Rights and responsibilities of student employees are outlined in the Student Employee Guide.
Students of Goshen College who believe that policy has not been followed with respect to employment or customer service matters may initiate the student complaint process.
This policy does not address issues regarding racial misconduct or sexual harassment. For academic matters concerned with instructional activities, grading procedures or other incidents related to academic affairs, refer to the Academic Grievance Policy.
A student must have evidence that specific policy was violated or that the student was treated in a prejudicial or capricious manner. This policy does not limit Goshen College’s right to change rules, policies, or practices.
Informal Resolution
A Goshen College student must first contact the GC employee who allegedly violated the student’s rights to determine if there can be an informal resolution. The contact should be made by the student within ten (10) business days (Monday – Friday excluding observed holidays) of when the alleged violation occurred. The student must provide a written document to the employee which includes:
- A statement concerning the nature of the complaint
- Any evidence on which the complaint is based; and
- The outcome that the student seeks
The employee will respond in writing within ten (10) business days to the student’s written document. The student and employee will then meet to determine if an informal resolution can be reached.
Formal Resolution
If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of this meeting, the student may contact, within five (5) business days, the employee’s supervisor in which the alleged violation of the student’s right has occurred to pursue formal resolution. If the student is not sure who supervises the employee, the student may contact the Dean of Students OR the Director of Human Resources (see Step 5)
The student must present a written appeal to the supervisor. The supervisor and student will meet within five (5) business days after the student’s written appeal has been received by the supervisor. The supervisor will respond in writing to the student’s written appeal within five (5) business days after the meeting. This response will go to both the student and the employee.
If the outcome of this meeting is not satisfactory, the student may appeal to the Dean of Students OR the Director of Human Resources within five (5) business days after receiving the supervisor’s response in writing. All written previous documentation up to this point will be sent to the Dean of Students OR Director of Human Resources.
Within five (5) business days of receiving the documentation, the Dean of Students OR Director of Human Resources will meet with the student and the employee to attempt to arrive at a mutually satisfactory settlement of the disagreement. All decisions from this meeting are final.
This policy seeks to provide a fair and expeditious process that allows for both informal and formal resolution of conflicts. Students must initiate the student complaint process by the 10th business day after the conclusion of fall and spring semesters or May terms.
If a student is unable to resolve their complaint through the informal or formal processes outlined above, a student may also file a complaint with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (the “ICHE”) or with the Higher Learning Commission (the “HLC”). The ICHE is the state agency responsible for responding to formal complaints against public, independent non-profit and proprietary institutions of higher education in Indiana. Students can find more information on the ICHE complaint policy and process on their website here. The HLC is the accrediting agency for Goshen College and is responsible for reviewing formal complaints against institutions of higher education that are HLC-accredited. Students can find more information on the HLC complaint policy and process on their website here.
For further information
Please contact Student Life Offices
studentservices@goshen.edu | 574-535-7543