13.1. Overview

The Graduate College at North Dakota State University encourages resolution of problems at the level most closely related to the origin of the specific disputes. Students may seek advice regarding their situation from a neutral party, such as the University Ombudsperson. Though this may be done at any point, it might be most helpful early in the process.

In order to resolve an issue, the following steps should be taken:

1. the student is to first discuss the problem(s) with the person(s) directly involved;
2. if the student is not satisfied after discussing the problem with the person(s) directly involved or if discussion of the problem(s) seems inappropriate because of the nature of the student's complaint, the student should seek advice from the administrator of the program; and
3. depending on the nature of the problem(s), the program administrator or student's supervisory committee chair may deal with the situation directly, advise the student to discuss the problem(s) with the appropriate academic dean and/or the Dean of the Graduate College, or advise the student of the appropriate grievance procedure to pursue as the procedure varies depending on the specific nature of the problem.

Areas of possible graduate student appeal include equal opportunity, dismissal from an academic program or the Graduate College, sanctions for academic dishonesty, and degree-acquisition processes that are unique to graduate education. The appropriate procedures/offices for these types of appeals are outlined below. The burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence is on the graduate student making the appeal.