The Graduate College and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have established policies and standards for academic, professional, and personal conduct. Students are responsible for being familiar with these policies and standards (see the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the Provost’s Office on Campus Conduct, and the Student Code). Conduct that violates these policies and standards may result in serious consequences including dismissal. In addition to the remainder of this section, also see the section called Problem Solving and Conflict Mediation in the Guide to Graduate Life at Illinois.
The policies and requirements of the Graduate College have been put in place to uphold high academic standards. Exceptions to some policies may be justified under extenuating circumstances. Exceptions that may be petitioned can be found in the petition instructions. Students who wish to request an exception to Graduate College policies may submit a petition providing an explanation or justification for the action requested. The more unusual or major the request, the more detailed the explanation should be, from the student and the adviser and/or other appropriate members of the Graduate Faculty or staff. Exceptions to some policies, such as the deadline to deposit a thesis for a certain conferral date and the requirement to be enrolled during the semester that a dissertation is defended, are never granted. Students with questions about exceptions to fellowship policies should contact the Fellowship Office instead of submitting a petition.
The University has systems in place to provide assistance to students experiencing conflict, including offices such as the Office of the Dean of Students, International Student and Scholar Services, and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access.
The Student Code contains specific procedures for student grievances alleging discrimination, including harassment by reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, unfavorable discharge from the military, or status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era, and other forms of invidious discrimination not prohibited by law.
Information on capricious grading and the departmental procedures for investigating capricious grading complaints, can be found in the Student Code, Part 1 of Article 3. Students may also find assistance at the Office of Campus Conduct or the Office of the Dean of Students.
Jurisdiction of the University discipline system is outlined in Part 3 of Article 1 of the Student Code. The Subcommittee on Graduate Student Conduct of the Senate Committee on Student Discipline has the right to impose sanctions including, but not limited to dismissal, suspension, conduct probation, censure, and reprimand. More detailed information concerning the operation of the procedures in the Student Code may be obtained from the Office for Student Conflict Resolution at 333-3680.
Academic conflict may be addressed through informal processes or through a formal grievance process. Some graduate programs have established grievance procedures and students should be aware of whether their program has such a procedure in place. The Graduate College has a grievance policy and procedure in place to assist students and graduate programs. Students are recommended to first explore the option of informally resolving an academic conflict. A student who believes he or she has an academic grievance should first discuss it with his or her adviser. If discussion with the adviser is inappropriate or unfruitful, discussion with a senior faculty member, director of graduate study, or a department or unit head is recommended.
A student may elect to file a formal grievance within the unit in which a problem has arisen if the department has a written grievance procedure approved by the Graduate College. The student may also choose to file the grievance directly with the Graduate College. Students should be aware of differences between the Graduate College and departmental grievance policies, as well as what types of grievances are appropriately addressed by these policies. More information and resources related to grievance policies and procedures can be found on the Graduate College Web site.
Course work-based charges of academic integrity infractions against graduate students will be handled according to applicable procedures in the Student Code. Charges of academic integrity infractions against graduate students that involve research and/or publication will follow procedures contained within the Bylaws of the Graduate College and the University of Illinois Policy and Procedures on Academic Integrity in Research and Publication.
The resources for students experiencing employment related conflict include the following: