Grievances against the outcome of a complaint submitted under Regulation 26

Students who have submitted a complaint under Regulation 26 that has been dealt with by the Pro Vice-Chancellor but are not satisfied with the outcome may submit a grievance to the University Council (Ordinance XXVIII).

Submitting a Grievance

Students who wish to submit a grievance should do so within 28 days to the Secretary to Council (Dr Simone Clarke) either by email (s.clarke@keele.ac.uk) or in writing (addressed to Dr Simone Clarke, Secretary to Council, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG) providing as much information about the background of your case as possible, which of the two criteria above that you fulfil and any documentary evidence you have in support of your case.  Please do not forget to provide your current postal address and an email address if possible.

The Process

You will receive a letter or email of acknowledgement once we have received your grievance.

The Secretary to Council (or his nominee) will gather all of the information relating to your case including the paperwork considered as part of your complaint.

Your case may be considered at a hearing.  If so, it will be a panel of three members of Council will hear your case, you will be invited to attend with a friend or representative, which is advisable (see Section 2 of the Statutes, which sets out who is entitled to accompany you) and there will be a full exchange of documentation no less than 7 days in advance. 

Alternatively, the Secretary to Council may determine how your case should be resolved. 

You will be issued with a Completion of Procedures letter, which explains that your case has been completed and that if you remain dissatisfied you retain the right to submit a complaint to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA), which is an independent body established to consider student complaints.  The OIA will only accept cases from students who have exhausted all internal procedures and have been issued with a Completion of Procedures Letter. 

Further details of the OIA can be found at:  http://www.oiahe.org.uk

 

Contact Details for Grievances

Dr Simone Clarke, Secretary to Council

Email: s.clarke.keele.ac.uk

Address: Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG

 

Mrs Fiona Dumbelton, Governance Manager

Tel: 01782 733373

Email: f.dumbelton@keele.ac.uk

Address: Planning and Academic Administration, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG