Non-Academic Appeal - Wesley Seminary

A non-academic appeal involves only those situations in which a student is seeking recourse from (a) a university non-academic program, policy, or decision; or (b) alleged discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, color, sex, disability, or age, including alleged violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments Acts of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, or other state or federal legislation.

Informal Procedure

The student should seek informal resolution with the specific party or parties involved before initiating a written complaint.

If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved, the student may request a hearing with the Dean of the Seminary.

• If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved at this level, the student may submit a written grievance form to the Dean's office within 15 days of knowing the perceived grievance.

Formal Procedure

• The informal resolution may be ended at any time and the complainant may begin the formal procedure by submitting a written grievance within 30 days of the event or action. Grievances must include the demographic information regarding the complainant, the clear facts of the case, the disposition or resolution achieved thus far and the requested resolution by the complainant. Additional information or clarification may be requested before a hearing is scheduled. NOTE: Appeals that are based solely on the severity of a sanction that upon investigation are within the parameters of the available sanctions for an event or action are not considered grounds for appeal. 

A hearing will be held with the Dean of the Seminary or, in the event he or she is not available, the Vice President for Wesley Seminary, ordinarily within 15 working days from the filing of the written grievance.

If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved with the Dean, the student may then request, within 15 working days, a hearing with the seminary's Student Development Council, which will make recommendations back to the Vice President for Wesley Seminary within 15 working days, who will take their recommendation under advisement.

If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved with the Student Development Council and the Vice President for Wesley Seminary, the student may then request, within 15 working days, a hearing with the Vice President for Student Development, who will make a recommendation to the Provost. This hearing will ordinarily be held within 15 working days following the request.

• If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved with the Vice President for Student Development and Provost, the student may then request, within 15 working days, a hearing with the president of the university. This final hearing with the president will ordinarily take place within 15 working days. This is the final appeal.

Each stated time frame will be the ordinary process. More time may be necessary in the event of a lengthy investigation, hearing, illness, or other unforeseen circumstances.

The complainant will be notified of results at each step of the grievance process. All grievances, with all papers, recommendations, and decisions related to federal or state regulations, will be reported to the Vice President for Academic Affairs in whose office all files will be kept.

Because grievance and appeal processes are private university administrative hearings, legal counsel or representation is inappropriate.