File a Grievance or Complaint

In providing the procedure for students to lodge a complaint regarding issues at Westminster, the Seminary’s desire is for students to know they have a voice on the peer level as well as the institutional level. As a Seminary, Westminster’s ultimate procedural purpose is to honor Christ in how Christians deal with their differences and disappointments. The general guidelines will follow the biblical mandates given in Matthew 18 as to how to process concerns personally and corporately.

Context

In two primary contexts in the Seminary are complaints lodged. One is the area of academic and/or administrative concerns. In this context, policies and procedures that deal with academic concerns and financial issues will be addressed.

The second context has more to do with things that involve the community as a whole. This context would include attitudes and actions that affect individuals or groups within the campus community. Code of conduct issues are used in responding to grievances expressed within the second context.

Academic Grievance Policy

An academic appeals process exists to resolve any academic problem that cannot otherwise be settled in a biblical manner and assures fairness to all parties concerned.

The student should first go to the professor and/or administrator to express the concern. If a third party is necessary, the Dean of Students is available to assist.
If the issue is still unresolved, the student should submit a written appeal to the Deans Council through the Dean of Students regarding the issue. The Deans Council will render a written decision.
If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the Deans Council, then the student may submit a subsequent written appeal to the President requesting a hearing.
The President in consultation with the Chief Academic Officer may or may not grant the request. If granted, the President will appoint an ad hoc committee of faculty to hear the case. This committee is authorized to meet with any or all concerned parties to resolve the issue and willrender a written decision concerning the case. The decision of the President or the ad hoc committee is considered final, subject only to review by the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board to affirm that the appeals process was properly observed.

Non-Academic Grievance Policy

For all general grievances not covered under other campus policies, a similar process outlined above is to be followed in the non-academic realm.

Go to the person or parties and express the concern.
If the issue is still unresolved, the student should submit a written appeal to the Dean of Students regarding the issue. Depending on the issue, the Dean of Students may request input from the Deans Council, which will render a written decision.
If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the Deans Council, then the student may submit a subsequent written appeal to the President requesting a hearing.
If granted, the President will appoint an ad hoc committee of faculty to hear the case. This committee is authorized to meet with any or all concerned parties to resolve the issue and will render a written decision concerning the case. The decision of the President or the ad hoc committee is considered final, subject only to review by the Academic Affairs Committee to affirm that the appeals process was properly observed.

Conclusion

The Dean of Students Office is to be seen as the umbrella for addressing all complaints. Information regarding the process of filing a grievance and an informal context to discuss the issue are important beginnings to the process.

Other resources available to students: