The Informal Complaint Process

A student with a complaint--a concern that a policy or procedure of a unit has been incorrectly or unfairly applied in his/her particular case, or a formal charge against a person’s behavior -- has recourse through complaint procedures. In most instances, complaints can be resolved through an informal process beginning with talking to the individual and his/her supervisor if necessary. Basic steps in the informal process include:

• Begin by discussing the matter with the staff, faculty, or department in which the issue originated.
• If the issue is not resolved, the next contact will be the supervisor, department chair, or associate/assistant dean to investigate the issue and allegations.