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Faculty-Related Complaints

A. Informal Complaint

  • The goal of the informal process is to provide information to the student that will assist the student and instructor in mutually resolving the concern or problem.
  • The student may discuss the complaint informally with the faculty member, or the faculty member's supervisor.  To address complaints in a timely fashion, students must begin the informal process within thirty (30) College working days of the alleged incident.
  • When discussing concerns or complaints with an instructor it is most effective to arrange a time when the instructor is available for a confidential conversation.  Full time instructors have posted office hours.  At most campuses adjunct faculty may meet a student in an office provided by the adjunct faculty department.  It may also be helpful for the student to organize his or her thoughts by writing down the concerns prior to the meeting.  It is important to note that breaks in a faculty member's instructional service time may affect the resolution timeline  (i.e., winter and/or spring break).
  • If the student chooses to meet with the faculty member's supervisor, he or she should visit the instructional area or call the division to set up an appointment to talk with the instructor's supervisor.  Information on where to find the instructor's supervisor is available at any Campus Information Center.
  • If the student is not satisfied with the discussion and suggested resolution, the student may file a formal complaint against the faculty member.  Any formal complaint must refer to actions of the Faculty member within the course and scope of his/her employment.  A grade change request based strictly upon academic considerations shall not be considered a complaint against a Faculty member.

B. Formal Complaint

  • If the student believes the decision offered by the faculty member or the faculty member's supervisor through the Informal Process did not provide a resolution, the student may then use the Formal Complaint Process.
  • A student may file a formal written complaint against a faculty member.  The formal complaint must be filed within thirty (30) College working days from the date the decision was provided to the student.
  • The formal written complaint must be as well defined, objective as   possible and contain the following information:
    1. Name of the faculty member.
    2. Statement of facts and nature of the formal complaint.
    3. Date(s) of the incident(s).
    4. Resolution being sought by the student(s).
    5. Name of the student(s) filing the formal written complaint.
    6. Signature of the student(s) and the date submitted.

Student Complaint Form [PDF] 

  • The student must submit the formal written complaint to the faculty member's Dean.
  • The faculty member's supervisor will have ten (10) College working days from the receipt of the formal written complaint to work with all parties to achieve a solution unless the faculty member is not available due to semester break and vacations.  In those situations, the ten (10) days allowed for resolution will start and stop based on faculty contracts.
  • If the resolution presented is not agreed to, the appropriate Dean shall, within ten (10) College working days after receipt of the formal complaint, cause an investigation to be made of the unresolved complaint.  During the Dean's investigation, he/she shall meet separately with the different parties who may, if they desire, have a representative with them.  The formal investigation shall include the Dean, the faculty member, the student and/or any other person who has first-hand knowledge of the subject matter of the complaint, and/or each party's representative.
    1. The appropriate Dean shall, within twenty (20) College working days after receipt of the formal complaint, inform the student and all other parties of his/her decision in writing.  The Dean may recommend one or more of the following actions:
    2. Offer a resolution to the complaint.
    3. Dismiss the complaint.
    4. Take appropriate action.

The student may appeal to the campus President.  The campus President will review documentation submitted with the appeal and from the Dean's investigation and make a final decision within five (5) days of receiving the student's appeal.  The President will send a written notice to the Dean and student of the final decision.