Grievance System

A grievance refers to any controversy between a student as the aggrieved party and a member of the academic community as respondent that may be the cause of a complaint.

Complainant. The student or students who launches or files the complaint or grievance.
Respondent. The person whom the complaint or grievance is filed against.

Grounds for Grievances

Academic Grievances. These are complaints towards any member of the academic community that involves any controversy related to learning or to performance in academic courses.
Behavioral Grievances. These are complaints towards any member of the academic community that involves any controversy from the manner a person conducts themself.

Both must be reduced into writing and duly signed to be considered a formal grievance.

Types of Grievance Procedures

Informal Complaint. A complaint communicated verbally by a student or groups of students, whether through face-to-face or in online meetings, to any member of the academic community.
Group/Class Grievance. A grievance raised by three (3) or more students is considered a group grievance. A grievance raised by 50% + 1 of enrolled students in a certain course is considered a class grievance.
Formal Grievance. It is only available after the informal complaint. This includes written complaints against faculty members. Only when a grievance is reduced into writing and duly signed does it become a formal complaint.

Process for Formal Grievance

If an undergraduate, the student shall approach the Office of the President of the University Student Government who shall course the complaint and assign a Student Adviser upon the request of the student.
If the student is a graduate student, the student shall approach their Graduate Student Council College President who shall help the student with regards to filing a formal grievance.

Complaint. The student files a written complaint with the Department Chair to which the concerned faculty member belongs to at any time during the term, but not later than calendar weeks (28 calendar days) after Grade Consultaion Day, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Answer. Within three (3) working days from receipt of the complaint, the department chairperson writes the faculty concerned to respond in writing, within (3) working days from receipt of the letter.
Meeting. Upon receipt of the written answer by the respondent, the department chair evaluates the complaint and the answer. The department chair shall call the parties to a meeting for this purpose within three (3) days from receipt of the written answer.
Resolution. Within three (3) days after the meeting and from determination that sufficient facts and evidence exist on which to base a resolution, the department chair resolves the case.

Appeal and Escalation of Case

Within five (5) working days from receiving the resolution, a party not satisfied with the resolution may appeal.

Process for Appeal and Escalation of Case

Request. The appellant sends a letter to the Dean that the Board be convened to hear the grievance complaint.
Convention of Board. The Chairperson immediately convenes the Board, in coordination with other Board members within five (5) working days for the purpose of hearing the case upon the request and receipt of complete record.
Deliberation. The following are the necessary procedures upon the hearing of the case:

Quorum. The Board must be majority or 50%+1 as long as both faculty and student sectors are represented.
Presence of Counsel. Parties concerned may request the presence of a counsel that could be but not limited to any member of the Lasallian Community to provide advice but not allowed to participate during the proceedings.
Regularity. Regular hearings must be held for more than six (6) working days from the date of the first hearing.
Hearings. Only evidence (testimonial or documentary) related to the allegations of the complainant shall be considered during the hearings. The complainant shall have their right to retract the formal grievance before the Board makes its recommendation.
Board Discussion. Within five (5) working days from the date of last hearing, the Board shall meet to deliberate on the case and to arrive at a recommendation. Majority of the members of the Board is required to arrive at a recommendation.

4. Recommendation. After the deliberation/s, the Board shall provide copies to the parties concerned with the final recommendations filed in the files of the respondent.

Decision from the Dean. Within three (3) working days from receiving the recommendation, the Dean must put their decision in writing.
Appeal to the Vice-Chancellor for Academics

Process for Appeal to the Vice-Chancellor for Academics

Timeline. If the party is not satisfied with the recommendation of the Dean, an appeal may be written to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Academics (VCA) within five (5) working days from the receipt of recommendation.
Response. The VCA shall decide the appeal and shall notify the parties of the decision in writing within five (5) working days from the receipt of the appeal. The decision of the VCA is final and executory unless the execution is deferred for meritorious reasons.

Grievance Against Other Members of the Community

Grievances towards other members of the academic community go through a different process as compared to grievances towards the academic department. These are addressed by formal letters of complaint.

Gender-based Sexual Harassment and Discrimination

Any complaint on gender-based sexual harassment and discrimination should be handled in accordance with the University Safe Spaces Policy and the implementing rules and regulations of R.A. 11313, otherwise known as the “Safe Spaces Act of 2018”.

Any student who intends to file a gender-based sexual harassment and/or discrimination complaint should follow the steps outlined on the DLSU Safe Spaces Policy and seek the assistance of the Lasallian Center for Inclusion, Diversity, and Well-being (LCIDWell).