Introduction:
The University believes that students should be given an opportunity to air their grievances in a manner that is formal and structured. While we have a mentorship program in place that can address some of the issues and concerns faced by the students, there could be a larger concern that needs to be addressed at the University level.
The University in its handling of students’ grievances is committed to the fair, transparent and equal treatment of all individuals regardless of gender, age, disability, colour, race, ethnic or national origin, socio-economic group, marital status, and religious or political beliefs.
The University is also committed to upholding the ethical standards in dealing with grievances.
Towards the above, the University has constituted a Students Grievance Redressal Committee (‘Committee’) that shall be a mechanism to address and resolve grievances that any student may hold vis a vis various aspects of the functioning of the University.
Composition of Grievance Redressal Committee:
The Students Grievance Redressal Committee shall be constituted with the following members:
- Chairperson: Dr. Iwamon J Laloo, Registrar
- Secretary: Dr. Porsara Mesha J. Kharbhih , Department of Psychology and Wellbieng
- Member: Dr. Chelmelyne Dhar, School of Languages and Cultural Communication.
- Member: Dr. Lavinia Meba Airisa Mawlong , Dean of Academics
- Member: Dr. Ardonister Lyngdoh, Controller of Examinations
- Member: Mr. Nathanial Kharmujai, Counsellor, MLCU
- Member: Ms. Wankmenbiang Nongrum, Special Invitee – Student ,BSc MIT 2nd Semester, 2023
Nature of Grievance:
- The Committee shall entertain and adjudicate grievance(s) of students which pertain to the following issues, or any of them or a combination of them:
- Issues between student(s) and teacher(s) or with co-students or any employee of the University will be dealt as per the Academic Policy of the University
- Perceived discrimination being faced by student(s), either based on race, community, religion, financial status, gender and/or intellectual capability.
Redressal Process:
A written application with a complaint, grievance addressal or disciplinary initiation may be made by a student or staff member, or on their behalf, by a fellow student or staff member, may be made within thirty days to the office of the Registrar.
The Registrar will immediately forward the application to the Chair, who may make a decision as the seriousness and/or urgency of the application, and to determine whether the matter should be taken up for further steps.Â
- Delayed applications may be considered by the Committee depending on the circumstances.
- The Committee shall ordinarily complete the work of investigation, deliberation and decision within thirty days, or in a shorter period of time for urgent cases, as decided by the Chair. The Committee shall ensure that proper notices and copies of relevant documents are sent to the person against who the complaint is made (the respondent) and a response received in a timely manner.
First level of appeal: if a complainant or a disciplined person is not satisfied with the decision of the Committee, she/he/they may appeal to the Vice Chancellor, within a period of fifteen days, who will adjudicate on the matter, within fifteen days.
Second level of appeal: if a complainant or a disciplined person is not satisfied with the decision of the Vice Chancellor, or if the decision is delayed, an appeal may be made to the Ombudsman within thirty days. The ombudsman shall make a decision within thirty days.
Function of the Student Grievance Redressal Committee:
- Upon receiving a representation as aforesaid, the Secretary of the Committee shall immediately convene a meeting of the Committee to deliberate upon and address the representation.
- During its deliberations, the Committee shall act as an independent enquiry body and it shall be the duty of the Committee to study all aspects of the grievance to ensure fairness and justice, by examining all facts and materials available to the Committee. During the deliberations, the Committee may ask the concerned student and/or University Employee to address it on the issue(s) contained in the representation. While so addressing, the concerned student/employee may also submit written showcause/reply but, in any event, there shall be no right of the concerned student/employee to be represented by any other person before the Committee.
- During the course of this deliberation, the Committee shall have access to all files, confidential or otherwise, relevant to the grievance raised and shall further be entitled to ask the student and/or the employee to submit any further material that may be necessary or relevant for examination of the grievance.
- The Committee shall thereafter prepare a Report of the findings within a period not exceeding two weeks from the date when the Committee had first convened to take up the representation. The said Report is to contain the findings of the Committee and also the recommendations of the Committee.
- The aforesaid Report shall be submitted to the Vice Chancellor of the University. The Vice Chancellor shall take the final decision on the issue and shall, normally, implement the recommendations of the Committee contained in the Report, unless there are very strong reasons not to do so and the Vice Chancellor ascribes these reasons on the Report itself.
Miscellaneous:
All pertinent information of the Committee, scope, power and procedures for functioning, applications, and appeals shall be posted on the University website and in other relevant documents and brochures of the University.
An online portal shall be set up to enable prompt and seamless processes for complaints, applications for grievance addressal and other steps, and at the same time to ensure confidentiality.
The numbers of any individuals/helpline to be contacted, especially in urgent situations, should be provided on the website.
- Promotional and educational materials on grievance and disciplinary issues should be displayed on the campus and in the social media outlets of the University.
