Student Grievance Procedures

General

The UNM Student Grievance Procedure is intended to provide procedures for the resolution of disputes between students and faculty or staff of the University, as well as procedures for handling student disciplinary matters. The following categories of disputes or disciplinary matters are provided for in the sections indicated. Any question about these procedures should be directed to the Office of the Dean of Students.

Grievance Categories

1. Academic Disputes
Disputes arising within the academic process shall follow the procedures set forth in Article 2, unless they involve allegations of academic dishonesty (handled under Article 3).

2. Disciplinary Matters
Disciplinary proceedings brought against students, other than allegations of academic dishonesty, shall be handled under the procedures set forth in Articles 4 and 5.

3. Academic Record Disputes
Students seeking retroactive withdrawal, enrollment, or disenrollment or for other academic record changes, shall follow the procedures set forth in Article 8.

4. Law School and Health Science Center.
Disputes involving students of the Schools of Law or Medicine shall be handled under these procedures as modified in Article 9.

5. Branch Colleges
Student grievances or disciplinary matters arising on the branch colleges shall be handled under the Student Grievance Procedures and Student Disciplinary Procedures in effect on those campuses.

6. Discrimination Disputes
Grievances alleging discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual preference, ancestry or medical condition should be directed to the UNM Office of Equal Opportunity.

7. Other Matters Not Included Under These Procedures

Disputes involving access to or information in a student's educational records shall follow procedures set forth in the UNM Student Records Policy, published in the Pathfinder.
Grievances arising out of a student’s status as a University employee hired through the Student Employment Office shall follow procedures set forth in the UNM Student Employee Grievance Procedure, published in the Pathfinder.
Disputes involving matters occurring in the Residence Halls shall follow the procedures set forth in the Residence Hall Handbook in addition to this procedure.
Any student grievances concerning decisions made by University personnel, outside the academic process, for which specific procedures are not established, shall be resolved between the student and the office or department involved. If no resolution is reached the parties may appeal to the appropriate dean or director and then to the appropriate Vice President. Appeals should be filed in writing within one week of the decision.
Resolution of disputes of an academic nature initiated by graduate students shall follow the Graduate Student Grievance Procedures. Disputes arising from a graduate student’s status as a graduate assistant shall follow procedures in the Faculty Handbook.
Disputes transferred, referred, or appealed to the Student Conduct Committee pursuant to other official UNM procedures shall be heard by the Committee under the applicable articles of this procedure.

Reasonable deviations from these procedures by UNM will not invalidate a decision or proceeding unless significant prejudice results.

This Procedure may also be used to handle violations of the Visitor Code of Conduct by visitors to the campus who are not students, faculty, staff or Regents. For such cases, references to "students" in this Procedure shall be taken to refer to "visitor" and references to "Code of Conduct" or "Student Code of Conduct" shall be taken to refer to the "Visitor Code of Conduct."