In the multisectoral forum held Friday, October 11 at A703, select members of the Lasallian community discussed the different aspects of grievances, from filing a case to appealing one.
As defined by Section 6.1 of the Student Handbook, a grievance refers to any controversy between a student as the aggrieved party and a member of the academic community as respondent that may be the cause of a complaint.
Chief Magistrate Rem Serrano explains that grievances could be made formally or informally, with the former being put into writing and duly signed and the later made orally; and that grievances could be either academic or behavioral depending on whether the controversy is related to academic performance or with the manner a person conducts himself.
He furthers that filing grievances are not limited to faculty members only, and could be made against students and other members of the administration.
CLA Vice Dean Dr. Roderick Nuncio explains grievances from a faculty member’s perspective, saying that grievances are one of the rights students should be able to exercise, together with the right to assemble and the right to information.
Nuncio also goes on to discuss that students could not only file grievances, but also be invited to stand as witnesses for dispute between faculty members. Students who do so and are under 18 must seek parent’s consent, but those above 18 may or may not opt to do so.
A formal grievance case could be filed and resolved within a month but other factors hinder resolution to informal grievance cases such as availability of both parties.
Serrano says one of the improvements that could be made on the grievance system is the updating of terms in the handbook as well as highlighting the role of the judiciary body of the USG and making the process of filing one more efficient.
Most grievances cases are filed during finals week and during the release of grades, but as students receive the grade they want or at least a 1.0, they discontinue the filing of a grievance. Serrano encourages students to pursue their grievance cases not only to receive better grades, but to exercise their right to do so and make the most of their education in the University.
