School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) Policy
Rationale/Purpose:
To codify School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) health professions program students’ right to request a grievance hearing if they feel they were graded or evaluated unfairly.
Definitions:
Health profession program
Any of the SMPH Doctor of Medicine Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Genetic Counselor Studies, Master of Physician Assistant Studies, or Master of Public Health programs (each, a "Program").
Grievance
A complaint made by a student alleging that the student received a grade or academic evaluation that was arbitrary, capricious, or discriminatory—i.e., unfairly based on race, gender, religion, personal animus, or any other factor(s) other than an objective assessment of the student’s academic performance and/or the student’s compliance with their program’s professional behavior code.
Grievance board
The committee of SMPH faculty and staff that provides formal review and settlement of grievances when informal resolution measures are unsuccessful.
Policy:
SMPH students have the right to fair and equitable treatment with respect to grading and evaluation and may dispute a grade that they feel was awarded unfairly.
Students are expected to make reasonable efforts to resolve grievances informally and directly, but if those efforts fail, any student may file a request for a grievance hearing.
The student and program will follow the SMPH health professions program grievance procedure for formal resolution of any grievance.
Information on the grievance procedure must be included in each health professions program’s student handbook.
