Untitled - Oral Roberts University

STUDENT COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES
I.
General
The primary objectives of the Student Complaint and Grievance policies and procedures
are to ensure that students have the opportunity to present complaints and process grievances
regarding certain action(s), inaction(s), and/or communications by a member of the ORU
community and that the ORU has a consistent and orderly process for resolving those complaints
or grievances in a fair and just manner.
Generally, a complaint is when a student believes that he or she has been discriminated,
harassed or otherwise has suffered from conduct or communication based upon protected status
or rights in violation of ORU policy and/or applicable law. A grievance is generally a student’s
objection to or disagreement about an adverse consequence- that the student reasonably believes
is a result of an unfair or improper action or decision by administration, faculty, staff, or another
student. Every student shall have the right to present his or her complaint or grievance, in
accordance with established policies and procedures, in order to seek redress free from
interference, coercion, restraint, discrimination, or reprisal.
In the spirit of Christ, the ORU encourages the resolution of grievances through informal
means and discussion aimed at seeking a resolution satisfactory to all parties involved. The ORU
is also committed to a formal procedure for consideration of grievances that are not resolved
through informal processes.
ORU has established several situation-specific grievance and complaint formats based
upon the categories below:
1. Academic Grievance Policy;
2. Discrimination, Harassment, or Sexual Assault (See page #’s then list them here); and
3. Student Conduct and Discipline Grievances.
If you have a general student complaint/grievance that does not fit under one of the
aforementioned categories or if you have questions about filing a complaint/grievance, you may
contact The Office of Student Life at (918) 495-7703 or via e-mail at dboyes@oru.edu. ORU
retains the final determination of which of these categories a student complaint or grievance will
be processed.
II.
Academic Grievance Process
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Grievances shall be presented and processed in a timely manner and moved toward closure with
appropriate balance of deliberation and speed. Academic grievances must be submitted within 90
days of the complaint. During the regular semesters, the appeal will normally be brought under
review by the relevant party within two (2) weeks of its receipt. The process will then move
forward to the final decision as rapidly as is reasonably possible. During times between regular
semesters (summer, January), review of the appeal may be delayed until the relevant people are
available.
A. Grievance Based on Faculty Member’s Academic Decision
Step 1: Consultation with Faculty Member
A student with an academic grievance against a faculty member shall meet with the
faculty member and present the grievance, verbally or in writing. Both student and
faculty member shall make a “good faith” effort to resolve the grievance. Most cases will
be resolved at this level.
Step 2: Appeal to the Chair of the Academic Department
If the grievance is unresolved at the faculty level (Step 1), the student may present a
written grievance to the Chair of the Academic Department in which the faculty teaches
or in which the course is offered. The Department Chair will contact the student and the
faculty member, or others, to gather information regarding the merits of the appeal. The
Chair meets with both parties in an attempt to resolve the issue. The Department Chair
provides his or her written response to the student and others as appropriate.
Step 3: Appeal to the Dean of the College
If the grievance is unresolved at the Department Chair level (Step 2), the student may
present his or her grievance to the Dean of the College. The Dean shall collect more
material as necessary and continue the process of seeking an informal resolution. The
Dean may convene an advisory committee to review and make recommendations to the
Dean. The Dean provides his or her written response to the student and others as
appropriate.
Step 4: Request to Provost for Administrative Review
Should the student believe the Dean’s decision to be contrary to ORU policy, procedure
or applicable standards, he or she has the right to seek an Administrative Review by the
Provost. The Provost may convene an advisory committee to review and make
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recommendations to the Provost. The Provost shall provide a written response to the
student and others as appropriate.
Step 5: Request Hearing with the ORU Student Disciplinary/Academic Grievance
Committee.
Ultimately, the student may submit to the Provost a written request for a hearing with the
ORU Student Disciplinary/Academic Grievance Committee (“Committee’). Approval
for such a hearing is granted at the discretion of the Provost. For academic appeal
matters, the Committee is composed of the Provost or designee as Chair, a faculty
representative, the Vice President for Student Life, the Dean of Spiritual Formation, and
ORU President or designee. The student may be present during portions of the hearing
by the Committee and has the right to present testimony regarding the grievance. The
student may be accompanied by an advocate but may not be represented by legal counsel.
The Committee will submit a written response to the student and others as appropriate.
The decision by the Committee is final.
B. Appeal of Academic Decision by a Department
Step 1: Appeal to the Department Chair or Graduate School Associate Dean
If a student desires to appeal a decision of an academic department or graduate school, he
or she first submits a written appeal to the Department Chair. If a committee within the
department made the original decision, the Department Chair or Graduate School
Associate Dean will forward the appeal to the committee. The chair of committee will
contact the student to discuss the student’s concerns and the relevant departmental or
graduate school policies and procedures. In most cases, the issue will be resolved at this
level.
Step 2: Appeal to the Dean of the College
If the issue is not resolved at the department or graduate school level (Step 1), the student
may submit the written appeal to the college dean. The Dean will consult with the
Department Chair or Graduate School Associate Dean, contact the relevant parties, and
gather pertinent information. The Dean may convene an advisory committee to review
and make recommendations to the Dean. The Dean will provide a written response to the
student and others as appropriate.
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Step 3: Request to Provost for Administrative Review
Should the student believe the academic decision to be contrary to ORU policies or
procedure, he or she has the right to seek an Administrative Review by the Provost. The
Provost may convene an advisory committee to review and make recommendations to the
Provost. The Provost shall provide written response to the student, the Department Chair
or Graduate School Associate Dean, and the College Dean.
Step 4: Request Hearing with the ORU Student Disciplinary/Academic Grievance.
Ultimately, the student may submit a written request for a hearing with the Committee.
Approval for such a hearing is granted at the discretion of the Provost. The student may
be present during portions of the hearing by the Committee and has the right to present
testimony regarding the grievance. The student may be accompanied by an advocate but
may not be represented by legal counsel. The Committee will submit written response to
the student and others as appropriate. The decision by the Committee is final.
C. Appeal of Academic Decision by a College
Step 1: Appeal to the Dean
If a student desires to appeal a decision of a college, he or she first submits a written
appeal to the Dean. If a committee within the college made the original decision, the
Dean will forward the appeal to the committee. The chair of committee will contact the
student to discuss the student’s concerns and the relevant college policies and procedures.
In most cases, the issue will be resolved at this level. The chair of the committee will
submit a written report to the Dean. The Dean may convene an advisory committee to
review and make recommendations to the Dean. The Dean will contact relevant parties,
gather information, and provide a written response to the student.
Step 2: Request to Provost for Administrative Review
Should the student believe the academic decision to be contrary to ORU policy or
procedure, he or she has the right to seek an Administrative Review by the Provost. The
Provost may convene an advisory committee to review and make recommendations to the
Provost. The Provost shall provide written response to the student and others as
appropriate.
Step 3: Request Hearing with the Student Disciplinary/Academic Grievance
Committee.
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Ultimately, the student may submit a written request for a hearing with the Committee.
Approval for such a hearing is granted at the discretion of the Provost. The student may
be present at portions of the hearing by the Committee and has the right to present
testimony regarding the grievance. The student may be accompanied by an advocate but
may not be represented by legal counsel. The Committee will submit written response to
the student and others as appropriate. The decision by the Committee is final.
III.
Student Conduct and Discipline Complaints and Grievances
A. Disciplinary Procedures
The Board of Trustees has established the following disciplinary regulations and
administrative procedures at ORU:
1. All rules and regulations adopted by the ORU are subject to the Honor Code.
2. Any violation of the Honor Code in its written form, its principles or its spirit is
dealt with accordingly.
3. Reports of student conduct, either at the undergraduate or graduate level, that is
offensive, unacceptable, destructive, and in violation of ORU regulations are
made to the office of the appropriate Dean (Dean of Men or Dean of Women or
Graduate School Director of Student Development or the equivalent director of
student development in a college’s graduate school).
4. The Dean reviews the nature of the complaint and has the responsibility for
setting up a meeting with the student.
5. Any student who fails to meet with appropriate Dean when requested may be
withdrawn from classes.
6. In respect to disciplinary proceedings, a student’s overall student record history
may be considered in the discipline process.
7. The student involved is expected to cooperate in collecting and interpreting
information regarding the complaint.
8. The Dean will attempt to structure the procedure so as to facilitate a reliable
determination of the truth and be fair and reasonable.
9. ORU’s policies concerning student behavior are intended to be developmental and
not punitive. This approach emphasizes assisting each student to understand and
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accept responsibility for his or her behavior as a student of ORU. The interests of
both the student and ORU are taken into account in deciding the proper discipline.
10. When the Dean has completed the review, he or she has the authority to impose
the appropriate discipline. The Dean will notify the student in a timely fashion of
the decision.
11. If the situation necessitates, the Dean has the authority to make an interim
disciplinary decision before a final decision is rendered.
12. Actions taken to address deemed violations of ORU regulations may include one
or a combination of the following:

Reprimand

Specified Restrictions or Penalties (including monetary fines).

Development Accountability – When a student is placed on development
accountability, his or her records are placed on a disciplinary hold and parents
of dependent students are notified. A second conduct violation results in
disciplinary action on both charges. A student placed on disciplinary
accountability may be removed from an office or position held on campus.

Suspension - A student may be suspended from the ORU for a definite or
indefinite time or subject to certain conditions. A student may apply for
readmission no sooner than 12 months from the date of suspension, and a
suspension hold is placed on the student’s transcript.

Expulsion - If a student is expelled from the ORU, he or she is not normally
allowed to reenter the ORU. Record of expulsion becomes a part of the
student’s permanent record in the office of the Registrar.

ORU’s Refund Schedule will be applied.
13. Disciplinary action is recorded as a permanent part of a student’s file, but the
disciplinary hold is removed when a student redeems himself or herself
14. Failure to enforce any ORU policy or rule constitutes a waiver only as to such
particular policy or rule and shall not be deemed as a waiver of any other policy
or rule.
B. Grievance Procedure
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1. Should the student believe the discipline unfair, he or she has the right to seek an
administrative review with the Vice President for Student Life within seven
working days of the initial Dean’s decision.
2. Ultimately,
the
student
may
request
a
hearing
with
the
ORU
Disciplinary/Academic Grievance Committee (“Committee”). Approval for such
a hearing is granted at the discretion of the Vice President for Student Life.
3. The Committee is composed of the Vice President for Student Life (chair), a
faculty representative, the Dean of Spiritual Formation, the Provost (or designee),
and the President’s designee. Composition of the Committee may be altered on a
case-by-case basis in the best interest of either ORU or the student.
4. In a hearing before this Committee, the student may appear personally. The
student has a right to be informed of the nature of the allegations, charges or
reports being brought against him or her; to present testimony with respect to the
complaint; to be notified of decisions reached by the committee within two weeks
of the hearing.
5. The decision reached by the Committee is final.
IV.
Appeal Beyond ORU
If a complaint/grievance is associated with the ORU’s compliance with academic
program quality and accrediting standards, the Higher Learning Commission is the
agency that accredits Oral Roberts ORU’s academic programs. Therefore, if your
complaint/grievance remains unsolved after exhausting all of above stated processes &
procedures, you may present your complaint to the Higher Learning Commission.
Higher Learning Commission, 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604
Inquiry@hlccommission.org, 1-800-621-7440.
Federal regulations require the States to provide students the ability to file complaints
against educational institutions located in their state. Listed below are the states where the
ORU maintains a Title IV approved site and contact information for the filing of a
complaint. The ORU encourages all students to first use all available grievance
procedures provided by the institution before pursuing a complaint with a state agency:
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200
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Oklahoma City, OK 73104
405.225.9100
http://www.okhighered.org/
For online students taken classes offered by the ORU, individual state complaint
procedures are available at:
http://www.sheeo.org/sites/default/files/Complaint%20Process%20Links%2012-2012.pdf
Nothing in this disclosure should be construed to limit any right that you may have to take civil or criminal legal
action to resolve your complaints. Oral Roberts ORU has provided this disclosure in compliance with the
requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, as regulated in CFR 34, sections 600.9 (b) (3) and
668.43(b). If anything in this disclosure is out of date, please notify the Office of the Provost.
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