Student Grievance Procedure

Home>Student Life>Support Services>

As a student at AUP, it is your right to be heard on issues that negatively affect your student experience, and, if necessary, to lodge a complaint or grievance without fear of prejudice or retaliation for initiating the process or for participating in its resolution.

The student code of conduct, to which all members of the community are expected to adhere, as well as AUP’s disciplinary and judicial procedures, are outlined in AUP Policy SS008EN - Student Responsibilities. Any student wishing to file a complaint should first read this policy.

Students are expected to make good faith and reasonable efforts at resolving any issues through informal means and should, whenever possible, communicate and seek direct resolution with the University representative involved. When these efforts fail, however, AUP is committed to providing a grievance procedure that supports students in voicing their concerns and that considers complaints in a fair, equitable and timely manner.

Support & Advocacy

AUP Guidance Counselors: meet confidentially with a guidance counselor for advice, support and referrals to outside resources. Learn more

Diversity Council: supports a culture of ever-greater diversity, equity, and inclusion at AUP.  It functions as an advisory council and recommending body to the President and Provost, as a liaison to departments across the University, and as an advocate for all members of the AUP community who feel they have experienced bias or discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Write to diversitycouncilataup.edu.

On-campus counseling for sexual assault: reportsexualassaultataup.edu

AUP for Consent, student advocacy group: consentataup.edu or visit aup.edu/consent

Academic Integrity

Office of Academic Integrity: academicintegrityataup.edu

Formal Complaints

Dean of Student Development (studentdevelopmentataup.edu)

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs (provostataup.edu )

Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct

Specific policies are in place to address student complaints related to discrimination and sexual misconduct.

Discrimination: AUP policy prohibits discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. These values are affirmed by French law and Article 10, which ban expressions that incite discrimination, that propagate the idea of a superior race, and that spread hatred against specific groups. See AUP policy BP023EN - Non-Discrimination for clear standards, definitions, and descriptions of prohibited conduct.

Sexual misconduct: Sexual and moral misconduct are violations of a person’s rights, dignity and integrity, and such acts are contrary to the mission and values of The American University of Paris. AUP prohibits these violations and seeks to foster a climate free from misconduct through coordinated education and prevention programs, clear policies, and a prompt and accessible grievance procedure. See AUP policy HR014EN - Sexual & Moral Misconduct for clear standards, definitions, and descriptions of prohibited conduct.

 

Academic Misconduct

All cases of academic misconduct are reported to the Office of Academic Integrity. The Director of the Office of Academic Integrity will serve as an impartial mediator in the case when disputes cannot be resolved between the faculty member and a student. If the student disputes or appeals the findings of the Office of Academic Integrity, the case will be referred to the Honor Board. For more information about judicial procedures in the case of a violation of academic integrity, please refer to AUP Policy AA014EN - Academic Integrity and AUP Policy AA035EN - Final Grade Change Procedure.

 

AUP STUDENT GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

INFORMAL RESOLUTION

We encourage students seeking support and guidance to use the following resources. We hope these resources will aid students in determining whether to resolve issues informally or to explore pursuit of a formal procedure. Students may use these resources for situations involving other students, staff, or faculty:

  • Dean of Student Development: students may meet with the Dean to share concerns and ask for advice and support.  
  • Department Chair, Program Director of Staff Supervisor: if the potential complaint is against an AUP employee, students may consider speaking to the person’s superior for guidance, advice and support. Contact information is available on the AUP website.
  • AUP Guidance Counselors: students meet confidentially with a guidance counselor for support and referrals to outside resources.
  • Diversity Council: students meet confidentially with advocates for all members of the AUP community who feel they have experienced bias or discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
  • AUP for Consent: students meet with a student advocacy group for sexual assault and harassment. This meeting provides a confidential setting to review AUP policy and resources available on and off campus.
  • Off-Campus Therapists: students meet for mental health support outside of AUP. See the AUP Health & Wellness Office website for more information.

 

FORMAL COMPLAINT PROCEDURE

Students should keep notes and records of any meeting and agreement related to the grievance. Those reviewing the case will request factual evidence and documents proving that there has been a violation of University policy and that there are reasonable grounds for filing a formal complaint.

 

Complaints of Students Against Other Students

Students may choose to file a formal complaint directly with the Dean of Student Development. The Dean convenes the Conduct Board to investigate the case. The Conduct Board is composed of two staff members appointed by the Dean of Student Development, one faculty member appointed by Faculty Senate, and two students appointed by the Student Government Association. After convening to investigate the complaint and hearing all evidence and meeting with all parties concerned, the Conduct Board presents a formal recommendation to the Dean of Student Development no later than three weeks after the complaint is filed. The Dean in turn conveys this decision in writing to the complainant and the responder. Students may appeal this decision within five class days as outlined in Section VI of AUP Policy SS008EN - Student Responsibilities.

 

Complaints of Students Against Employees

Students may choose to file a formal complaint against an employee with the vice president in whose area that employee works. The vice president to whom the complaint was addressed will consult with the Director of AUP Human Resources to investigate the complaint and determine what disciplinary action, if any, is appropriate.

Students may alternatively submit a grievance on this page when no specific policy or procedure is available or when normal channels of communication break down and/or a situation does not permit or lend itself to resolution through the channels described above. Grievances that may be submitted on this page fall into two categories: academic and non-academic grievances.

Follow the appropriate link below to file an online grievance form.

Academic grievance

Examples of academic grievances include allegations of:

  • An arbitrary action on the part of a faculty member.
  • Application of standards different from those that were applied to other students in the same course or program.
  • Other academic issues that do not concern a grade. For grade concerns please refer above to the Final Grade Challenge Procedure.

Non-academic grievance

A non-academic grievance is an allegation by a student concerning a University matter such as:

  • Unjust treatment by an employee of the University in a way that violates the student’s personal rights.
  • Violations of University policies, procedures, regulations or requirements.
  • Actions impeding a campus climate of intellectual diversity.
  • Group complaints will not be accepted. A complaint must be filed individually. After filing a grievance, the student will be contacted by an appropriate University official within ten (10) working days.

SANCTIONS

Formal complaints filed by students against other students may result in sanctions. A non-exhaustive list of sanctions is provided in Section V of AUP Policy SS008EN - Student Responsibilities.

Formal complaints filed by students against employees may results in sanctions determined by the Director of Human Resources and/or the Leadership Team.

 

AUP is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), 3624 Market St., 2nd Floor West; Philadelphia,  PA 19104; +1 267 284 5000. The US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognize MSCHE as an accrediting body for higher education. MSCHE’s website includes a policy and procedure for filing a complaint regarding an institution’s compliance with the Commission’s standards for accreditation, requirements of affiliation, policies or procedures, or the institution’s own policies or procedures. AUP’s current MSCHE Statement of Accreditation Status is posted on the MSCHE website.