FAQs about Academic Grievance and Disciplinary Hearings

What's the difference between a grievance and complaint?

Students may lodge a "grievance" if they believe an instructor, staff member or administrator has violated their student rights. Administrators, instructors or staff members may lodge a "complaint" against students who they believe have violated an MSU rule or regulation.

How do students determine if they should file a grievance?

Usually, students file grievances when they remain dissatisfied with the outcome of informal discussions, first with the individual who allegedly violated their rights and then with the chair of the department in which the alleged violation of student rights occurred. At this point, the process calls for students to file a written request for an academic grievance hearing. Either party may contact the Office of the Ombudsman for neutral, confidential, independent and informal assistance any time during this process.

Is there a deadline for requesting a hearing?

Yes, students have until the middle of the semester following the semester in which the alleged violation occurred to request a hearing.

Are hearings automatic, once the written request is filed with the chair?

No, the operative word is "request." The department chair (or school director) will forward the student's written request for a hearing to the chair of the department (or school) hearing board. The chair of the board then convenes the hearing board, which will determine if the request for a hearing has merit. If so, the hearing will be scheduled; if not, the student may appeal that decision to the college hearing board, which also may deny the appellate hearing for lack of merit.

What are my chances of even getting a hearing?

Pretty good. During the 2006-2007 school year, 13 students requested hearings, and four were denied for lack of merit. (Two other cases were resolved just prior to the scheduled hearings in informal discussions with the hearing boards.)

Who serves on the hearing boards?

For hearings involving undergraduate students, the hearing board must include at least two students and an indeterminate number of faculty members (usually three). For hearings involving graduate or medical students, the panel must include an equal number of students and faculty.

What if I've had a run in with a member of the hearing board--student or faculty? Can I ask that an alternate replace them?

Yes. You can request a change in the composition of the hearing board by notifying the chair of the hearing board of any potential conflict of interest between any member of the panel and you. The chair will rule on your request.

So, level with me: Do students have any chance of winning an academic grievance hearing?

Yes, Again, using last year's report on hearings, students prevailed in three of the seven hearings that eventually occurred.

What's the difference between an academic grievance hearing and a disciplinary hearing?

Students initiate grievance hearings as the final step in trying to resolve their allegations of violations of their rights. Deans initiate academic disciplinary hearings to impose sanctions on students who have failed a course for academic dishonesty and whose academic indiscretion is egregious to warrant additional sanctions, up to and including suspension from a program or the university. Disciplinary hearings also may involve a student's violation of professional standards or falsifying academic or admission records.

Which hearing board has jurisdiction in disciplinary hearings?

Here's where it gets complicated, but the short answer is this: Undergraduate students have a choice of having an administrative hearing conducted by the associate provost for undergraduate education or having a hearing before the college hearing board in the college in which the student is enrolled. Academic disciplinary heraings for graduate and medical students occur before the college hearing board in the college in which the student is enrolled. Undergraduate students may request an appellant hearing before the Academic Integrity Review Board; graduate students, before the University Graduate Judiciary; and medical students, before the University Graduate-Professional Judiciary.

What is the source for grievance and disciplinary hearing procedures?

Three important documents govern the "rules of the game": Academic Freedom for Students at Michigan State University (also called the AFR, for Academic Freedom Report), the Graduate Rights and Responsibilities document (GSRR) and the Medical Students Rights and Responsibilities document. (The MSRR is not available online.) Each department, school and college must develop detailed hearing procedures based on these three documents.

Am I allowed to see these procedures?

Yes, You should request a copy of the procedures from the appropriate unit before you decide to request a hearing, if only to know what you're getting into if you decide to request a hearing. Also, you are permitted to request an appeal of a hearing board's decision if you can show that the hearing board failed to follow its approved procedures.

What is the Ombudsman's role in this process?

Because the ombudsman is neutral and impartial, he or she does not serve as your advocate in this process; instead, the ombudsman will help you sort out your grievance and explain the process, up to and including a possible hearing. This may help you decide whether you want to file a written request for a hearing--or not. At the same time, the ombudsman also will answer questions about the process raised by the chair of the hearing board and the person against whom a grievance was filed.

How do academic hearings differ from hearings that take place in the Office of Judicial Affairs?

Think of it this way: Academic hearings usually involve an allegation of a violation of students' academic rights as set down in the AFR, GSRR or MSRR. These hearings take place in the student's department or college. Hearings that occur in the Office of Judicial Affairs usually involve a students' personal conduct, including violating university rules and regulations such as Acceptable Use of Computing System or unlawful possession of alcohol or drugs.