Formal Grievance Committee Procedure
to determine if there is probable cause to proceed with the grievance and attempt to resolve the matter. The hearings may not be recorded. Any party may request the hearing to be transcribed by a licensed court reporter; however, the expense of the court reporter shall be borne by the requesting party and a copy of the transcript shall be provided to Hodges University at no cost to the University. Hearings may not be attended by outside agencies or attorneys, as these hearings are informal and internal proceedings except that Hodges may request that its general counsel attend this Hearing Further, all written grievances are confidential and no outside third party shall be provided a transcript of the proceedings without the consent of all parties involved. Violation of confidentiality may result in dismissal from the University or termination of University student employment. If the Hearing Officer or designee determines that there is not probable cause to support the grievance, then the Hearing Officer or designee will dismiss the grievance in writing stating the reasons for that finding. The decision may be appealed to the President whose decision is final. The appeal must be filed within seven (7) working days and state with sufficient specificity and clarity the reasons for the appeal. If the Hearing Officer or designee finds there is probable cause to support the grievance, the Hearing Officer or designee may resolve the grievance or pass the resolution to a Grievance Committee, which is ad hoc. The Provost, or designee, will appoint appropriate members to the ad hoc Grievance Committee. The committee will consist of one administrator, one student, and a committee chair selected from the faculty. Within fourteen (14) working days, the Grievance Committee will convene a hearing to determine the resolution of the grievance.
The Formal Grievance Committee will hear the matter and resolve the dispute subject to the following: • The student will present all relevant evidence to the Committee, subject to examination by the other parties and/or the Committee. • The other parties will present all relevant evidence to the Committee, subject to examination by the Student and/or the Committee. • Other persons may be allowed to present evidence at the sole discretion of the Committee Chair. • The Committee will make a written finding within seven (7) working days of the hearing which will contain the decision of the Committee and findings of fact that support the decision. This written finding will be filed with the Associate Dean of Students. The Provost, or designee, will serve a copy to all parties, and the President. Appeals The appeal process is available to students addressing decisions of the Hearing Officers or a Grievance Committee. Either party may appeal the decision, within seven (7) working days to the President whose decision is final. The President normally will only consider the written record of the evidence, including the complaint, student file, responses, minutes of the meetings, and the written reason for the appeal, in order to render a decision in the matter. In the event than any party fails to appeal the decision regarding probable cause or fails to appeal the written decision of the grievance committee or hearing officer within seven (7) working days, then the grievance shall automatically be dismissed without further recourse or review.
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Hodges University Student Handbook
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