Non-Academic Grievance and Appeal Policy

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Effective Date: July 1, 2025
Issuing Authority: Provost
Policy Contact: Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students, 478-301-2685

Purpose

Mercer University recognizes the importance of providing an efficient procedure for a timely and fair resolution of a non-academic grievance or appeal.

Scope

This policy applies to all students at Mercer University.

Exclusions

The non-academic grievance policy and process shall not be used to appeal a grade, contest course requirements, examinations, course content, admission to a program, disciplinary decisions, housing appeals decisions, residency classification decisions, discrimination, disability and accommodations, traffic appeals decisions, or any other type of decision where a clearly defined appeal process has already been established.

Definitions

As used in this policy, the following term(s) have the meaning specified below:

 Non-Academic Grievance or Appeal: a student’s complaint or dispute concerning issues outside of academic matters such as a University employee, an administrative policy or procedure, and/or University program, service, or activity.

Policy Statement

Students shall have the right to file a grievance and appeal according to established procedures. Students are encouraged to use the non-academic grievance or appeal process without fear of prejudice or reprisal for initiating the process or participating in its resolution.

 As a general proposition, the student should first seek an informal resolution by discussing the problem and seeking a solution with the individual(s) most directly involved. However, should these avenues not rectify the grievance, or the student wishes to bypass the informal resolution process, then the formal grievance process in the Mercer University Student Handbook shall be implemented.

Additional Resources

  1. Refer to the Mercer University Student Handbook at https://provost.mercer.edu/resources/handbooks/student-handbooks/ and supplemental handbooks in MyMercer for non-academic grievance and appeal procedures.
  2. A number of specific grievance policies and procedures that are prescribed by law, accrediting body, or organization are available to students.
    • Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy: policies.mercer.edu/equal-opportunity-and-affirmative-action-policy/
    • Disability Policy and Grievance Procedure
    • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) complaints are directed to the U.S. Dept. of Education
    • Sexual Misconduct or Relationship Violence
    • Accrediting bodies: Specific contact information for each accrediting body is listed in the Mercer Catalogs.