Grievance Policy

In the event that an SCU student has an academic grievance other than academic probation or suspension or feels that some action of the university is not justified or constitutes an encroachment upon student’s academic rights, the student may present the grievance according to the provisions of the student academic grievance process; e.g. any question of examinations, assessments or student outcomes, or requirements for satisfactory progress in a course, etc. The five-step grievance and appeal process are defined below. (For probation/suspension appeals, see Academic Probation/Suspension Appeals.)

Step 1: Direct Appeal to Instructor

The student will seek to resolve any academic problems by direct appeal to the instructor or person(s) involved, if feasible. (Appeals made after the end of the academic semester will not be heard until the beginning of the following semester. Faculty should not be contacted by the student during the summer months for the purpose of an appeal.)

Step 2: Appeal to Department Chair

If a meeting with the advisor does not resolve the matter to the satisfaction of the student, the student shall be entitled to a hearing before the Academic Council.

Step 3: Appeal to Academic Council

The appeal should be addressed to the Department Chair in a written format. The Academic Council Chair will establish a mutually satisfactory date for hearing the appeal. (Final grade appeals must be filed with the Department Chair no later than 45 days after the grade is submitted to the Office of the Registrar.) The 45-day appeal period also applies to students prevented from receiving final grade notification due to an outstanding financial account.

The Academic Council may hold informal or formal hearings as it deems necessary.

The burden of proving grievances shall be upon the aggrieved student, but the student may be entitled to witnesses if approved by the Academic Council Chair. The Academic Council Chair may dismiss any case where, in the Chair's judgment, the aggrieved student fails to make a Prima Facie case.

Step 4: Appeal to Chief Academic Officer

A final appeal may be made by submitting a written appeal to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. All decisions by the VPAA shall be final and binding upon all parties involved.

  
If a student has gone through the university grievance procedure but feels the issue cannot be solved by the university, a complaint may be filed with Southwestern Christian University’s accreditation entity, The Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

 The Higher Learning Commission
 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
 Chicago, IL 60604
 Instructions for filing a complaint with the HLC can be found here.
  
Students located outside of Oklahoma while enrolled in Southwestern Christian University may also choose to contact the appropriate higher education entity in their state.

Click here for a list of each state’s higher education agencies.