Grievance Policy and Procedure
The grievance policy and procedures provide students with a method for addressing any concerns that may arise regarding RDGS’s academic or administrative policies that pertain to students.
The procedures provide a thorough review of the student’s grievance by the Dean and afford due process rights with the intent of arriving at a mutual agreement. Students may appeal the Dean’s decision to the Executive Director who may appoint a Review Committee. Decisions from the Executive Director are final.
If these informal direct discussions are not successful, the student may pursue a further informal avenue. If the matter is an academic complaint, the student may contact the Dean or the Executive Director. If the matter is an administrative complaint, the student may contact the Chief Operating Officer.
The person receiving a formal written grievance will review it and within 30 days gather information from the grievance parties, keeping a record. He or she will recommend a solution to the grievant based on mutual agreement. If a mutual agreement cannot be reached, a resolution will be determined, and the grievant will be notified of the resolution in writing. Copies of all records will be sent to and maintained by the Executive Director’s office.
If a grievant elects to appeal academic and administrative resolutions, the appeal must be submitted to the Executive Director, along with the written record from the previous steps. If the Executive Director is the object of the grievance, the grievance will be referred to the Vista Del Mar President/CEO for a final decision. If no final resolution can be reached, the Executive Director will ask the RDGS Board to call an ad hoc committee to investigate the grievance.
The procedures provide a thorough review of the student’s grievance by the Dean and afford due process rights with the intent of arriving at a mutual agreement. Students may appeal the Dean’s decision to the Executive Director who may appoint a Review Committee. Decisions from the Executive Director are final.
Informal Procedure for Resolving Academic and Administrative Complaints
Students are encouraged to discuss concerns or complaints with the person(s) who is (are) directly involved in the complaint in an effort to come to a satisfactory, informal resolution.If these informal direct discussions are not successful, the student may pursue a further informal avenue. If the matter is an academic complaint, the student may contact the Dean or the Executive Director. If the matter is an administrative complaint, the student may contact the Chief Operating Officer.
Formal Procedure for Resolving Grievances – Academic
A grievance is initiated by writing a letter that includes a detailed description of the grievance, the parties involved, the attempts to resolve the grievance informally, and the remedies sought. The grievance must state the nature and time of the offending action(s) and the person(s) involved in the action or failure to act. A formal grievance must be submitted to the Dean. If the grievance involves the Dean, the grievance must be addressed to the Executive Director. If the matter involves the Executive Director, the grievance must be brought to the attention of the Vista Del Mar President/CEO. All information gathered from the parties mentioned in the grievance is recorded. If the resolution with the grievant cannot be resolved, or if the conflict is between the Executive Director and the grievant and no mutual agreement can be reached, the grievance must be brought to the attention of the Vista Del Mar President/CEO for resolution.The person receiving a formal written grievance will review it and within 30 days gather information from the grievance parties, keeping a record. He or she will recommend a solution to the grievant based on mutual agreement. If a mutual agreement cannot be reached, a resolution will be determined, and the grievant will be notified of the resolution in writing. Copies of all records will be sent to and maintained by the Executive Director’s office.
Formal Procedure for Resolving Grievances – Administrative
A grievance involving non-academic matters must be addressed to the Chief Operating Officer in a letter that includes a detailed description of the grievance, the parties involved, the attempts to resolve the grievance informally, and the remedies sought. The Chief Operating Officer will review the grievance and investigate the complaint within 30 days. The Chief Operating Officer will gather information from the parties involved in the grievance and keep a record of this information. After review, the Chief Operating Officer will recommend a solution arrived by mutual agreement with the grievant. If mutual agreement cannot be reached, a resolution will be determined by the Executive Director, and the grievant will be notified of the resolution in writing. If the resolution with the grievant involves the Chief Operating Officer and no mutual agreement can be reached, the grievance must be brought to the attention of the Executive Director for resolution. Copies of all records will be sent to and maintained by the Executive Director’s Office.Appeal Process for Grievance Decisions
For both academic and operational grievances, if the parties accept the resolution, the grievance is considered settled. If the resolution is not accepted, then the grievant(s) may appeal the resolution in writing within 15 days of the date the resolution is mailed to the grievant(s). If the appeal is not submitted within the prescribed time limit, the entire process terminates.
If a grievant elects to appeal academic and administrative resolutions, the appeal must be submitted to the Executive Director, along with the written record from the previous steps. If the Executive Director is the object of the grievance, the grievance will be referred to the Vista Del Mar President/CEO for a final decision. If no final resolution can be reached, the Executive Director will ask the RDGS Board to call an ad hoc committee to investigate the grievance.
