Student Complaint & Grievance Process
WSU wants students to be aware of their rights and the process to file a complaint or grievance.
This procedure shall not substitute for other grievance procedures specified in Minnesota State Board policies, Winona State University policies and regulations, or negotiated agreements.
A student has the right to seek a remedy for a dispute or disagreement. No retaliation of any kind shall be taken against a student for participation in a complaint or grievance.
Definitions
- Grievance: A written claim raised by a student, alleging improper, unfair, arbitrary, or discriminatory action by an employee involving the application of a specific provision of a university rule/regulation or a Minnesota State board policy or procedure
- Complaint: An oral claim by a student alleging improper, unfair, or arbitrary treatment
- Appeal: A request for reconsideration of a grievance application of a policy or procedure
- Retaliation: Retribution of any kind taken against a student for participating in a complaint or grievance
- Student: An individual student, a group of students, or the student government
How to File a Grievance
This procedure is aligned with Minnesota State Grievance Procedure, Part 4, Grievance, Subpart C, Appeal, Section 3.
When a student has a complaint or grievance, they shall first meet on an informal basis with the faculty, staff member, or university administrator directly involved in the dispute in an attempt to resolve the complaint/grievance.
When a student has a complaint or grievance which remains unresolved after consultation with the faculty member, staff member, or university administrator directly involved in the dispute, the student shall file a written account of their grievance with:
- the appropriate academic dean in cases where the dispute involves teaching faculty
- the appropriate supervisor in cases where the dispute involves other university employees
This notification shall contain a statement indicating the intention of the party to proceed with the grievance, and the relief requested.
The academic dean, appropriate supervisor, or designee, shall respond in writing to the student(s) within 14 days of receipt of the written, signed notice of grievance.
If the grievance is not resolved at the second meeting, the student(s) may appeal to the vice president for that area.
The vice president shall consider the appeal and make a decision.
The VP shall respond in writing to the student within 14 days of receipt of the written, signed notice of appeal.
The decision of the vice president is final and binding.
Distance Education & SARA Complaints
Students participating in distance education under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) should first follow Winona State University’s complaint and grievance process.
If a complaint covered by SARA is not resolved through the University’s institutional process, the student may appeal the complaint through the applicable SARA State Portal Entity. Minnesota’s State Portal Entity is the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE).
For information about SARA consumer protections, eligible complaints, and the SARA complaint appeal process, visit WSU’s State Authorization information or NC-SARA Student Complaints.
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