2024-2025 Student Handbook 
    
    Dec 07, 2024  
2024-2025 Student Handbook

Non-Academic Appeals and Complaints


UA - Pulaski Tech takes very seriously complaints and concerns regarding the institution. Most complaints or concerns of a specific nature should be initiated and resolved informally by the office or person responsible for the area in which the complaint is made. Students who have questions or concerns regarding the process outlined below should contact the Office of Student Life. The UA-Pulaski Tech organizational chart can be found on the website at: Organizational Chart (uaptc.edu).
1) Student must complete the Non-Academic Appeal form and prepare a typed statement regarding the problem with requested remedies.
2) Students must next attempt to resolve the problem by meeting with the direct supervisor of the appropriate functional area to discuss a resolution.
3) If the issue cannot be resolved with the functional area supervisor, students may submit the appeal to the supervisors (dean or vice chancellor) of the area in question. The supervisor will issue a decision within 10 working days.
4) If the student wishes to appeal the decision of the supervisor, the appeal may be submitted to the vice chancellor of the appropriate area who will convene the Non-Academic Appeals Committee. The Non-Academic Appeals Committee is comprised of UA-PTC faculty and staff; the vice chancellor will serve as the non-voting chair. The committee will gather appropriate information and may choose to conduct interviews with all involved parties. The committee will then make a recommendation within 10 working days regarding the appeal to the vice chancellor. After reviewing the committee recommendation, the vice chancellor will make a decision and inform all parties in writing within 5 working days. The decision of the vice chancellor is final.
5) Documentation of the resolution/decision is recorded in the UA - Pulaski Tech Complaint Log by the Dean of Student Life and Wellness regardless of the step in which the resolution was reached.

The complaint process outlined above does not apply to matters which are covered by other campus policies or appeal procedures. Grievances regarding instructors, grade disputes, or other academic issues should utilize the academic due process appeal procedure; complaints regarding registration, tuition, fees, withdrawal, and attendance should utilize the Tuition and Fees Appeal process.

The typical steps to resolve student complaints:

Non-Academic Appeal (for students wishing to file grievances regarding non-academic staff, student services, or other non-academic issues) → 1) student must complete the Non-Academic Appeal form and prepare a typed statement regarding the problem with requested remedies → 2) the student must attempt to resolve the problem informally by meeting with the direct supervisor of the appropriate functional area to discuss the resolution → 3) if the issue cannot be resolved through informal channelswith the functional area supervisor, the student may submit the appeal to the appropriate dean of the area → 4) if the student wishes to appeal the decision of the dean, the appeal may be submitted to the vice chancellor of the appropriate area who will convene Non-Academic Appeals Committee → 5) documentation of the resolution/decision is recorded in the UA-PTC Complaint Log by the Dean of Student Life and Wellness regardless of the step in which the resolution was reached.

Academic Appeal (for students wishing to file grade disputes, complaints regarding instructors, and other academic issues) → 1) student must complete the Academic Due Process formand prepare a typed statement regarding the problem with requested remedies → 2)student must attempt to resolve the problem informally by meeting with the instructor to discuss a resolution. This step may be skipped in instances of harassment or endangerment → 3) if informal resolution cannot be reached, the student may contact the department chair and/or dean for mediation → 4) if the student wishes to appeal the decision of the chair and/or dean, the appeal may be submitted to the Provost, who will convene an ad hoc hearing committee → 5) documentation of the resolution/decision is recorded in the UA-PTC Complaint Log by the Office of the Provost regardless of the step in which resolution was reached. 


Informal complaints may be submitted online through the Student Complaint Form. Complaints associated with the institution’s compliance with academic program quality and accrediting standards may be directed to the Higher Learning Commission following their complaint process which
can be found at File a Complaint | Students-Communities (hlcommission.org).

TUITION AND FEES APPEAL


The UA - Pulaski Tech Tuition and Fees Student Appeal process is designed to quickly address a number of student concerns including, but not limited to, grievances regarding registration, tuition, fees, course withdrawal, course drop, and attendance. Common reasons to file a Tuition and Fees Appeal may include:
• Appeal of tuition and/or fees caused by medical circumstances
• Appeal of tuition, fees, and/or grade where a student never attended class
• Appeal of tuition, fees, and/or grade where a student withdrew from a class for a reason not covered by Academic Due Process

1) Tuition and Fee Appeals may be submitted using the online Tuition and Fee Appeal form, located on the Records Webpage.  Decisions will be based upon the information on the Tuition and Fees Appeal Form and any accompanying documents, not on information conveyed verbally.
2) The Tuition and Fees Appeals Committee will meet three times each Fall and Spring Term and twice during Summer Session.
3) Decisions of the Appeals Committee will be sent in writing to the address listed on the Tuition and Fee Appeal Form.

Please note that all appeals involving medical justification must include thorough documentation from the appropriate sources (doctor, therapist, hospital, etc.). If supporting documentation is not attached, it will usually result in the denial of the appeal. Tuition and Fees Appeals must be filed within one year following the end of the semester in question.

Any type of refund after the normal refund deadline, as stated in the Academic Catalog, is only guaranteed if the appeal meets criteria as set by the College’s Board: military deployment during the semester or death of the student. All other refunds are subject to review by the Tuition and Fees Student Appeal Committee and are decided on a case-by-case basis.