Dispute Process - Distance Education
Dispute Processes
Grade, Participation, and Performance Dispute Process
Grade Disputes follow the procedure outlined below:
- The student should email to discuss the matter thoroughly with the professor or staff member attempting to reach resolution immediately, but no later than 30 calendar days after the incident(s) has occurred.
- If resolution is not achieved and the student wishes to pursue his/her dispute/grievance, the dispute must be filed in written form using the online dispute form available at the VU Distance Education webpage. The dispute form must be filed within one week after initial contact with the faculty or staff member.
- The Distance Education staff will do the following within three weeks:
- Inform the faculty or staff of the dispute.
- Investigate the situation (which may include but not be limited to requesting a statement from the faculty or staff member of circumstances relevant to the dispute, a meeting with either or both parties, additional documents and other information from both parties which are relevant to the situation.)
- After the matter has been fully investigated, the findings will be supplied to the appropriate College Dean, Department Chair, or VU Administrator for review and judgment. Once the appropriate administrator has rendered their judgment, the Distance Education Dispute Committee will communicate the ruling to the student via email. The ruling will be communicated to the student within one week after the judgment has been rendered.
- If the student wishes to appeal the ruling, a statement of appeal must be emailed to the Distance Education Dispute Committee within one week of the postmark of the email containing the original dispute decision.
Tuition/Drop Dispute Process
Tuition Disputes follow the procedure outlined below:
- The student should email to discuss the matter thoroughly with the professor or staff member attempting to reach resolution immediately, but no later than 30 calendar days after the incident(s) has occurred.
- If resolution is not achieved and the student wishes to pursue his/her dispute/grievance, the dispute must be filed in written form using the online dispute form available at the VU Distance Education webpage. The dispute form must be filed within one week after initial contact with the faculty or staff member.
- The Distance Education staff will do the following within three weeks:
- Inform the faculty or staff of the dispute.
- Investigate the situation (which may include but not be limited to requesting a statement from the faculty or staff member of circumstances relevant to the dispute, a meeting with either or both parties, additional documents and other information from both parties which are relevant to the situation.)
- The Distance Education Dispute Committee makes a ruling regarding the dispute within one week after the requested documents are received or committee meeting concluded. The DE staff will email the dispute resolution to the student.
- If the student wishes to appeal the ruling, a statement of appeal must be emailed to the direct supervisor of the person making the previous ruling within one week of the postmark of the email containing the original dispute decision.
- The dispute process is repeated with the addition of information from the original supervisor.