Comment, Complaint, and Praise Forms
Undergraduate students who wish to provide feedback about their academic experiences may submit a Comment, Complaint, or Praise form. When submitted, these forms are reviewed by a member of the Dean’s staff who will assist the student in addressing the concern or sharing the relevant feedback. These forms may be used to:
- Raise an academic concern
- Appeal a grade in a course
- Praise or thank a member of the University community
If a student wishes to report a non-academic concern or matter, and it is unclear how to do so, they can submit a complaint or comment form, and the Dean's Office will be sure that it reaches the proper person or office.
Grade Appeals
If a student believes that an error in grading has been made, they should follow this process:
- Discuss the grade with the instructor of the course
- If the instructor confirms an error was made, the instructor will correct it; if no error was made, the instructor is encouraged to provide an explanation regarding the grading decision
- If a satisfactory resolution cannot be reached, the student may submit a complaint form
- When received, the Dean’s Office will ask the department chair to review the form with the course instructor
- The department chair will provide a written response to the Dean’s Office, which is then shared with the student
Once a final grade in a course has been submitted to the registrar, a change will only be approved if the instructor confirms that a calculation error or other similar error was made, or in cases where the student and instructor have arranged an incomplete notation. Except under unusual circumstances, only the instructor of a course may change a grade.
Not all issues should be submitted through the comment and complaint form, see specialized forms section for more information.
Submitting the Forms
The complaint, comment, and praise forms are . Prior to submitting a complaint or comment form, the student is encouraged to first discuss the matter with the individual(s) most directly responsible. If the complaint involves a grade appeal, the instructor should be consulted before submitting a form.
Students who wish to remain anonymous should submit a comment form. In such cases, the member of the dean’s staff who reviews the form, will remove the student’s name and contact information from the form prior to forwarding it to the relevant individual. Students may not remain anonymous if they are submitting a grade appeal.
Complaint and comment forms are reviewed by a member of the dean’s staff, who in most cases, will share the form directly with the chair or director of the relevant department or program, and request a response in writing. Occasionally, other University representatives will be consulted to assure that the complaint or comment form is reviewed appropriately. In reviewing the complaint or comment form, the Dean’s Office will strive to protect the confidentiality of the matter to the greatest possible extent.
The student submitting the complaint or comment form, will receive a response in writing, generally within two weeks.
Upon receipt of the praise form, the Dean’s Office will forward the acknowledgement to the praised person’s supervisor or director.
Other Specialized Forms
The complaint or comment form should not be used in cases involving student or academic disciplinary charges or a request for a review of a financial aid package or policy. Specialized processes exist for students wishing to make discrimination complaints, which can be raised with the Title IX coordinators, the University Ombuds, or by submitting a bias-related incident report.
Students who are unsure where to file a complaint, should consult the director of the relevant office or another member of the University community.
For a comprehensive list of helpful offices and individuals, see the CARE resource center.