The Code of Student Life is published each year in The Daily Iowan. Grievances are handled by the Office of the Dean of Students, by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences if the student is employed as a teaching assistant, or by the Graduate College if the student is a research assistant. Copies of the grievance procedures are available from the Graduate College in 201 Gilmore Hall.

A student who has a complaint is responsible for following the procedures described below. Complaints may concern inappropriate faculty conduct (including inappropriate course materials), incompetence in oral communication, inequities in assignments, scheduling of examinations at other than authorized and published times; failure to provide disability accommodations, or grading grievances. For complaints involving the assignment of grades, it is College policy that grades cannot be changed without the permission of the department concerned.

The student ordinarily should attempt to resolve the matter with the instructor first. If the complaint is not resolved to the student's satisfaction, the student should consult the course supervisor (if the instructor is a teaching assistant). In the School of Music, if the matter remains unresolved after consultation with the course supervisor, the student should address the Associate Director of Graduate Studies. The Associate Director maintains regular office hours throughout the academic year and appointments can be made through the Academic Office, room 1002, 335-1604.

If the complaint remains unsolved, the student submits a written complaint to the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs through the Graduate College.

A graduate student who elects to pursue a complaint or grievance through the Graduate College AGP is first advised by the Associate Dean of the different possible ways to proceed. The student then elects whether to first pursue a complaint using an informal process or whether to file a grievance and to proceed by a more formal process. Details about these processes are available from the Graduate College Administrative Office.

If the complaint involves sexual harassment, these procedures need not be followed. The University policy on sexual harassment and consensual relationships in the instructional context can be found in "Policies and Regulations Affecting Students," available at the Campus Information Center, in the Office of Affirmative Action, and in September as a supplement to The Daily Iowan.

The Office of the University Ombudsperson responds to problems and disputes brought forward by all members of the University community -- students, staff and faculty -- that appear irresolvable through existing channels. Before consulting the ombudsperson, an attempt should be made to resolve problems by following the procedures described above.

General Information & Process

1)      Students complete their Plans of Study at time of final/comp exams.

2)      Request & Report forms are located at: https://www.grad.uiowa.edu/content/publications-and-forms-for-students then choose Request/Report of Final Examination: Advanced Degree.

3)      If forms are completed on-line it will populate both forms.  

4)      Only approved sub-track is the Theory Minor.

5)      Exam date, time and location must be included before form can be filed.

6)      Two hours are allowed for the defense. Suggestion – when reserving the room try to reserve for 30 mins prior (prep time) and after defense (for committee discussion).

7)      Most students use the conference room 1400C VOX for location.  For this request email Justin Goodchild. 

8)      Name and Rank: use full faculty names and title/rank.

9)      Program is Music unless you have an outside member then use that department name.

10)   Do not print back to back – unclick the 2-sided option before printing.

11)   Both the Request & Report forms must be completed and turned into the Academic Office.

12)   Request form will be forwarded to the Grad College after SOM approval.

13)   Report form – the Chair is responsible for picking it up from the Academic Office prior to the defense unless stated in writing that student may pick up.  Report must be signed at defense and turned into the Academic Office within 24 hours of defense.  Report will be forwarded to Grad College.

14)   Certificate of Approval is the student’s responsibility to include with the thesis by the deadline.  If revisions are required then the best course of action is at the time of defense that all faculty sign EXCEPT the Chair.  Once all revisions are complete and approved then the Chair signs the Certificate.