Complaint/Grievances Procedure
Every student has the right to file a grievance. If a student believes a University official, faculty member, administrator or student has acted improperly or inconsistently with WCU policies and/or procedures, the student may file a grievance. This may include, but is not limited to, misapplication or misinterpretation of policy, procedures, practices, unfair treatment or conduct, etc. All grievances must be filed within 30 days of the incident.
The Grievance Policy and Procedures is designed to support and foster a fair, objective, respectful and ethical set of policies and procedures for resolution of disputes. The policies and procedures are designed to provide students with a process in which to protect the University and its students. Students, faculty or administrators who submit or support a filed grievance may not be subjected to retaliation. Incidents of retaliation should be immediately reported to the Campus Director of Student Affairs or Executive Director.
Frivolous or malicious grievances and matters that have been or are in litigation will not be reviewed/considered. Any person(s) submitting a frivolous or malicious grievance will be referred to the Conduct Committee for possible disciplinary action.
Prior to submitting a formal grievance, student/grievant is encouraged to attempt a good faith resolution with the individual(s) at whom the grievance is directed. The University believes that most grievances can and will be resolved through this informal process.
Step 1: Discuss the issue with the individual(s). Every attempt should be made by both the student and individual(s) to resolve the matter at this level.
Step 2: If not resolved through Step 1, unresolved issues should be informally discussed/submitted in writing to the appropriate Dean or Department Head.
If dissatisfied with the response or solution, a student may submit a written grievance, along with all grievance documents, to the Director of Student Affairs
These policies and procedures are internal to WCU. If a student does not feel that the University has adequately addressed a complaint or concern, the student may consider contacting external agencies such as:
Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE)
P.O. BOX 980818
West Sacramento, CA 95798
(916) 431-6959
http://www.bppe.ca.gov/
Commission for Independent Education,
Florida Department of Education (CIE)
325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
(888) 224-6684
www.fldoe.org
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)
1200 East Anderson Lane
Austin, TX 78752
(512) 427-6101
www.thecb.state.tx.us
WASC Senior College and University Commission
1001 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 402
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 748-9001
www.wascsenior.org
If a Nursing or Dental Hygiene student does not feel that the University has adequately addressed a complaint or concern, the student may consider contacting the following respective agencies:
California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN)
1747 North Market Boulevard, Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95834
(916) 322-3350
www.rn.ca.gov
Florida Board of Nursing
Florida Department of Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-10
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3252
(850) 245-4125, Nurse Consultant Ext. 3612
www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/nursing/
Texas Board of Nursing (TBON)
333 Guadalupe Road, Suite 3-460
Austin, TX 78701-3942
(512) 305-7400
www.bne.state.tx.us
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
655 K Street, NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 887-6791
http://www.ccneaccreditation.org
Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
(312) 440-2500
www.ada.org
Dental Hygiene Board of California (DHBC)
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 2050
Sacramento, California 95815
(916) 263-1978
www.dhcc.ca.gov
If an Occupational Therapy student does not feel that the University has adequately addressed a complaint or concern, the student may consider contacting the following respective agencies:
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
301-652-6611 x2914
http://www.aota.org/en/AboutAOTA/Contact-Us.aspx
Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC)
PO Box 276567
Sacramento, CA 95827-6567
(916) 567-7000
(888)-686-3225
www.otaconline.org
If a Physical Therapy student does not feel that the University has adequately addressed a complaint or concern, the student may consider contacting the following respective agency:
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 706-3245
http://www.capteonline.org/Complaints/
If a Pharmacy student does not feel that the University has adequately addressed a complaint or concern, the student may consider contacting the following respective agency:
Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)
135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 4100
Chicago, IL 60503
(312) 644-3575
https://www.acpe-accredit.org/students/complaints.asp
If a Physician Assistant student does not feel that the University has adequately addressed a complaint or concern, the student may consider contacting the following respective agency:
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA)
3325 Paddocks Parkway, Suite 345
Suwanee, Georgia 30024
(770) 476-1224
http://www.arc-pa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Policy-for-inclusion-in-letters-2021-.pdf
If a Speech Language Pathology student does not feel that the University has adequately addressed an academic complaint or concern, the student may consider contacting the following respective agency:
The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology (CAA)
2200 Research Boulevard, #310
Rockville, MD 20850
(800) 498-2071
https://caa.asha.org/programs/complaints/