Student Grievances, Appeals and Petitions
The Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing follows the University of South
Carolina's Student Grievance Policy (STAF 6.27) for resolving academic and non-academic grievances.
Types of Grievances
Academic grievances concern a course grade. Final grades may be appealed when there is an error in calculating the grade or when grading does not follow the syllabus. Disagreement with an instructor's assessment of student work alone is not grounds for a grievance.
Non-academic grievances concern actions by university employees that adversely affect a student's status, rights, or privileges. Matters covered by other established appeal procedures, such as admissions, disciplinary decisions, financial aid, or housing decisions, are not covered by this process.
Complaints involving discrimination or harassment based on a protected class are referred
to the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX.
Getting Started
Undergraduate students who wish to raise a grievance should begin by seeking an informal resolution.
- Academic grievances: Contact the instructor or faculty member involved to discuss the concern. If the issue remains unresolved, contact the chair of the department offering the course. For a list of MCEC chairs see the MCEC leadership page.
- Non-academic grievances: Contact the university employee involved. If the issue remains unresolved, contact the employee's supervisor.
- Need guidance? Students may consult their academic advisor.
The Office of Student Advocacy serves as a resource to advise students on grievance resolution.
Important Information
- Grievances must be initiated within 30 business days of the alleged violation.
- Students must complete the informal resolution process before requesting formal resolution.
- Students should keep relevant emails, documents, and a record of attempts to resolve the concern.
- If informal resolution is unsuccessful, students may request formal resolution under University Policy STAF 6.27.
Additional Undergraduate Policies and Regulations:
Policies affecting MCEC undergraduate students are maintained by the college and various university offices. The resources below provide access to academic requirements, university regulations and college-specific policies.
Policies and Academic Requirements
- Academic Bulletin: University polices affecting both undergraduate and graduate students
- MCEC Policies: The Undergraduate Bulletin’s section for the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing
- Undergrad Policies: Helpful information for all undergraduate students at USC
- University Registrar: Student academic records and policies related to registration, academic progress and graduation
- Bursar's Office: Tuition and fee billing, payment options and deadlines
- Provost's Office: Contains the university’s Policies and Procedures Manual with 300+ searchable policies for students, faculty and staff
- MCEC Curricula and Courses: Determine the classes you need to graduate based on your major and catalog year
Search for a topic or policy:
| Topic/Policy | USC Site | Note | Keywords (hidden column) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accelerated Graduate Degrees | Undergraduate Bulletin | MCEC Policy | masters, master’s, certificate, PhD, Ph.D, doctoral, dual |
| Cooperative Education | Undergraduate Bulletin | MCEC Policy | Co-op, work, career |
| General Education Requirements | Undergraduate Bulletin | MCEC Policy | carolina, core |
| Program GPA Requirement | Undergraduate Bulletin | MCEC Policy | grade, progression, major, probation, suspension, expulsion, graduation |
| Repetition of Coursework | Undergraduate Bulletin | MCEC Policy | Grade, progression, major, probation, suspension, expulsion, graduation, repeat |
| Second Baccalaureate Degree | Undergraduate Bulletin | MCEC Policy | double major |
| Academic Assessment Policy | Undergraduate Bulletin | SACS | |
| Academic Calendar Policies | Undergraduate Bulletin | schedule, holidays, | |
| Academic Forgiveness Policy | Undergraduate Bulletin | grade | |
| Academic Honors Policies | Undergraduate Bulletin | Gpa, graduation | |
| Academic Standards Policies | Undergraduate Bulletin | Probation, suspension, expulsion, graduation | |
| Advisement Policies | Undergraduate Bulletin | advisor, advising | |
| Attendance Policy | Undergraduate Bulletin | ||
| Bulletin Rights and Exclusions | Undergraduate Bulletin | catalog year | |
| Course and Academic Credit Policies | Undergraduate Bulletin | Level, graduate, challenge, exam | |
| Degree Conferral and Graduation Policies | Undergraduate Bulletin | commencement, double major | |
| Examination Policies | Undergraduate Bulletin | finals, test, quiz | |
| Grading Policies | Undergraduate Bulletin | Pass, fail, letter, GPA, grade forgiveness | |
| Notification of Student Rights under FERPA | Undergraduate Bulletin | privacy, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act | |
| Records, Transcript, and Enrollment Certification Policies | Undergraduate Bulletin | registrar | |
| Registration Policies | Undergraduate Bulletin | registrar | |
| Fees and Refunds | Academic Bulletin | cost, finance, bursar | |
| Financial Aid and Scholarships | Academic Bulletin | cost | |
| Academic Calendars | Registrar | schedule, spring, fall, winter, winter, break, holiday, class, term | |
| Final Exams Schedule | Registrar | calendar | |
| Registrar Forms | Registrar | Tuition, accelerated, financial, audit, dependence, independence, citizenship, income, diploma, employment, ferpa, grade, forgiveness, name change, pass, fail, registration, exception, transient, transfer, diploma, commencement, early walk | |
| Graduation and Commencement | Registrar | ||
| Registration | Registrar | Register, class, semester | |
| Residency and Citizenship | Registrar | international, foreign | |
| Transcripts and Records | Registrar | Diploma, degree, enrollment, verification, replacement | |
| Transfer Credits | Registrar | transient | |
| Veterans' Services | Registrar | VA, benefits, military | |
| Administrative Fees | Bursar's Office | finance, cost | |
| Application and Admission Fees | Bursar's Office | finance, cost | |
| Carolina Card Fees | Bursar's Office | finance, cost | |
| Engineering and Computing Fees | Bursar's Office | finance, cost, program, lab | |
| Exam Fees | Bursar's Office | finance, cost, clep, challenge | |
| International Student Fees | Bursar's Office | finance, foreign, cost | |
| Required Fees and Tuition | Bursar's Office | finance, cost | |
| Special Enrollment Fees | Bursar's Office | finance, cost | |
| Study Abroad Fees | Bursar's Office | finance, cost | |
| Academic Grievance Policy | USC Policies and Procedures Manual | STAF 6.30 | contest, cost, appeal |
| Academic Responsibility - The Honor Code | USC Policies and Procedures Manual | STAF 6.25 | creed, cheating, cost, appeal |
| Advisors for Student Organizations | USC Policies and Procedures Manual | STAF 3.01 | club |
| Eligibility for University Health Services | USC Policies and Procedures Manual | STAF 7.01 | |
| Eligibility to Use Services of the Career Center | USC Policies and Procedures Manual | STAF 8.11 | job, employ |
| Financial Aid Bulletin | USC Policies and Procedures Manual | STAF 9.25 | scholarships |
| Fundraising by Student Organizations | USC Policies and Procedures Manual | STAF 3.22 | |
| Student Grievance Policy: Non-Academic | USC Policies and Procedures Manual | STAF 6.27 | |
| Student Non-Discrimination and Non-Harassment Policy | USC Policies and Procedures Manual | STAF 6.24 | diversity |
| Student Organizations | USC Policies and Procedures Manual | STAF 3.10 | club |
| Use of University Facilities | USC Policies and Procedures Manual | STAF 3.25 | buildings, space, reservation, room, scheduling |