VI.A.1. Academic Appeals
Students who have a grievance pertaining to an academic penalty (i.e., grade penalty, expulsion from class, academic probation, academic suspension, and academic dismissal) should consult the WVU Graduate/Professional Catalog for information on appeal procedures. The Graduate/Professional Catalog provides general information on how students should be notified of an academic penalty and procedures students can take to appeal an academic penalty. Specific step-by-step guidelines for appealing academic dismissals and academic sanctions are stated. Students who wish to appeal a decision should act quickly, as appeals must occur within a specified amount of time and can be time-consuming.
The appeal procedures are different for cases of academic dishonesty and failure to meet academic and professional standards.
VI.A.2. Nonacademic Professional Appeals
The University has no formal policy regarding professional conflicts unrelated to academic performance, such as authorship and order of authors on professional presentations and publications. To make a grievance pertaining to authorship and/or similar professional nonacademic conflicts, the student should first discuss the issue with the person (faculty or student) with whom they have a grievance. If the grievance remains unresolved following this discussion, the student should ask their academic adviser to accompany the student to discuss the matter with the person with whom the student has a grievance (or go to the next step if the grievance is with the adviser). If the issue is still not resolved, the student should ask their Program Area Coordinator to meet with the student and the person with whom the student has a grievance (or go to the next step if the grievance is with the coordinator). The next step, if the conflict still stands, is for the student to ask the Department Chair to attend a meeting with the student and the person with whom the student has a grievance. Finally, if the conflict is still unresolved, the student may ask the WVU Director of Graduate Student Success to meet with the student and the person with whom the student has a grievance.
If the grievance is with a departmental staff member, the student should first go to the staff member to resolve the conflict. If the conflict cannot be resolved in this way, the student should then go to the staff member’s immediate supervisor, then to the Chair, and then to the Director of Graduate Student Success.
VI.B.1. Discrimination
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion handles grievance complaints due to discrimination and also provides educational materials regarding discrimination (i.e., definition and prevention) and affirmative action.
Students may contact the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for specific information regarding the university’s nondiscrimination policy, complaint procedure, or affirmative action policy. Students are strongly advised to examine the University’s Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy before filing a discrimination complaint. Graduate students who supervise other graduate students or undergraduate students in research, teaching, service, or clinical teams are subject to the same nondiscrimination policies as other employees.
If a student has a grievance regarding discrimination due to race, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, religion and/or other personal variables or beliefs, the student can make a grievance complaint. The same grievance procedure is followed for complaints of discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnic origin, marital status, race, religious beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
VI.E.4. Sexual Harassment & Sexual Assault
Sexual harassment is prohibited by Federal law. The definition of sexual harassment and WVU policies regarding harassment are available through WVU’s Title IX and Office of Equity Assurance which also handles grievances related to sexual harassment:. The WVU policy and grievance procedure on sexual harassment is available on the Title IX and Office of Equity Assurance website. The grievance procedure can be initiated by filling out this form. The same form is completed for sexual harassment involving discrimination (see section on Discrimination).
Faculty and students receive Title IX training as a condition of employment. Graduate students who supervise other graduate students or undergraduate students in research, teaching, service, or clinical teams are subject to the same Title IX policies as other employees. Training materials are available from the Title IX and Office of Equity Assurance for students and faculty who are interested in further information on handling sexual harassment issues in the classroom and other professional situations.
If a student is unsure as to whether or not sexual harassment occurred or has questions about the process of filing a complaint, the student may call or text WVU’s anonymous Equity Assurance Hotline 304-906-9930 which is monitored 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Hotline staff are available to consult with students regarding filing a complaint, what to expect if a complaint is filed, and available resources; students remain anonymous.
To report sexual harassment or discrimination, the student should contact WVU’s Title IX Office of Equity Assurance at 304-293-5600; https://titleix.wvu.edu/home. The Title IX Office will provide information and assistance to the student filing a complaint. The Title IX Office of Equity Assurance will consult with the student regarding the university’s grievance process and provide information about legal action. Students are advised that when discussing or reporting a sexual harassment incident(s) to a faculty supervisor, the faculty supervisor is obligated to contact WVU’s Title IX Office of Equity Assurance.
There are options available outside of the university for sexual harassment grievances. Students can report a sexual harassment and/or sexual assault incident to the Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC, phone: (304) 292-5100) and/or to the police. These outside sources, especially the RDVIC, will in all likelihood advocate for the victim. The role of the Title IX Office of Equity Assurance is to pursue an investigation in an attempt to determine the truth.
At its extreme, sexual harassment involves sexual assault. A list of resources and information is available through The Title IX Office of Equity Assurance.
Students who experience any form of sexual assault are encouraged to seek immediate medical attention, whether or not they choose to file a complaint report and involve law enforcement. WellWVU lists information about receiving medical attention following a sexual assault. Students may prefer to contact the community centers for rape crisis and domestic violence (listed below) to get assistance in obtaining medical attention.
The Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC), 24-Hour Hotline: 304-292-5100
West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information & Services, Inc. 304-366-9500