Grievance Procedures

This policy describes School of Law and Northeastern University processes for addressing various types of student grievances. In addition to reviewing the information provided on this policy page and any relevant university resources at Academic Appeals Policies and Procedures, students who have questions about approaches to addressing grievances may reach out to their program director, the Academic and Student Affairs office (lawstudentaffairs@northeastern.edu), the associate dean for academic and student services, or the appropriate university office. Students also have the option to submit anonymous feedback to ASA or contact the university Ombuds for Graduate Students.

Harassment or Discrimination

Students who feel that they have been the victim of harassment or discrimination should consult with the Northeastern Office for University Equity and Compliance as soon as they become aware of alleged prohibited harassment or discrimination. Students are not required to wait until a term grade or other determination is made before seeking advice on redress. If the OUEC is advised of such alleged prohibited conduct as part of an academic program, any associated academic appeal shall be pursued and investigated through the OUEC first.

Accommodations

Students with disabilities who feel that their requests for accommodations have not been appropriately addressed, whether on a program-wide basis or by individual professors or co-op employers, should direct their complaints to the associate dean for belonging or the associate dean for student and academic services or, if applicable, the Co-op Office, as described in the School of Law Accommodations Policy. Further grievance procedures may include bringing a complaint to the OUEC.

Academic Appeals

The School of Law uses Northeastern’s Academic Appeals Policies and Procedures found in the graduate academic catalog. These policies and procedures describe a four-step process:

• Step 1. Discuss Concerns with Instructor and/or Administrator
• Step 2. Prepare an Appeal Statement 
• Step 3. College/School-Level Appeal
• Step 4. University-Level Appeal 

The School of Law policy page describes how the general principles and procedures articulated in the university academic catalog apply within the law school in the context of grade appeals. NUSL’s policies with respect to grade changes reflect those within the legal academy generally: While grade changes are permitted in response to a clerical or calculation error, professors are not permitted to unilaterally change grades based on their reevaluation of a student’s work nor are administrators permitted to substitute their academic judgment for that of the instructor. Similarly, the appeals process for grade appeals, which is described more fully below, is not intended as a vehicle for reevaluation.

Step 1: Discuss Concerns with Instructor and/or Administrator

• Time frame: The student should have this discussion as soon as possible after the academic determination, given the 28-day time frame in Step 2.
• A student who has concerns about their grade is encouraged to speak with their instructor about their performance in the course. Such conversations can help clarify the reasons for which a student received a particular honorific or narrative evaluation, as well as provide an opportunity to discuss how the student’s performance might be improved in the future.
• If a student believes that a clerical or calculation error has resulted in an incorrect grade, the student should notify the faculty member and/or ASA as soon as possible for investigation. While professors cannot independently change a grade for a student, even in this circumstance, professors will work with ASA to correct the clerical grading error. In such cases, grades may be corrected without the initiation of an appeal.
• Similarly, if a student believes that the professor failed to comply with law school rules for grading, such as any applicable rules related to grade distributions or the allowed content of evaluation highlights, the student should reach out to the faculty member or to ASA. Changes needed to ensure compliance with law school rules may be made without the initiation of an appeal.
• If a student is still considering an appeal, the student should speak to the associate dean for student and academic services, who is the designated representative of the associate dean for academic affairs.

Step 2: Prepare an Appeal Statement                  

• Time frame: The student should submit the appeal statement within 28 calendar days of the academic determination. For JD, FlexJD, and on-ground LLM students, this date is typically the date of issuance of the honorific and page one evaluation on Symplicity. For other School of Law students, this date is typically the date their grade appears in Banner.
• As described in the academic catalog, a student who believes that their grade was affected by discrimination or harassment prohibited by law or university policy should submit their appeal statement for initial review and investigation to the OUEC before initiating the appeal process described below.
• At the written statement stage to the law school, the student must follow the policies and procedures in the academic catalog. The catalog describes the appeals process as a mechanism for “students who believe that they have been erroneously, capriciously, inappropriately, or otherwise unfairly treated in an academic... determination.” It notes that “[s]tudents must understand that the substitution of a different academic judgment for that of the original evaluator is a serious intrusion upon academic prerogatives entrusted to the faculty and others involved in academic evaluations.”
• The appeals statement should explain the basis for the appeal and provide any relevant supporting documentation. The academic catalog instructs that the “Statement must start with a clear description of the basis for the appeal and should include: (1) basic facts about the situation leading to the appeal; (2) when the situation occurred; (3) who was involved; and (4) the resolution sought by the student.” The academic catalog cautions that appeals “should avoid unsubstantiated, defamatory, or ad hominem accusations regarding the motivations of the faculty member or other persons involved in making the academic determination.”
• The grade appeal should be sent by email with one PDF document that includes and combines all attachments to the associate dean for student and academic services and the associate dean for academic affairs with the subject heading “Grade Appeal in X Course from Y Semester Z Year” no later than 28 calendar days from the day when the grade is made available to the student.
• As described in the academic catalog, a student who believes that their grade was affected by discrimination or harassment prohibited by law or university policy should submit their appeal statement for initial review and investigation to the OUEC before initiating the appeal process provided above.

Step 3: College/School-Level Appeal

• Time frame: The law school must issue its determination within 35 calendar days of the student’s submission of the appeal statement.
• At the law school, the associate dean for academic affairs reviews the appeal statement and then determines next steps, which might but do not necessarily include a follow-up conversation with the student, communication with the faculty member, and/or communication with others who could provide relevant information. In conducting this review and making a final determination, the associate dean for academic affairs will not substitute their own evaluation of the student’s work for that of the faculty member.
• A decision must be issued within 35 calendar days of the submission of the student’s appeal statement. If the student adds information or revises the submission, the 35-day period for consideration restarts. The decision provided to the student need not include an explanation of its reasoning.

Step 4: University-Level Appeal

• Time frame: The student should submit their university-level appeal within 10 calendar days of the law school’s decision or lack thereof.
• The academic catalog provides “If the student is not satisfied with the college/school’s disposition of the matter, or if the appeal is not resolved within 35 calendar days after originally submitted to the college/school...the student may further pursue the matter by requesting in writing within 10 calendar days of the notification from the college/school...that the university convene the Academic Appeals Resolution Committee to review the issue." The student should review and follow the procedures described in detail in the academic catalog if they wish to appeal beyond the law school.