Student Grievance Procedure
Berea is a community built on working together, and students are encouraged to raise concerns about their work-learning experience openly, starting with their supervisor. Most concerns can be resolved informally at this level and are taken just as seriously as a formal grievance.
Informal Resolution
If a concern remains unresolved after speaking with a supervisor, the student may bring it to the Associate Dean. The Work College Support Coordinator supports the Associate Dean and the program more broadly in addressing these concerns, though not every concern will necessarily involve both. The Associate Dean, or the Coordinator working on the Associate Dean's behalf, will review the concern and work toward a resolution. If a student disagrees with the outcome of this review, they may appeal the decision to the Dean for the Work College Program.
Students may also submit a concern at any time through Berea's College-wide Student Complaint Form, which includes the Work College Program as one of its listed categories and follows its own separate three-to-four-week response timeline, or request formal mediation through the Work College Program, as described under Mediation and Conflict Management.
Formal Grievance
If a resolution cannot be reached informally, a student may file a formal grievance by submitting the complaint in writing to the Dean for the Work College Program. The Dean may request written responses from the other parties involved and will typically issue a written report of findings and conclusions within one week of receiving the complaint, sharing it with all parties.
If any party appeals the Dean's decision, the Labor Program Council will convene, normally within one week of the appeal or as soon as possible thereafter. The Council Chairperson appoints a Grievance Board of four Council members, including the Chairperson, one student, one teaching faculty member, and one member from outside the Work College Program Office, with the Chairperson serving as chair of the Board. The Dean forwards all written documentation and the original report to the Board, which reviews the grievance and issues a written decision to all parties, typically within one week. The Board's decision is final, subject to legal and institutional requirements as determined by the President.
Adopted by the General Faculty, January 5, 1981. Titles updated July 2026.
Looking Ahead
The College has hired an Ombudsperson and is preparing to launch a new Ombuds structure, designed to meet the unique needs of students, staff, and faculty. More information will be shared as this resource becomes available, offering students an additional avenue of support for navigating a concern.
Grievances related to discrimination and sexual harassment are addressed through a separate process. Please refer to the Title IX section of this handbook for further details.