Addressing Student Complaints

UNC Charlotte is dedicated to fostering a respectful and supportive environment for all members of the University community. Depending on the nature of the concern or issue related to your living or learning environment, you may consider engaging the specific policy or process that addresses your concern, or, if there is not a policy or process specific to your concern, you may consider submitting a formal grievance through the Student Grievance Policy. Additionally, this policy is designed to facilitate a resolution in a constructive and respectful manner. Students are encouraged to review relevant policies before pursuing a formal grievance.

If you’re unsure whether submitting a formal grievance is the right course of action, or if you’d like more information on how to proceed, the Dean of Students Office is here to help. You can contact the Dean of Students Office at (704) 687-0345 or deanofstudents@charlotte.edu for general guidance, with general questions, or to to set up an appointment with a member of our team to discuss your specific circumstance.

Student Grievance Policy

The Student Grievance Policy applies to student grievances asserting that an action or inaction by a University office or representative violates an established University policy, standard, or procedure (other than those indicated below) in a way that negatively affects the student and that may be redressable with an outcome or remedy. Student complaints or concerns that do not meet these standards are not considered “grievances” within the scope of the Student Grievance Policy.

Other Specific Complaint or Grievance Policies and Processes

Before pursuing a grievance under the Student Grievance Policy, check to see if there is an established policy or process that addresses your specific concern. Those policies and processes include, but are not limited to:

• Discrimination or Harassment: Grievances involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation based on membership in a protected class, which are covered by other specific grievance procedures as set forth in University Policy 501, Nondiscrimination; University Policy 502, Sexual Misconduct and Interpersonal Violence; and University Policy 504, Title IX Grievance Policy;
• Grades: Grievances involving graduate or undergraduate final grade appeals, which are handled pursuant to University Policy 410, Policy and Procedures for Student Appeals of Final Course Grades;
• Research Misconduct: Grievances related to research misconduct under University Policy 309, Responding to Allegations of Misconduct in Research and Scholarship;
• Education Records: Complaints regarding access to or disclosure of education records under University Policy 402, Student Education Records (FERPA);
• Academic Grievances: Because decisions of an academic nature rest solely with the University’s colleges and are governed by college or academic procedures, the Student Grievance Policy does not apply to grievances of an academic nature, such as grading decisions (other than final grades), prerequisite or course sequencing requirements, or designation of statuses such as admissions or academic probation or dismissal from a program of study; and
• Student Employee Grievances: Grievances by student employees that are related to their status as a University employee are covered by Personnel Information Memorandum 35: Grievance and Appeal Procedures for Employees Subject to the State Human Resources Act, or Personnel Information Memorandum 36: EHRA Non-Faculty Grievance Process, whichever is applicable.

Helpful Considerations Before You Submit a Formal Grievance:

• Informal Resolution vs. Formal Grievance: The informal resolution process encourages you to resolve your concern by discussing the issue informally with the person involved or with the head of the relevant department or unit. On the other hand, a formal grievance process requires you to provide specific information about the incident(s) giving rise to the grievance, identify the specific negative impact on you, and identify a specific remedy or outcome that you seek. You are encouraged, but not required, to engage in the informal resolution process before  pursuing a formal grievance. A staff member from the Dean of Students Office or University Ombuds is available to meet with you and direct you to the right resources based on your unique situation.
• Submitting a Formal Grievance: If you’ve already made reasonable efforts to resolve the issue informally, or you choose not to pursue an informal resolution, you may pursue the formal grievance process if your grievance is not covered by another policy or process (see above). 
• Personal Grief: If you are experiencing challenges due to grief from a personal loss, submitting a student grievance may not be the best resource for you. For assistance with absences related to personal grief, please refer to the absence verification process.

Keep in mind that the Dean of Students Office is a non-confidential resource to help students navigate their concerns. A member of our team can provide guidance on the steps for addressing concerns about or grievances related to their University experiences. However, it’s important to note that the Dean of Students Office does not directly handle the grievance process itself. Instead, the Dean of Students Office can help students understand the available policies and direct them to the most appropriate resources.

In addition, the University Ombuds provides a confidential, impartial resource to help undergraduate students work through challenging problems, conflicts and dilemmas in informal ways.