SARA STUDENT COMPLAINTS
VUST has a Grievance process and procedures for students to file grievances as well as an appeal process to assure protection of student rights and maintain fairness and objectivity. Students have the right to appeal any adverse academic decision, standard, or requirement if any of the following conditions exist:
• A faculty who issued a course grade by mistake, fraud, bad faith, or retaliation.
• Extenuating circumstances make it impossible to comply with the standard or requirement
• An undue hardship would result from a strict application or interpretation of a standard or requirement.
Documentation will be required, and timely processing of the grievance will be taken into consideration. If a student appeals an academic standard or requirement, the President will handle the appeal.
The purpose of the appeal process and procedures is to provide a system that will represent “fairness and the absence of arbitrariness.” VUST makes every effort to assure that its grievance procedures are clear to students and the process is not burdensome or cumbersome.
VUST faculty and staff attempt to create, in all areas, an atmosphere that is conducive to learning. For this reason, we have established a procedure that we hope will address any school-related problem, concern, or complaint. Students may express concerns to any administrator. Complaints, however, are best handled by following the below procedure.
Step 1: Most academic concerns will be handled by the instructors. Students should first discuss the problem with the instructor.
Step 2: If the problem is not resolved at that level, the student should contact the Lead Faculty member of the program or the Director of Education. All administrative staff members maintain an open-door policy.
At the student’s written request, an ad hoc Grievance Committee (GC) comprised of the President, Director of Admissions, Lead Faculty members, and Title IX Coordinator (if applicable) will be convened to address concerns that remain unresolved. The ad hoc Grievance Committee will convene within 10 days of a written request. The student will be notified of the committee’s decision within three days of the meeting.
If there is a finding of inappropriate behavior, prompt disciplinary action, including possible termination or expulsion, will be taken.
• Withdrawal of a complaint will not necessarily result in the termination of the school’s investigation into the allegations.
• False and malicious charges may result in sanctions being imposed against the complainant by the school and may lead to charges being filed against the complainant by the accused.
After a judgment has been rendered, either party may choose to avail himself/herself of the established grievance procedures:
When any investigation of a complaint of sexual harassment is completed, the file containing all documentation relating to the complaint will be maintained in the Human Resources Department in a separate confidential file.
Documentation on any disciplinary action will be maintained in accordance with the following guidelines:
(a) Documentation will be maintained in the Student’s file, which resides Registrar Office
(b) Documentation will be maintained in the Professional and Support Staff’s personnel file, maintained in the Human Resources Department.
(c) Documentation will be maintained in the Faculty’s personnel file in the Human Resources
Department.
After following the above stated procedure, if the student feels that his or her concerns have not been resolved, he or she may address these concerns in writing to the regulatory agencies listed below:
Schools accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges must have a procedure and operational plan for handling student complaints. If a student does not feel that the school has adequately addressed a complaint or concern, the student may consider contacting the Accrediting Commission. All complaints reviewed by the Commission must be in written form and should grant permission for the Commission to forward a copy of the complaint to the school for a response. This can be accomplished by filing the ACCSC Complaint Form. The complainant(s) will be kept informed as to the status of the complaint as well as the final resolution by the Commission. Please direct all inquiries to:
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools & Colleges
2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 302, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 247-4212, www.accsc.org
A copy of the ACCSC Complaint Form is available at the school and may be obtained by contacting (name/position) or online at www.accsc.org.
Any issues or problems which have not been satisfactorily answered or resolved by VUST may also be directed to the:
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)
101 N. 14TH St., James Monroe Bldg. – Richmond, VA 23219
Tel: (804) 225-2600 and Fax: (804) 225-2604; www.schev.edu
The student will not be subject to unfair treatment or adverse actions by the school as a result of initiating a complaint proceeding.