The Faculty Conciliator, who is selected by SGA from a list of faculty provided by the Faculty Senate, attempts to resolve disagreements between students and faculty at UNCA. Generally these disputes relate to decisions about course work or behaviors in class but may extend to other interactions. Action is initiated by a student. If more than one student in a class has a problem, each student should approach the Conciliator individually. While each Conciliator may have a different style, all Conciliators require specific permission from the student to discuss the problem with a faculty member (see waiver). No anonymous complaints are investigated or acted upon. For more information, choose one of the following options:
| Current Faculty Conciliator: Bill Sabo (sabo@unca.edu) | |
| Alternate Faculty Conciliator: Peter Caulfield (pcaulfield@unca.edu) | Filing a timely complaint: Limited waiver of confidentiality |
More information about the Faculty Conciliator position:
The position of Faculty Conciliator is an important one in fulfilling UNCA's mission of quality undergraduate education. The Faculty Conciliator hears student grievances, tries to resolve grievances at the earliest stage consistent with fairness to all parties, and guides students through the later stages of the grievance procedure if conciliation proves impossible . Consistent with justice, it should be the aim of the Conciliator to resolve as many issues as possible without bringing the problem to the Academic Appeals Board. To accomplish this, the Conciliator may need to investigate the facts of the grievance presented by a student. In the normal course of the grievance procedure, the Conciliator will need to meet with the faculty member against whom the grievance is brought and, in some cases, with that member's departmental chair or program director.
The Conciliator has the right and responsibility to determine the sequence of and extent to which the student, faculty member, and the department chair (or program director) are consulted prior to initiating the formal sequence of events which lead to an Academic Appeal Board hearing. This does not relieve the Conciliator of following the requirements of the formal grievance procedure but does allow the flexibility required to attempt to resolve the conflict prior to that final step.
Since appropriate conciliation will require discussing issues that would normally fall under the protection of student confidentiality, students must be apprized of this fact at the beginning of the process and must sign a waiver stating they understand the responsibilities of the Conciliator regarding their rights to confidentiality. The waiver will also point out that information pertaining to the grievance will be shared only on a need-to-know basis, and the circle of those who "need to know" may broaden. The Conciliator should discuss who will be informed with the student prior to talking with anyone.
The Conciliator is not an advocate for either the student or the faculty member. Rather, the Conciliator is a presenter of the student's case and a seeker of a fair and acceptable outcome for all parties without having to resort to a formal Academic Appeals Board hearing.
Because of the time restrictions of the grievance procedure, the Conciliator is to make notes as soon as the first contact with the student as well as during any follow-up contacts with anyone involved in the problem. The official log of events is to record only the following: date and action taken. This log may become critical in determining whether or not procedural guidelines were followed and will serve as a basis for the required annual report to the VCAA.
The confidential annual report to the VCAA includes the date that contact was initiated by the student, the student's name, the faculty member's name, the issue (for example, final grade, sexual harassment, syllabus policy not followed), and outcome.
An Alternate Faculty Conciliator is appointed by SGA to serve in case of the Conciliator's illness, extended absence, or conflict of interest. Generally, the Conciliator will advise the Alternate when any of these circumstances arise.
The Alternate becomes the Faculty Conciliator the following year. The Conciliator should fully brief the Alternate about any cases that might carry over to the Alternate's term.
LIMITED RELEASE OF INFORMATION
I, ______________________ authorize the UNCA Faculty Conciliator, ____________________ to release information to or consult with the following individuals: ________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
who may have a legitimate educational need to know about my academic grievance. In accordance with the University of North Carolina at Asheville Student Academic Grievance Policy, I understand that the faculty conciliator will share this information only in situations relating to my grievance.
_______________________________________________ ________________________
Signature Date
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Last modified:
November 02, 2006
Send comments or questions to: Dr. Keith Ray