Guarini School Graduate Student Grievance Procedures

Section I: Dartmouth and Guarini School policies that may apply to student complaints/grievances include:

• Disability-Based Grievance Procedures for Students: https://www.dartmouth.edu/ide/policies/grievance/student_ada_grievance.html
   
• Research Misconduct Policy and Procedures: https://policies.dartmouth.edu/policy/research-misconduct-policy-and-procedures
   
• Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct Policy and Procedures:  https://sexual-respect.dartmouth.edu/compliance/dartmouth-sexual-and-gender-based-misconduct-policy-and-procedures
   
• Provisional Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and Resolution Procedures: https://policies.dartmouth.edu/policy/provisional-nondiscrimination-and-anti-harassment-policy-and-resolution-procedures
   
• Equal Opportunity Grievance Procedures: https://www.dartmouth.edu/ide/policies/grievance/index.html
   

Faculty Conduct Policies:

• Arts & Sciences and Thayer Faculty: see Handbook of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences section on "Arts and Sciences Professional Conduct and Responsibility: Process for Resolving Grievances Against Members of the Faculty" https://faculty.dartmouth.edu/dean/governance-service/faculty-handbook
   
• Geisel Faculty: see Policy on Expectations for Professionalism for Faculty, Non-Faculty Academics, and Staff of the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth: https://geiselmed.dartmouth.edu/oaa/policy-on-expectations-for-professionalism-for-faculty-non-faculty-academics-and-staff-of-the-geisel-school-of-medicine-at-dartmouth/
   
• Guarini Academic Policies (e.g., Procedures for Grade Changes): https://graduate.dartmouth.edu/policies

Section II: Procedures for resolving graduate student grievances not falling under specific Dartmouth or Guarini School policies

1. Resolution by Informal Discussion

Any graduate student who finds themselves involved in a disagreement or conflict should first seek a resolution of the problem through discussion with the faculty member(s), staff person(s), or student(s) directly involved. If an informal resolution is not reached, the student should contact their advisory committee, graduate program director, or departmental chair. These faculty may: with the student's permission, seek to resolve the problem through discussion with the involved parties; refer the matter to be considered under other institutional polices referenced above; or refer the matter to be considered by the Dean of the Guarini School or the Dean of the Thayer School (for ENGS students).

In all cases, and especially in cases where a student is uncomfortable discussing the problem with the party directly concerned or the other faculty members mentioned above, or is uncertain whether to initiate a grievance, students may seek the advice of the Assistant Deans of the Guarini or Thayer School who may: with the student's permission, seek to resolve the problem through discussion with the involved parties; refer the matter to be considered under other institutional polices referenced above; or refer the matter to be considered by the Dean of the Guarini School or the Dean of the Thayer School (for ENGS students).

2. Written Complaint to the Dean

If a resolution cannot be achieved through informal discussion as described above, the student may prepare a written statement of the complaint/grievance and submit it to the Dean of the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies or the Dean of the Thayer School (for ENGS students).

 In a timely manner, the Dean or designee will:

• Determine whether the complaint/grievance is more appropriately addressed under other institutional policies/procedures referenced in Section I above;
• If no other policies/procedures are applicable, meet with the concerned parties and attempt to negotiate a resolution; and
• If the Dean or designee is unable to negotiate a resolution satisfactory to all parties, the Dean may, in consultation with other administrators as appropriate, issue a resolution plan consistent with existing Dartmouth policy.