Effective Date
Spring 2008
Last Revision Date
August 22, 2025
Responsible Party
Students, staff, and faculty in the School of Nursing.
Scope and Audience
Students enrolled in the School of Nursing.
Additional Authority
BSU: Non-discrimination and Anti-harassment (Policy 1060), Academic Probation and Dismissal (Policy 3000), Academic Grievance (Policy 3140)CHS: Dismissal (Policy 315)
1. Policy Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to outline clear, fair, and accessible procedures for resolving conflicts and problems within the School of Nursing
For academic grievances related to final grade appeals, the Boise State University policy titled “Grade Appeal” (#3130) applies.
For non-grade-related grievances, “Academic Grievance” (#3140) applies except in cases of sexual harassment or discrimination, which are covered in the “Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment” (#1060) policy.
2. Policy Statement
Students in the School of Nursing are provided with the following methods to address group and personal concerns.
3. Definitions
Academic Grievance
An academic grievance is a concern or dispute raised by a student regarding academic matters such as grading, course expectations, or unclear course requirements. These concerns are typically addressed at the course or program level, often beginning with a conversation between the student and the faculty member involved. If needed, the issue may be escalated to the program director for further discussion and resolution.
Formal Complaint
A formal complaint is a written statement submitted to the School of Nursing Leadership when a student, faculty, or staff member believes they have received unfair treatment. The purpose of a formal complaint is to provide a clear and structured way to notify the School of an issue or concern.
A complaint may be:
- an escalation of an unresolved grievance, or
- a report of broader concerns or issues.
Once submitted, the School will review the situation, determine the nature of the concern, and connect the individual with the appropriate resource, whether leadership within the School, the College of Health Sciences, or other departments on campus. This ensures that the person receives the support needed for a fair and timely resolution.
Resolution
The process through which a grievance or formal complaint is reviewed and addressed. This may involve steps such as investigation, facilitated dialogue or mediation, implementation of corrective actions, or other appropriate outcomes aimed at resolving the issue and promoting a fair and respectful environment.
Formal Complaint Process
- Students should first discuss their academic grievances with the appropriate faculty or program leadership to reach a resolution. Open communication and early problem-solving are often the most effective ways to address concerns. However, students may choose to file a formal complaint at any point, regardless of whether they have completed informal resolution steps.
- Students, faculty, or staff may submit a Formal Complaint Submission Form available on this link or in the Canvas program portals.
- Once submitted, the complaint will be directed to the appropriate person for review and response, and follow up with the student to confirm that the concern has been acknowledged and addressed. This process ensures that concerns are properly documented, routed to the right decision-makers, and resolved in a timely and equitable manner.
Lines of Communication
The chain of communication for individual concerns is:
- Course Faculty or Course Coordinator
- Program Director
- Divisional Dean and/or Associate Divisional Dean, School of Nursing
- Associate Dean of the College of Health Sciences
- Dean of the College of Health Sciences
- Dean of the Graduate College (if applicable)
- Boise State Provost
- Boise State President
- State Board of Education
Mediation
Mediation may be used to help facilitate resolution. The goal of the mediation is to allow all parties to see both sides of the issue, both the substantive issues as well as the feelings involved. Confidentiality must be maintained by all parties during all phases of the problem-solving process.
After meeting at least once with each other to discuss the disagreement, either party (faculty, staff, or student) may request mediation from the Boise State University Conflict Management Program through the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. The mediator is a neutral participant, unaffiliated with the Nursing School, trained in conflict negotiation, and whose services are free of charge. The mediation process does not disempower either person in the dispute and does not override School of Nursing policies and procedures.
3. Forms
N/A
4. Related Information
BSU: Non-discrimination and Anti-harrassment (Policy 1060), Academic Probation and Dismissal (Policy 3000), Academic Grievance (Policy 3140)
SON: Dismissal (Policy SON-16)
| Concern | Associated Policy | Policy |
|---|---|---|
| General student concern or conflict | Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution (SON) | SON-08 |
| Dismissal or progression appeal (SON-specific) | Dismissal Policy (SON) | SON-16 |
| Appeal Process | Dismissal Policy – College of Health Sciences | CHS -315 |
| Final grade dispute | Grade Appeal | University Policy 3130 |
| Non-grade academic concern | Academic Grievance | University Policy 3140 |
| Discrimination or sexual harassment | Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment | University Policy 1060 |
Last Review Date
June 2025
Revision History
Spring 2008, Spring 2015, October 2021, 4/1/2022, 8/22/2025