Student-Faculty Complaint and Conflict Resolution Process

First, Identify the Issue

To what does your concern or complaint refer? 
(Some issues are excluded from this resolution process.)

Note that issues of sexual harassment or sexual violence are defined and addressed through MBI's Title IX Office. These matters are to be addressed under MBI’s Title IX procedures. The Title IX Office and procedures may be accessed by students through the Students Tab in the my.Moody student portal. 

Grade complaints should be addressed directly with your instructor. If that does not resolve the matter, they are to be addressed in the Grade Appeals section of the current Academic Catalog located at www.moody.edu/academics/catalogs/.

The Grade or Tuition Appeal Form may be accessed by students through the Students Tab in the my.Moody student portal.

Students with specific concerns or complaints regarding a Faculty member pertaining to what the student believes to be a violation of established MBI policy, procedure, or doctrine are encouraged to seek resolution through the following process:

 

Resolution Process

This process applies to all undergraduate students attending The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. As members of the MBI community, we all share the responsibility for maintaining a Christ-centered environment.

Confrontation is difficult and uncomfortable, yet it serves to fulfill community responsibility and personal restoration, and it builds godly character for all involved. Confrontations should follow the model Jesus established in Matthew 18:15-17 and should seek to resolve the issue between the two persons, in this case, the student and the Faculty member.

 

Step One – Meet with the Faculty Member

The student contacts the Faculty member to inform them of their concern for the purpose of resolving the issue through direct communication. When meeting, the student may bring an MBI Faculty or staff member as an advisor to the first meeting. If the initial meeting with the Faculty member does not resolve the issue, a student should follow Step Two in the resolution process.

 

Step Two – Bring in the Supervisor

The student advances the unresolved concern to the Faculty member’s supervisor. The Faculty member’s supervisor meets with the student to hear the student’s concern. When meeting, the student may bring an MBI Faculty or staff member as an advisor. The supervisor will meet separately with the Faculty member of concern. The Faculty member may bring a fellow MBI Faculty or staff member as an advisor to this meeting. The Faculty member’s supervisor will attempt to facilitate a resolution between the student and the Faculty member. If the issue is not able to be resolved, the student may move to Step Three.

 

Step Three – Meet with the Academic Dean

The student advances the unresolved concern to the VP and Academic Dean of the Undergraduate School. The VP/Academic Dean meets with the student to hear the student’s concern. When meeting, the student may bring an MBI Faculty or staff member as an advisor. The VP/Academic Dean will meet separately with the Faculty member of concern. The Faculty member may bring a fellow MBI Faculty or member as an advisor to this meeting. The VP/Academic Dean will attempt to facilitate a resolution between the student and the Faculty member. If the issue is not able to be resolved, the student may move to Step Four.

 

Step Four – File a Formal Complaint

Although students are strongly encouraged to follow Steps 1-3 before filing a formal complaint, the student is permitted to bypass Steps 1-3 (and doing so may even be encouraged if there are extenuating circumstances that impede healthy resolution through Steps 1-3 (see information about Anonymous Complaints below for more options)). 

The student requests and receives an electronic Student Complaint Form from the Vice President and Academic Dean, Dr. Michael Rydelnik: michael.rydelnik@moody.edu.

Upon receipt of the submitted Complaint Form, the Vice President and Academic Dean will consult with the VP of Human Resources (HR) to evaluate the complaint regarding: a) whether the case should be directed to some other external authority; b) whether there are any extenuating circumstances, such as a need for special expertise; c) whether there is any alleged criminal conduct; or d) whether a formal investigation is required. Should it be determined that an investigation is necessary, the Faculty Review Committee (see below) will handle a review of a Faculty member of concern. Note: HR will handle any investigation of an MBI staff member, and in extraordinary circumstances determined by MBI at its discretion, MBI may (both for complaints against staff or faculty) hire an outside investigator to investigate the allegations.  In such case, the outside investigator may report to the Faculty Review Committee (for Faculty respondents) or HR (for staff respondents), or if determined necessary by MBI in its discretion, such as where there may be a risk of or actual bias or a conflict of interest, to a more senior MBI official or committee.

 

Step Five – Faculty Review Committee

The Faculty Review Committee will have five members. Four members of this Review Committee will consist of a standing Faculty Review Committee previously chosen by Faculty vote. The fifth member will be a representative of HR, assigned by the VP of HR.

 

Step Six – Follow the Review Process

The Faculty Review Committee will contact both the student and the Faculty member. The Committee will meet separately with the parties involved, first with the student and then with the Faculty member.

The Committee will meet and interview the student regarding the student’s written complaint and allegations. The student may bring an MBI Faculty member as an adviser to this meeting. After the initial interview, the Committee will ask the student to send any emails, text messages, or other relevant documentation related to the student’s complaint as well as the names of any first-hand witnesses to the student’s allegations.

The Committee will next meet and interview the Faculty member regarding the student’s written complaint. The Faculty member may bring a full-time, MBI Faculty member as an advisor. The Committee will ask the Faculty member to send any email, text messages or relevant documentation that will help address the allegation(s) being asserted, as well as submit the names of any first-hand witness accounts to the conduct at issue in the student’s allegation(s).

The Committee will conduct secondary interviews as necessary with others mentioned in the interaction with both the student and Faculty member. (The specific order of interviews will be determined by the Committee at its discretion). All follow-up interviews will be conducted with at least two members of the Committee present to facilitate the interview.

Having completed the review of the complaint, the Faculty Review Committee will present their findings and proposed plan of resolution to the VP/Academic Dean. The VP/Academic Dean will then communicate the final decision and outcome to the student and Faculty member in writing.

 

Appeal of the Decision

The student and/or Faculty may appeal the final decision on one or more of the following grounds:

• A procedural irregularity affected the outcome.
• There is new evidence that was not reasonably available at the time the decision was made that could have affected the outcome.
• The decision-maker or decision-making body had a conflict of interest or bias for or against the complainant or respondent that affected the outcome of the matter.

General dissatisfaction with the outcome of the investigation or related proceedings is not a basis for appeal.

The appeal must be in writing and filed within 3 business days of notification of the decision and outcome. The appeal must be sent to the Provost or his designee. The appeal must clearly state the grounds that justify reconsideration and include any supporting documentation. The appeal will be considered by the Provost and Human Resources, and a final outcome will be communicated in writing within 14 business days from the date the appeal was submitted unless otherwise notified. The Provost’s decision is final.

If, after completing the Student Complaint Form and receiving notice of the final decision and outcome, including the appeal process, a student believes the issue has not been resolved, the student has the option of filing a complaint with one of MBI’s accreditation agencies. A list of accreditation agencies can be found at https://www.moody.edu/about/accreditations-and- affiliations/.

 

Anonymous Complaints

Ethics Point is an avenue available to you for the reporting of information about workplace misconduct. If a student does not feel comfortable sharing matters involving serious misconduct, there is an opportunity to share observations in an anonymous and confidential manner, through the Ethics Point secure website. 

Access to Ethics Point is available through my.moody.edu. Ethics Point then passes these comments back to Human Resources to review and act upon without revealing your identity. Ethics Point is a software vendor, not a 911 emergency service.

Matters that could be reported through Ethics Point include:

1. Mismanagement of funds; fraud.
2. Unethical practices.
3. Harassment or discrimination.
4. Breach of confidentiality, conflicts of interest.
5. Theft, vandalism/sabotage, violence, or threats of violence.
6. Unsafe work conditions.

(Students should keep in mind that anonymous complaints can be difficult to investigate.)

 

Retaliation and Bad Faith Allegations

The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago is committed to fostering an environment in which students may candidly and honestly report suspected violations of policy without fear of retribution. Accordingly, retaliation is prohibited in any form against any student who files a complaint or who participates in the investigation. Any student who is found to have knowingly filed a false complaint through this dispute resolution process may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion.