mediation: At the request of the grievant or respondent, the ombudsperson in the school in which the student is enrolled (if there is one, otherwise the Executive Assistant to the President) shall arrange for a meeting of the parties, attend such meeting(s), and attempt to aid in the resolution of the grievance.
3. Advisement: Students uncertain about how to proceed may consult the Office of the Executive Assistant to the President who shall identify the appropriate person. 

(If the matter is not resolved in Step One)  Note: University policies allow Academic Schools to modify the specific procedures utilized in this phase as long as the fundamental elements are preserved.

1. Filing of a Written Complaint: If the grievance is not resolved informally within fifteen (15) working days after the grievant contacted directly the appropriate person to attempt an informal resolution, a student may obtain review by submitting a written complaint to the Office of the Executive Assistant to the President, the respondent, and the appropriate University appeal officer.  The letter must be sent within twenty (20) working days of the first direct contact that the grievant had with the respondent (person he/she felt to be responsible for the situation).   In his/her letter of complaint, the grievant must include the following:
   • The specific written University policy that allegedly has been violated
   • A description of the facts and evidence supporting the alleged violation
   • A description of the redress that the grievant seeks
2. Appointment of an Appeal Officer: If a matter arises out of a program or educational activity within a school, the Dean of that school typically shall be the Appeal Officer.  (some schools do allow the Dean to assign a designee to hear the case).   Otherwise, the Appeal Officer shall be the highest-ranking University officer (other than the President) who is responsible for the administrative area and/or subject matter in which the matter arose.   (students who have questions about the process may consult the Office of the Executive Assistant to the President, which shall determine the appropriate appeal officer).  The appeal officer shall –
   • Meet with the complainant
   • Meet with other persons as he or she shall deem appropriate for the purpose of ascertaining the facts and attempting to resolve the complaint
   • Render a written decision on the merits of the matter to the grievant, the respondent, and the Office of the Executive Assistant to the President

Either the student grievant or the respondent (eg. faculty or staff member about whom the student in complaining) may appeal the decision of the appeal officer to the University Judicial Board.  The process is as follows:

1. Filing of a Request for a Review:  The appellant must submit both the written decision and a letter of complaint to the Chairperson  (Thomas Grace) of the University Judicial Board within ten (10) working days of receiving the written decision from the School/Unit appeal officer.
2. Action by the University Judicial Board:  A hearing is not conducted at this point.  Rather, a University Judicial Board Panel is assembled to review the complaint and the written materials from the original appeal at the School/Unit level.  Based upon the review of the written materials, the University Judicial Board may –
   • Dismiss the appeal on the grounds that the letter of appeal does not set forth specific written policies or procedures to which the grievant was entitled but alleged were not substantially afforded during the prior phases of the process
   • Dismiss the appeal if it determines that even though the facts that the grievant alleges to have occurred are true, such facts/actions do not constitute a violation of the stated policies or procedures
   • Recommend remedial actions that can be taken to resolve effectively and fairly any procedural or policy deviations that the Panel concludes may have been made during the prior phases of the process
   • Conclude that a new University Judicial Board hearing is to be convened on the entire matter
3. The Review Board shall render a written decision within thirty (30) working days of the day the panel was designated with copies to the grievant, the respondent, the Office of the Executive Assistant to the President, and the President. The decision shall include findings of fact, a statement of the policy that is alleged to have been violated, an opinion on the validity of the grievance and, if appropriate, remedial recommendations.
4. If the University Judicial Board concludes that a new hearing is warranted, it shall conduct such proceeding as it deems appropriate, provided that
   • It shall not consider any matters not included in the written complaint
   • If the committee feels the grievant did not have access to the facts necessary to make his/her complaint complete when first submitted, the University Judicial Board may allow the grievant to submit an amended complaint
   • Both parties shall have access to all documents submitted to the committee and shall have the right to question all witnesses
   • It shall not hold public sessions unless both parties and a majority of the panel’s members agree to do so, and shall not do so without all members present
   • The grievant may be accompanied by another person before the committee

Any part of the University Judicial Board’s decision which calls for redress for the grievant shall be subject to review and change by the President.

1. The President shall act on the remedial recommendations, if any, of the Judicial Board within fifteen (15) working days of receiving the decision.
2. The President’s decision as to the appropriate remedy and whether the Judicial Board has accurately determined University policy shall be in writing and final, and copies shall be sent to the grievant, the respondent, the chairperson of the University Judicial Board, and the Office of the Executive Assistant to the President.
3. This information presented on this site is intended to provide readers with a summary of the related University policies and procedures and should not be construed to serve as a substitute for the actual regulations.  Readers are advised to consult the NYU Policies website to read the official University policies regarding the judicial process.