Informal Student Concern or Complaint
I. Most issues and concerns can be resolved by open communications and through an informal process. Individuals are encouraged to achieve by informal means what they regard as a fair and reasonable resolution of their complaint. Before filing a formal written grievance, the Grievant must first make a good faith effort to confer with the party against whom they have a grievance in an effort to resolve the matter informally.
Concerns expressed by students should be addressed by the person receiving the concern, to the best of their ability. Informal student concerns include items expressed verbally or in an electronic format such as email, texting, etc.
In instances where the Grievant feels uncomfortable speaking to the Respondent or has any reservations about initiating the initial contact within the Grievant’s department or work unit, the Grievant should contact the Dean of Students. If the grievance is against the Dean of Students, then the Vice President for Student Success and Human Resources should be contacted, and they will appoint another individual to serve as a grievance coordinator for that matter. The Dean of Students will discuss the matter with the Grievant, become familiar with the complaint, and then advise the Grievant as to what options are available for resolving the problem.
If applicable, the Dean of Students may ask the Grievant to meet with the Grievant’s immediate or second level supervisor in order to give those individuals an opportunity to resolve the matter. The Dean of Students may meet with the parties together or separately to discuss the problem and may involve other persons in these discussions as appropriate. The Dean of Students may serve as a resource or a facilitator during the informal process.
II. INSTRUCTORS’ ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
A. 70 O.S. § 3224 provides that “all instructors, including all graduate teaching assistants, now employed or being considered for employment at institutions within the State System shall be proficient in speaking the English language so that they may adequately instruct students.”
B. Exceptions
1. Instruction of courses that are “designed to be taught predominantly in a foreign language.”
2. “Elective, special arrangement courses such as individualized instruction and independent study courses.”
C. Reporting Each institution in the State System is required to evaluate its instructional faculty for oral, aural, and written fluency in the English language in the classroom. By September 1 of each year, each institution will file with the State Regents a certification stating that the instructional faculty members whose native language is other than English, were hired either after July 1, 1995, or hired subsequent to the last annual certification, are proficient in the English language. This law further provides that a report shall be provided annually to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of the Oklahoma Legislature by January 1 of each year setting forth certain English proficiency information.
D. Complaints (70 O.S. § 3225) Any student may file a complaint of violation of this act with the office of president of any publicly supported college or university in the State of Oklahoma. It shall be the duty of said president to inquire after such complaint and report said complaints and disposition to the State Regents annually.