Student Policies and Forms
School of Law Grievance Process
Internal Grievance Process
Internal Grievance Form
Internal Grievance Process - School of Law
At times, students may have an academic grievance that they wish to resolve. In addition, the American Bar Association, under ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools Standard 510, provides that any student at the Law School may bring a formal complaint to the Law School administration regarding "a significant problem that directly implicates the school's compliance with the [ABA] Standards" (see ABA Standard Interpretation 510-1).
The following procedures provide a mechanism by which students can seek to express concerns, disagreements, or complaints regarding an academic or ABA Standard issue. Students wishing to submit a written complaint regarding an ABA Standard should proceed directly to Step 3 and specify the Standard(s) at issue.
Step 1: The student should discuss the concern with the Assistant Dean of Career Services and Student Affairs or the Associate Dean of Academics. This will provide an opportunity to review the appropriate School of Law policies and practices related to the student's concern.
Step 2: If a student has an academic concern over a faculty member or faculty member's exercise of professional responsibilities, the student should address the concern face-to-face with the faculty member in an attempt to resolve the issue. If the student feels that there is unacceptable risk of negative recourse, the student can invite the Assistant Dean of Career Services and Student Affairs or the Associate Dean of Academics. If the student's fear of retribution is too great, the student should move to Step 3.
Step 3: If the explanation and/or face-to-face meeting fails to address, satisfactorily, the student's concern, or if the complaint relates to an ABA Standard, the student may officially submit the concern(s) through the online Internal Grievance Form. The submission must include any pertinent information or materials and a description of the process used to attempt to resolve the grievance to that point. The Associate Dean of Academics will endeavor to address the student's concern(s) and render a written decision/resolution within ten (10) school days.
Step 4: If the student feels that the process with the Associate Dean of Academics did not provide an adequate opportunity to address the concern(s), the student can appeal the decision/resolution to the Dean. The Dean will review the appeal on the following criteria:
(1) Error in application of appropriate policies and practices, and/or
(2) Infringement of the student's right to a fundamentally fair process.
The student must submit the appeal in writing to the Dean within five (5) school days of the Associate Dean of Academics' decision/resolution. The appeal must include a Notice of Appeal form (available on the law school website), all documentation provided to the Associate Dean of Academics in Step 3, a copy of the Associate Dean of Academics' written decision/resolution, and an explanation related to the appeal criteria. The Dean will endeavor to render a decision within ten (10) school days of having received the student's appeal.
Step 5: The student may appeal the Dean's decision to the Provost/Chief Academic Officer of the University. The Provost/Chief Academic Officer will review the appeal on the following criteria:
The student should submit the appeal in writing to the Provost/Chief Academic Officer within five (5) school days of having received the Dean's decision. The appeal must include a new Notice of Appeal form, all documentation (including the prior Notice of Appeal form) provided to the Dean in Step 4, a copy of the Dean's written decision/resolution, and an explanation related to the appeal criteria. The Provost/Chief Academic Officer's will endeavor to render a decision within ten (10) school days of having received the student's appeal.
Step 6: As a final appeal, the student may appeal the Provost/Chief Academic Officer's decision to the President of the University. The President will review the appeal on the following criteria:
The student should submit the appeal in writing to the Office of the President within five (5) school days of having received the Provost/Chief Academic Officer's decision. The appeal must include a new Notice of Appeal form, all documentation (including the prior Notice of Appeal forms) provided to the Provost/Chief Academic Officer in Step 5, a copy of the Provost/Chief Academic Officer's written decision/resolution, and an explanation related to the appeal criteria. The President will endeavor to render a decision within ten (10) school days of having received the student's appeal and is final.
Assumptions of the Grievance Process:
Resolution of concerns and complaints will best occur as close to the source as possible.
The philosophy and tenor of the process should be one of mutual respect and an attempt to reach a mutually agreeable resolution.
The process should be consistent with existing institutional policies and practices, and with the by-laws of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
The process must recognize the difference in the power and authority of students and faculty members, and guarantee that students will be free from any negative consequences of having pursued the grievance process.
Both the student and the faculty member should have the opportunity to have an advocate in the process (e.g., friend, fellow student, faculty member, clergy member, etc.), but legal counsel is not appropriate or permitted during this process.
If any of the specific individuals in the grievance process are judged to have a conflict of interest, the Dean shall appoint a replacement.
All procedures will be dealt with on-campus.
A decision is effective upon its written communication to the student. If appealed, the decision remains in effect until it is formally modified, through a written communication, by the appeal officer.
External Grievance Process - School of Law
Where a student has a grievance regarding the School of Law's quality of education, accreditation, or other operations and practices and has either (1) not been able to resolve the issue to the student's satisfaction through the internal School of Law grievance process, or (2) feels that there is an unacceptable risk of negative recourse by doing so, the student may seek external resolution through the Idaho State Board of Education. Students seeking more information should refer to the Idaho State Board of Education's website or contact the Executive Director.