Types of Complaints
Academic Complaints
91èÏÈÉú with complaints about classes, instruction, faculty members, faculty advisors or other academically related matters should try to address their concerns with the instructor or faculty member first. If matters cannot be resolved the student should address their concerns with the department chair that oversees the faculty member and academic discipline. Efforts to resolve complaints in this manner are considered ‘Informal Complaints’. Formal Complaints may be filed with the Vice President for Student Services as a final effort to resolve an issue.
Grade Appeals must follow the procedures outlined in Academic Policy 100-11-04.
Non-Academic Complaints
Non-Academic complaints include any issues outside of the Academic Complaints described above. Just as with Academic Complaints, students should make every effort to resolve the complaint informally with the person involved. If those efforts are unsuccessful the student should address their concerns with the supervisor or person responsible for oversight of the office most directly related to the issue. Issues not resolved at this level should be addressed with the Vice President for Student Services.
Formal Complaints
Student Complaint Procedure
91èÏÈÉú strives to assist students in the resolution of their problems with the institution. Student have the right to resolve issues arising during their interaction with students or employees of 91èÏÈÉú. These may include violations of the university’s Code of Ethics or policies, complaints about institutional practices and procedures, or failure to comply with statute, regulations or accreditation requirements. The Student Complaint Process is outlined in the Student Handbook.
Title IX Complaints
Discrimination or Retaliation
The Office of Equal Opportunity investigates complaints about discrimination or retaliation. For more information, please also see the Student Handbook.
Sexual Misconduct/Harassment Complaints
A complaint of sexual misconduct may be brought to the University for action by any member of the campus community. When a report of alleged sexual misconduct is received by the Title IX Director, the Director will evaluate the information and decide what further actions should be taken. If it appears that there may have been a violation of this policy and the Responded is a student, the Title IX Director will proceed through the steps of the Title IX Process. Additional information is available in the Student Handbook.
Title IX Informal Resolution Process
After receiving a report of sexual misconduct and meeting with Complainant, the Title IX Director may determine in consultation with Complainant that the most prompt and effective way to address some complaints under this policy is via an informal resolution process. Not all complaints of sexual misconduct are appropriate for informal resolution. The Student Handbook describes the informal resolution process in detail.
Misconduct Complaints
Any member of the campus community who has a reasonable belief that a student has violated the Code of Conduct, may file a Complaint with the Vice President for Student Services. If the Vice President for Student Services determines that the Complaint alleges a violation of the University’s Anti-discrimination Policy, the matter will be referred to the Affirmative Action Officer. If the Vice President for Student Services determines that the Complaint states a violation of any other provision of the Code of Conduct and or University policies, the Vice President for Student Services will meet with the student to discuss the Complaint and may gather any additional
information he/she deems relevant to the complaint.
The Vice President for Student Services also may initiate such a meeting upon credible information that comes to his/her attention other than by Complaint. Details about this can be found in the Student Handbook.
You can to report potential misconduct
Campus Service Complaints
91èÏÈÉú should always begin by addressing concerns with the staff responsible for the service. If the issue is not resolved at that level, the complaint should be escalated to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
Food Services Complaints
Complaints might include issues with food quality, unmet dietary or allergy-related needs, dining hours or customer service concerns. 91èÏÈÉú should address the concern with theÌý.
Bookstore Complaints
Concerns might include questions about bookstore policies, textbook availability, pricing or customer service issues. 91èÏÈÉú should address concerns with theÌýBookstore Director.
Campus Safety and Polices Services Complaints
Concerns might include campus safety procedures, interactions with campus police, or response times.
Campus Events and Student Organizations Complaints (CORE)
Concerns might be related to student-led events, event access, organization conduct, or activity administration. Concerns should be addressed with the Director ofÌýStudentÌýEngagement, and escalated to the Vice President for Student Affairs if unresolved.
Mailroom Complaints
Complaints might include lost or misplaced packages, delayed mail delivery, incorrect notifications, package pick-up issues, or customer service concerns.[1]Ìý[2]Ìý[3]Ìý[4]ÌýÌýConcerns should be addressed with the Assistant Director of Auxiliary Services for the SUB, and escalated to the Vice President for Student Affairs if unresolved.
State Level Student Complaints
If a student complaint cannot be resolved internally through 91èÏÈÉú policies and processes, the student may file a complaint with the state in which they reside. The student must exhaust all opportunities for resolution at the institutional level before filing a complaint with their state of residency.
Colorado 91èÏÈÉú
34 CFR §668.43(b) requires 91èÏÈÉú to provide students and prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with the state’s approval or licensing entity. In Colorado, this entity is the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, a regulatory body operated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education. The .
Colorado Department of Higher Education staff can also be reached at the following phone number: 303-862-3001.
Note: The first requirement under Colorado Department of Higher Education guidelines is that the complainant exhausts all opportunities for resolution at the institution in question before filing a complaint with CDHE.
Out-of-State 91èÏÈÉú, Distance Education Programs
91èÏÈÉú who are residents in other states, and who are pursuing degrees through distance education (online or correspondence programs) may choose to register a complaint with the higher education authority in their state. The student is expected to exhaust all opportunities for resolution at the institutional level before filing a complaint with their state of residency.
HLC Complaints
91èÏÈÉú, faculty, staff and members of the public may submit a complaint about an HLC accredited or candidate institution. HLC accredits degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions in a 19-state region. Since the complaint process is intended to pursue only those matters that suggest substantive noncompliance with the Criteria, HLC expects individuals who have a dispute to use the internal grievance procedures of the institution. HLC does not review the outcomes of institutional grievance processes to either uphold or overturn those decisions. In no case will HLC use the complaint process to provide a remedy with an institution on behalf of a complainant. Full HLC complaint process.
