Student Grievance Policy

XII.D. STUDENT GRIEVANCE POLICY

All student grievances, disputes, and appeals should be handled with Christian charity, following biblical ethics and the letter and spirit of NSA's Code of Conduct. Grievances, no matter how justified, do not warrant violations of the Code of Conduct. Students who violate the Code of Conduct in their pursuit of a grievance may be subject to separate disciplinary action regardless of the merits of the initial grievance.

In all cases the student’s grievance and all written communications will be kept confidential.

ACADEMIC GRIEVANCES AND APPEALS

Students who have an academic grievance against a faculty member, staff member, school policy, or school action should submit a complaint in writing to the relevant person or office. The complaint should specify the details of the grievance and note that the student is filing an academic grievance as specified by the Student Handbook. The faculty member or appropriate employee must respond in writing within seven working days.

If the student is not satisfied with the response, the student may file an appeal, in writing, to the Provost of NSA within fourteen days of receiving the previous response. The Provost may call an ad hoc committee to consider the matter. The student's appeal should specify the reasons why the decision does not adequately resolve the student's grievance. The Provost will provide a written response to the student within fourteen days.

If the student is not satisfied with the response of the Provost, the student may file an appeal, in writing, to the President within fourteen days of receiving the Provost’s response. Again, the appeal should specify the reasons why the previous decisions do not adequately resolve the student's grievance. The President has 30 days to respond to the appeal, and the President’s decision is final on all student academic appeals.

If the student is not satisfied with the response of the President, the student may file an appeal, in writing, to NSA’s Board.

PERSONAL (NON-ACADEMIC) GRIEVANCES AND APPEALS

All other grievances, disputes, and appeals within the college community should be handled with Christian charity, following biblical ethics and the letter and spirit of NSA's Code of Conduct. Grievances, no matter how justified, do not warrant violations of the Code of Conduct. Violations of the Code of Conduct, such as gossip, disrespect, or malice, may be subject to separate disciplinary action regardless of the merits of the initial grievance.

If a student has a personal grievance or complaint against a faculty or staff member, we urge the student not to harbor the complaint, but to bring it forward in a biblical manner, lest the complaint turn into a root of bitterness, which defiles many (Heb. 12:15). To act biblically the student should bring the complaint to the offending party first, in a spirit of humility, as directed in Matthew 18:15-17 and 1 Cor. 6:1-8. If, for any number of reasons, the student feels that he is not equipped to confront the offending party, the student may speak with the Director of Student Affairs or the Undergraduate or Graduate Dean for help in confronting the offending party.

If the student is not satisfied with the results of the first confrontation, the student may ask that the Director of Student Affairs or that the Undergraduate or Graduate Dean act as a second witness in confronting the offending party.

If this does not bring about satisfactory results or if the student feels that this is not an option, then the student may file a formal complaint by writing a letter to the Undergraduate or Graduate Dean which describes the complaint and notes that the letter is intended as a formal grievance as specified by the Student Handbook. The Undergraduate or Graduate Dean will have up to seven working days to investigate and respond to the student. If the Undergraduate or Graduate Dean feels that the grievance is potentially of a severe nature, he may request that an ad hoc committee fulfill the job of investigating the grievance and responding to the student. An investigative committee has up to 14 working days to report to the Undergraduate or Graduate Dean. In cases where an ad hoc committee has been called, the Undergraduate or Graduate Dean has 7 days to respond to the student by notifying them that a committee has been formed; the student shall receive the Dean’s response within a total of 21 working days (7 for the initial response, 14 to allow for the work of the committee).

If the student is not satisfied with the Dean’s response, the student may appeal, in writing, to the President, within fourteen days of receiving the previous response. The appeal should specify the reasons why the previous decision(s) do not adequately resolve the student's grievance. The President will respond, in writing, within thirty days.

If the student is not satisfied with the response of the President, the student may file an appeal, in writing, to NSA’s Board.

The Board’s decision is final on all personal (non-academic) matters.

UNRESOLVED GRIEVANCES AND APPEALS

Unresolved grievances, once NSA’s appeals process has been exhausted, may be appealed to the Idaho State Board of Education for resolution, as allowed by IDAPA 08.01.11.500, or to TRACS by following the procedures outlined in the Complaint Information Sheet available at tracs.org, the TRACS website.

If there are concerns about this grievance and appeal process itself, a student may contact the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, NSA’s accrediting body.

Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools P.O. Box 328 Forest, Virginia 24551 Phone (434) 525-9539 • Fax (434) 525-9538

E-mail: info@tracs.org

For Distance Students: For SARA students with a grievance: If student (a) has a grievance (except for complaints about grades or student conduct), (b) has exhausted NSA’s grievance procedure, and (c) remains dissatisfied, then the aggrieved student has further recourse to appeal within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made to either the institution’s or student’s home state portal. For a complete listing of portal contacts: (http://nc-sara.org/content/state-portal-entity-contacts).

XII.E. STUDENT HEALTH

INSURANCE

Because New Saint Andrews expects students to live independently, NSA does not provide medical insurance, health services, or medical treatment as an institution. We urge students and their families to make sure that they have adequate health, life, and personal insurance coverage. Students seeking health, life, or personal insurance should contact one of the many providers of these products.

HEALTH SERVICES AND MEDICAL TREATMENT

NSA does not provide in-house health services or medical treatment for its students and assumes no legal or financial responsibility for the medical treatment of students enrolled at NSA. The Moscow area has several urgent care facilities, many local doctors, and a hospital.

COUNSELING

Students with personal counseling needs may seek counsel from the Director of Student Affairs in his office. The Director of Student Affairs may encourage students to seek supplemental or alternative counseling. Because NSA encourages students to constantly seek wise, biblical, pastoral care, and to consider any licensed professional counseling as something that works in concert with (rather than acts as a replacement of) pastoral care, students are encouraged to seek biblical counsel from their local pastors. If they are from outside the Moscow area, they may also be encouraged to seek counsel from the pastor of the local church they attend in Moscow.

The Director of Student Affairs may also refer students in need of licensed professional counseling to a local Christian professional counselor. Dr. Rand Walker, a local Christian counselor, has agreed to take referrals from NSA.

Rand W. Walker, Ph.D.

2301 W. A Street, Suite C

Moscow, ID 83843

Phone: 883-1144