Need advice? Students with a grievance may wish to consult with a Student Grievance Adviser to assist with the resolution process. Contact a Student Grievance Adviser Role and Responsibilities of Student Grievance Advisers

Stage 2: Formal review

Process

Stage 2 begins with the aggrieved student lodging a formal written grievance with the supervisor of the person directly responsible, or other appropriate person as identified by a Student Grievance Adviser.

Complaints or appeals that are sent dierctly to the Vice-Chancellor & President or to another senior executive, will be referred to the Student Grievance Resolution Process.

A formal written grievance can take the form of an email or a letter, and must include a clear statement of the grievance, all the relevant facts about the grievance, and what resolution the student is seeking.

The person who receives the grievance may refer or delegate the responsibility for dealing with the grievance to another appropriate person, but all specified time frames still must be met. The person who ultimately deals with the grievance is designated the Grievance Facilitator.

Rights and responsibilities

There are general rights and responsibilities that must be acknowledged at Stage 2 of the grievance process in addition to specific rights and responsibilities that apply throughout the specific academic, administrative and unfair treatment grievance processes.

Types of grievances

Most grievances fall within the categories listed below. To find out:

• with whom a grievance should be lodged
• the time limit for lodging a grievance

 select the appropriate category.

These categories represent the most common types of student grievance but are not intended to be a complete list. If your grievance does not fit into any of these categories, go to Other (Academic) or Other (Administrative).

Academic grievances

Grievances about decisions that involve the exercise of academic judgment are usually made by academic staff within a Faculty for coursework students, or the Adelaide Graduate Centre for higher degree by research students.

• Assessment
• Credit transfer
• Supplementary assessment
• Admission
• Scholarships/prizes
• Graduation
• Academic dishonesty (cheating and plagiarism)
• Unsatisfactory academic progress
• Other

Administrative grievances (services and facilities)

Grievances about administrative decisions are most commonly about matters that are the responsibility of Student Administrative Services, but might be decisions made within Faculties, ITS or the Library, etc. These decisions are usually made by professional not academic staff and may include the following.

• Refunds, remissions, re-credits
• Enrolment
• Scholarships/prizes
• Graduation
• Examinations
• Services and facilities
• Health and safety
• Other

Unfair treatment

This section of the the Student Grievance Process applies to grievances about:

• student behaviour in breach of the University's Fair Treatment Policy, and
• staff behaviour

The next step

Except where otherwise indicated, if the grievance is not resolved at the end of the Stage 2 process, the student or other aggrieved party may take further action and proceed to Stage 3 by appealing to the Student Grievance and Appeals Committee. In some circumstances, there may be an option for mediation or brokering before Stage 3 is formally implemented.