SoHE Conduct Expectations & Grievance Process

Professional Conduct

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards maintains detailed guidance on student rights and responsibilities related to learning in a community that is safe and fosters integrity and accountability. You are responsible for keeping aware of their policies and procedures, found at the following page: conduct.students.wisc.edu

Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct is governed by state law, UW System Administration Code Chapter 14. For further information on this law, what constitutes academic misconduct, and procedures related to academic misconduct, see:

• The Graduate School – Academic Policies & Procedures: Misconduct, Academic 
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards – Academic Misconduct Website 
• Academic Misconduct Flowchart 

Non-Academic Misconduct

Non-academic misconduct is governed by state law, UW System Administration Code Chapters 17 and 18. For further information on these laws, what constitutes non-academic misconduct, and procedures related to non-academic misconduct, see:

• The Graduate School – Academic Policies & Procedures: Misconduct, Non-Academic 
• Office for Student Conduct and Community Standards – Non-Academic Misconduct Website 
• University of Wisconsin System (UWS) – Chapter 17: Student Non-Academic Disciplinary Procedures 
• Chapter 18: Conduct on University Lands 

Research Misconduct

Graduate students are held to the same standards of responsible conduct of research as faculty and staff. Further information about these standards and related policies and procedures can be found at:

• The Graduate School – Academic Policies & Procedures: Responsible Conduct of Research 
• Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research – Research Policies 

Hostile and Intimidating Behavior

Hostile and intimidating behavior (HIB), sometimes referred to as “bullying,” is prohibited by university policy applicable to faculty, academic staff, and university staff. For further definition, policy, and procedures related to HIB see here. Students who feel they have been subject to HIB are encouraged to review the informal and formal options on the “Addressing HIB” tab of this website.

School of Human Ecology: Graduate Student Grievance Process

The graduate student grievance process applies to all graduate students enrolled in the MS, MFA, and PhD graduate programs in the School of Human Ecology (SoHE).

Graduate students may need to remedy a non-academic or academic situation during their graduate program and the formal grievance process can be found below in clear and transparent steps. SoHE encourages the student to consult about the situation early in the process to try and address matters through an informal route whenever possible and appropriate. Some issues can be settled at this level, and some cannot be. Step 0 includes local and campus resources that can be used to mediate the situation before a formal grievance would begin in Step 1.

If the situation involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating & domestic violence, and stalking; harassment, discrimination, and bias; or hostile and intimidating behavior, graduate students should refer to the UW-Madison Graduate School’s website for official reporting of these incidents. https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/#reporting-incidents

STEP 0 Informal Consultation

The student should first consider talking directly with the person(s) involved in the situation. Although students are encouraged to talk directly with the person(s) involved, we recognize that this may not always be possible. If the complaint cannot be resolved satisfactorily by talking with the person(s) involved, the student may continue to follow the grievance process.

Questions about the SoHE grievance process can be directed to Michelle Holland, Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs. Students may also find it helpful to consult with the Graduate Program Chair (GPC) in their respective department/program. Also, Professor Janean Dilworth-Bart, SoHE 1903 Faculty Director, is available to consult for an additional faculty perspective, particularly in the case when the situation involves a graduate student and faculty mentor. The following UW-Madison campus resources are available and may be useful to graduate students.

• Office of Student Assistance & Support: Elaine Goetz, Graduate and Professional Student Assistance Specialist; https://osas.wisc.edu/
• Ombuds Office: https://ombuds.wisc.edu/
• Employee Assistance Office: https://ombuds.wisc.edu/

STEP 1 Submit Grievance

The student should contact the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs to inform them of their intent to submit a grievance. The student will submit the written grievance directly to the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs. This must be done within 60 calendar days of the alleged unfair treatment.

STEP 2 Determine Review Body

The Assistant Dean will submit the grievance to the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Graduate Education who will determine the appropriate review body within the School of Human Ecology.

• If the complaint involves someone outside of an academic department, but within SoHE, or if the complaint involves a graduate program academic issue, the review will be handled by the SoHE Graduate Program Committee (GPC). The SoHE GPC will review the matter or refer the matter to other relevant committees as appropriate. The SoHE GPC Chair may appoint a subcommittee to review the complaint (e.g., excluding faculty from the student’s department/program).
• If the complaint involves someone in a School of Human Ecology (SoHE) academic department (Civil Society & Community Studies, Consumer Science, Design Studies, or Human Development & Family Studies), the review may be handled by the department chair. The department chair may refer the matter to the department/program Graduate Program Committee (GPC) or to another appropriate departmental committee (standing or ad hoc) for review.
• If the complaint involves the department chair, the grievance will be handled directly by the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Graduate Education.

STEP 3 Review & Decision

The review committee will receive the grievance submitted by the student. They may ask for additional information from the parties involved and may hold a meeting at which both parties will be asked to speak separately in closed session. The review committee will then make a written recommendation to the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Graduate Education who will render a decision and submit it to the Dean of the School of Human Ecology for final approval. The Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Graduate Education will provide the Dean’s final decision in writing to the student and to the person against whom the grievance was filed. Unless a longer time is mutually agreed upon by the individuals involved, the written decision shall be made within 30 working days from the date when the written grievance was originally filed, unless a different timeline was agreed upon in advance.

STEP 4 Graduate School Appeal

Students not willing to accept the final decision of the Dean of the School of Human Ecology may appeal using the UW-Madison Graduate Schools appeals process outlined in the grievances and appeals policy. https://grad.wisc.edu/documents/grievances-and-appeals/