SKAP 180: SUNY Korea Grievance Resolution Committee Guidelines
General The Grievance Resolution Committee (GRC) considers students’ complaints of arbitrary, capricious, malicious, or otherwise improper actions related to academic or non-academic matters.
Submission of Grievances
The purpose of the GRC is to assist in the resolution of problems. Thus, the grievance should be filed in good faith.
Grievances should be brought to the GRC only after unsuccessfully pursuing other avenues of redress, such as discussion with the instructor, the department coordinator, and the department chairperson. Grievances should be put in writing, including all pertinent details and evidence, and should be submitted using the reporting form with less than ten (10) pages of attachments, if any, within thirty (30) days of the alleged impropriety. Grievances must be written in English and submitted to the Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs.
Further information about grievance procedures may be obtained from Academic and Faculty Affairs (academicaffairs@sunykorea.ac.kr or +82-32-626-1121).
Composition of the GRC
To foster an impartial committee, a GRC will consist of at least three department chairpersons or designated professors, and one or two professional staff members. At the discretion of the GRC, one or two students may be invited to join the committee for resolution of particular cases. The Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs will serve as the chair of the committee. In a case where the Dean is not able to serve as the chair, the Dean may select an interim chair for the committee, such as the associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs or any department chair. When there are not enough committee members available to form a quorum, the chair or the designated interim chair of the committee may identify other members of the University community to serve in order to form a quorum. Also, the chair may have a secretary for administrative purposes.
Usually, the person filing a grievance (PFG) does not attend the GRC meeting. However, the PFG may attend, if a majority of the committee members so request. In this case, committee members should be notified by the chair in advance.
Process of Fact Finding Once the grievance is submitted, it should be shared among the GRC members. The GRC should define the scope and the person in charge of fact-finding. Normally, the Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs leads fact-finding in the presence of a third person from the GRC members. Finding fact should be done in consultation with both parties (i.e., PFG and Person Being Accused (PBA)) and witnesses. After fact-finding, the result shall be reported to the GRC.
Decisions of the GRC
On receiving a grievance, the chair will inform the GRC members and schedule a GRC meeting within two (2) weeks from the date the grievance is received. The chair might provide a summary of the grievance to the members of GRC in advance.
When the GRC makes decisions, the PFG shall not be in the meeting. The GRC can resolve a reported grievance by making final decisions. Such final decisions can be made by a majority vote of committee members. The record and findings from the GRC may not be introduced as evidence in any other proceeding.
Limitations on GRC's Authority and Remedy The GRC considers only charges of clearly improper practices or improper treatment of the PFG. They will not intervene in disagreements about an instructor's intellectual judgment.
Return to Grievance Procedures The GRC shall notify the resolution (i.e., GRC committee’s final decisions) to both the PFG and the PBA within five (5) working days after the close of the GRC meeting.
*Attachment: Grievance Form
Responsible Department l Email Address l Contact Number
Academic and Faculty Affairs l academicaffairs@sunykorea.ac.kr l 032-626-1115