Policies AA - DD

Functions

The Judicial Committee acts as an appeals or mediation board upon request by a student or faculty member after normal channels of appeal or negotiation within the Department of Psychology have been used. The functions of the Judicial Committee are (a) to hear requests for reconsideration of decisions made by committees, sections, faculty members, and departmental administrators and to hear grievances on other matters of dispute or concern within the department; (b) to mediate, as may be needed; and (c) to make recommendations for action or for policy change or policy development to pertinent persons, committees, sections, or groups.

Membership

The Judicial Committee has five members, two elected by the Clinical Section, two elected by the Experimental Section, and the Chair of the Judicial Committee, who is appointed by the department chair. The elected members serve two-year, staggered terms. The department chair and the two assistant chairs are ineligible to serve on the Judicial Committee.

Procedures

To initiate an appeal, a person shall present a request for appeal in writing to the Chair of the Judicial Committee, stating in detail the nature of the request or grievance together with his or her reasons for initiating the appeal. The Chair of the Judicial Committee makes arrangements to convene the Judicial Committee to conduct the hearing. The appellant may have a supporting person (faculty mentor/advisor, other student, colleague, university ombudsman, etc.) present at the hearing.

Matters relating to evidence, documentation, witnesses, consultants, records, and reports is the responsibility of the Judicial Committee. The Chair of the Judicial Committee shall vote only in cases of tied votes among elected members. A summary report of the findings and recommendations of the Judicial Committee is given to the appellant and to the department chair, as well as to the pertinent persons, committees, or groups.

The instructor assigned to a class has full responsibility for grading, subject to the appeal process described in this section. In unusual circumstances (e.g., death, incapacity, or indefinite inaccessibility of the instructor), the departmental chairperson is responsible for the final grade, subject to appeal by the student to the dean as described in this section.

The burden of proof for a grade change is on the student, except in those cases involving charges of academic dishonesty. A student appealing a grade must make a concerted effort to resolve the matter with the instructor of the course. Failing such a resolution, the student may appeal the grade to the department chair or school director. The chair/director must attempt a resolution acceptable to both the student and the instructor but does not have the authority to change the grade. The department chair or director may enlist departmental grievance procedures to assist in resolving the grade appeal at the departmental level. If the resolution at the departmental level is unsuccessful within the semester following submission of the grade and the student wishes to appeal, the chair/director shall forward the appeal to the dean of the college for action. If the chair/director is the instructor, the student appeals directly to the dean.

If the dean concludes that the student has insufficient grounds for an appeal, there can be no further appeal by the student. If the dean concludes that sufficient grounds do exist for an appeal, the dean shall appoint a faculty committee of five members to consider the case. If a majority on the committee decides that the grade should be changed and the instructor does not accept the recommendation, the committee can authorize the Registrar to change the grade. The decision of the committee is not subject to further appeal. In appeal cases in which the dean is the instructor, the role of the dean will be assumed by the Provost. In those appeal cases involving courses taught by faculty from more than one college, the Dean of University College will review the appeal and, if necessary, appoint the appeals committee.

Each student has access to a research allowance from departmental funds to help defray the costs of thesis, dissertation, and nondegree research. These funds can be used to cover such research costs as supplies, small equipment needs, and mailing costs.

Students may also apply on a competitive basis for departmental funds to support research. Proposals will be accepted until the funds have been exhausted. All funds must be spent by the end of the fiscal year (June 30). Here are the guidelines for applying for these funds. These funds may be used to support special research needs, such as purchasing specialized tests, instruments, or software, paying participants, or covering extensive mailing costs. These funds may not be used for travel to a conference. Because the Department tries to support as many students as possible, generally awards will be limited to $600 or less. Proposals should be submitted electronically to the department chair and must include the following:

1. Abstract. Include a brief description of the project.
   1. Indicate whether the research is non-degree related or whether it is part of a thesis, comps, or dissertation.
   2. Indicate whether or not the research has received approval from the IRB.
2. Budget. Include a detailed budget, briefly explaining why each item in the budget is necessary to the project.
3. Funding.
   1. Indicate whether you have sought funding for this project from any source outside of the department. Include the date of submission and the organization.
   2. Indicate whether you have received research funds from the department in a previous round of the competition for these funds.
4. Advisor approval. Have your advisor electronically sign the proposal or send the department chair an e-mail to indicate his or her support for the project.
5. Vita. Include a curriculum vitae for each of the investigators.

Excluding the vitas, proposals must not exceed two pages. Criteria for obtaining funding:

Only projects that have already received IRB approval will be funded. Please do not submit a proposal until you have received IRB approval for your study. Deserving projects will be awarded funds on a first come first served basis. If the requested funds exceed the available funds, preference will be given to the following: a) students who have not received research funds from the department in a previous round of this competition; b) students who are proposing a collaborative research project that crosses area or section boundaries; c) students who have sought external funding for their projects; d) pre-master's students seeking support for degree-related research; d) post-master's students who have been first authors on conference presentations or on manuscripts submitted for publication

The Department website maintains a list of other university funds available to students to support their research.

College of Arts and Sciences provides up to $500 for one trip to present research at a conference for a limited number of students each year. Solicitations for this funding will be made three times a year, coordinated by the Assistant Chair of Graduate Studies. Students should apply for this funding first prior to seeking funding from the department. If they are unsuccessful in receiving this funding, students can be reimbursed for up to $250 when they are the presenting author on a paper, symposium, or poster at a professional conference or up to $150 if they are attending a conference as a non-presenting author on a paper, symposium, or poster through the department. Within a fiscal year, a student may be reimbursed for one trip. The trip must be approved by the department chair prior to the travel. After the trip, receipts must be presented for travel expenses in accordance with university policies and procedures.