13. Committees; Grievance and Appeals

Student-Faculty Handbook

University of Detroit Mercy Graduate Program of Nurse Anesthesiology

Reviewed Aug 2001, Feb 2002, Mar 2003, Aug 2003, Jan 2004, Mar 2005, Sep 2005, Apr 2006, Sep 2006, Aug 2007

Committee Structure

Education Committee

Charge

• Collects data from evaluations of all program functions.
• Makes changes in classroom or clinical curriculum, clinical affiliation sites, policies and procedures, admissions, mission and purpose, or any other aspect of program operations.
• Makes strategic plans as well as day to day decisions.

Membership, meetings

• Chair: Nurse Anesthesia faculty member
• Members: Senior students (1-2), junior students (1-2), all program administrative faculty
• Meet monthly, 3rd Wednesday after CAC.

Academic Progression Committee

Charge

• Monitor student performance in clinical and classroom, and make recommendations for progression, probation, dismissal.

Membership, meetings

• Chair: Nurse Anesthesia faculty member
• Members: All program administrative faculty, 2-3 CRNA clinical coordinators
• Meet as needed; the end of every term, or more (or less) frequently.

Admissions Committee

Charge

• The interview and review of applications.
• Student members to inform and guide applicants (but no confidential information shared)

Membership, meetings

• Chair: Nurse Anesthesia faculty member
• Members: Program administrative faculty, junior or senior RNAS, CRNA clinical or classroom faculty , CRNA clinical coordinators
• Meet annually.

Advisory Committee

Charge

• Share what is happening in the program, areas for improvement, and efforts to address these
• Allow the Program to obtain feedback from the community of interest

Membership, meetings

• Chair: Nurse Anesthesia faculty member
• Clinical coordinators at all sites, program administrative faculty, public member, senior and junior students, Dean of the College of Health Professions
• Meet at least every other year or more frequently if needed.

Appeals Committee

Charge

• Hear course grade appeals, decisions to dismiss, and complaints against the program

Membership, meetings

• Chair: Appointed as needed by Program Director (Chair).
• Members: The Appeals Committee Chair may select members as follows: Nurse Anesthesia faculty members (1-2), one CRNA who is not a University employee, one CHP faculty member who is not a CRNA, and one CHP student member. A quorum of the committee will be a simple majority of those invited to attend. In cases where the Appeals Committee cannot reach consensus, the committee Chair will decide the issue and write the recommendation on the committee's behalf.
• Meet only as needed

Grievance and Appeals

If disagreements occur, the program supports the following problem-solving and dispute resolution mechanisms to ensure the rights of all program participants to a fair hearing. Students shall utilize these mechanisms of problem resolution before seeking access to external mechanisms of problem resolution (such as contacting the Council on Accreditation). Because these are conflict resolution mechanisms and not judicial proceedings, students may not be represented by legal counsel in any hearing, or record the proceedings of any meeting by any means.

Academic appeals

Student Course Grade Appeal Procedure

In some instances a student may believe that the final grade received in a particular course is unjustified. In such cases the student may choose to appeal the grade received.

1. Informal Adjustment: Every effort should be made to resolve a difference over a grade on an informal basis through a discussion of the problem between the student and the instructor in charge of the course. If the situation cannot be resolved with the instructor, the student should consult the program director (chair). If the instructor is the program director, the student should consult the Assistant Director. The student should announce clearly that the purpose of this meeting is an attempt at "informal adjustment". Faculty will document this meeting.
2. Formal Adjustment: If the matter remains unresolved after such efforts have been made, the student may request that it be reviewed by the Appeals Committee. This request must be made in writing to the program director and must state the reason for the appeal. The appeal request must be filed within thirty (30) calendar days after the grade report is received.
3. Within five academic days following the receipt of the grade appeal request, the program director shall notify the instructor of the grade appeal request and shall appoint an Appeals Committee and designate the chairperson. The committee which hears course grade appeals shall consist of at least two CHP faculty members from courses other than that involved in the grade appeal (these may be Nurse Anesthesia faculty) and one student member.
4. The chairperson of the Appeals Committee shall convene a meeting no sooner than 48 hours and no later than 15 academic days following the appointment of the committee. Notice of the meeting will be transmitted in writing to the student and the committee at the same time.
5. The student may invite his/her academic advisor, another faculty member, or a fellow student to attend the meeting, but must notify the committee chair of who will be attending at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
6. At the meeting the student will present information to show cause why the grade should be changed. The committee members may ask questions of the student and the student and his/her representative may ask questions of the committee. At the end of the presentation and questions, the student and his/her representative will leave the meeting. The committee may reconvene after gathering further information from the course instructor or substantiating previously given information.
7. The Appeals Committee will then decide: to uphold the grade with stated reasons; or, to recommend a change in grade with stated reasons. After the Appeals Committee has reached a decision, the chairperson of the committee shall so inform the Program Director, who will inform the student and the instructor.
8. If any party to the complaint is not satisfied with the decision of the Appeals Committee, he/she may request, in writing, within five days that the Dean review the matter. No change in the basic issues and facts, which led to the original written complaint may be introduced at this level unless all parties concerned mutually agree that such changes are pertinent to a just resolution of the original complaint. The Dean will provide a written statement to all the involved parties.
9. The Dean's review of the matter shall be final; however, the student or the instructor has the right to bring the matter to the attention of the Vice President of Academic Affairs per the guidelines set in the UDM graduate catalog.
10. In case of the Dean's absence his/her designee will act in his/her behalf.

Student Appeal of Dismissal- Procedure

1. A student who wishes to appeal a recommendation of dismissal by the Academic Progression Committee must do so in writing to the Program Director within 5 academic days of receipt of notice of dismissal. This letter must contain the reasons for the appeal and supportive documentation, or a request to personally meet with the Appeals Committee.
2. The Committee will review the information or meet with the student (as a complete committee; or the committee chair may at his/her option appoint a subset of the committee to hear the student) and reconsider its action in light of the student's appeal. Within three academic days following this meeting of the Committee, the Program Director will notify the student in writing of the recommendation of the Appeals Committee.
3. If the student wishes a further hearing of their appeal, he or she must then submit a letter to the Dean of the College of Health Professions. This letter must be received within five academic days of receipt of the Program Director's second notice of the Committee's recommendations. The request should be accompanied by a narrative explaining the basis for the appeal. An appeal must be based upon one of the following premises:
   • bias of one or more Committee members
   • material, documents or other information not available to the Committee at the time of the decision
   • procedural error
4. The Dean will convene a meeting with the student following this written notice of appeal. Notice of the meeting will be transmitted by phone and in writing to the student. During an appeal the student will present information to show cause why the decision of the Committee should be set aside. Additionally, the Dean will review the information that provided the basis for the decision of the Committee.
5. The Dean will make a decision on validity of the appeal and may affirm, set aside or modify the Committee decision with stated reasons. Once this decision has been reached, the Dean will convey his/her decision to the student and the chair of the Committee within three academic days.
6. The Dean’s decision on the matter is final; however the student has the right to bring the matter to the attention of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
7. In the case of the Dean’s absence his/ her designee will act on his/her behalf.
8. Class attendance during appeal: Students who decide to appeal decisions of the Committee on academic matters may continue attending classes during the appeal process. Students may be suspended from clinical internship and patient care while the appeal is being considered. Students appealing decisions stemming from professional decorum or ethical issues may be suspended from patient care or classes while the appeal is being considered.

Non-academic appeals

For grievances involving all other (non-academic) matters, students are expected to utilize the "Non-Disciplinary Grievance Procedures" in the Student Handbook. The Student Handbook is available in print or online at Student Handbook.

Complaints against the program

Persons with complaints against the program may contact the program director, or other program or University official, in an attempt to resolve the issue. They may contact the Council on Accreditation only after exhausting all means of dispute resolution at the program and University level. The program publishes contact information for the Council on its web site.

The program director will immediately investigate complaints that relate to the safety of patients or other individuals. The program director will investigate complaints related to program compliance with accreditation standards, policies or procedures in a timely fashion, and respond to the complainant within 30 days. The program director may

1. resolve the complaint
2. direct the complainant to other resources or groups which may help resolve the issue
3. convene a program Appeals Committee meeting to hear and resolve the complaint.

The program director will keep a file of all complaints and their resolution, and will report all complaints (and their disposition) relative to program compliance with accreditation policies, procedures, or standards to the Director of Accreditation or designee.

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