Purpose 

LaGrange is committed to a policy of treating all members of the College Community fairly regarding their personal and professional concerns. 

The primary objective of a student complaint procedure is to ensure that concerns are promptly dealt with and a resolution is reached in a fair and just manner. It is essential that each student be given adequate opportunity to bring complaints and problems to the attention of College administration with the assurance that each will be given fair treatment. 

Definition 

A complaint is defined as dissatisfaction occurring when a student feels or thinks that any condition affecting him/her is unjust, inequitable, or creates unnecessary hardship. Such grievances include, but are not limited to, the following: Academic problems (excluding grades), mistreatment by any College employee, incorrect assessment of fees, records and registration errors, student employment and discrimination because of race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, marital status, religion, age, or disability. 

Complaint Procedure 

The initial phase of the student complaint procedure normally requires an oral discussion between the student and the person(s) alleged to have caused the grievance in order to discuss and resolve the grievance. The meeting should be held as soon as the student first becomes aware of the act or conditions that is the basis for the grievance. If the student decides not to meet with the person(s) alleged to have caused the grievance, or consider the response to this discussion to be unsatisfactory and feels that the grievance still exists, the grievance should be put in writing and filed with the next level supervisor as outlined below: 

Nature of Complaint-Order of Contact 

Academic Problems (Excluding grades and academic progress) 

  1. Instructor 
  2. Department Chair 
  3. Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Academic Records and Registration 

  1. College Registrar 
  2. Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Athletics Program Student-Athlete 

  1. The coach of the student’s sport 
  2. Vice President for Athletics 
  3. President 

Payment and assessment of registration fees, fines, and other indebtedness to the College. 

  1. Student Accounts/Business Office 
  2. Vice President for Finance & Operations 
  3. President 

Traffic and Parking 

  1.  Security Officer
  2. Director of Security
  3. Vice President for Finance & Operations 
  4. President 

Housing 

  1. Resident Advisor 
  2. Area Manager 
  3. Director of Housing 

Racial Discrimination 

  1. Alleged aggrieving party 
  2. Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Experience 
  3. President 

Discrimination Based on Disability 

  1. Alleged aggrieving party 
  2. Director of Disability Services, Personal and Academic Counselor 
  3. Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Sex/ Gender Discrimination 

  1. Alleged aggrieving party 
  2. Deputy Title IX Coordinator 
  3. Title IX Coordinator 

Harassment 

  1. Alleged aggrieving party 
  2. Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Experience 
  3. President 

Complaint Appeal Procedure 

Any student who is not satisfied with the response after utilizing the administrative channels outlined above should present the grievance in written form to the Vice President for Academic Affairs or the President with a copy to the individual(s) complained about. 

At the time the student presents the Vice President for Academic Affairs or President with the written grievance, he/she will be provided two options for achieving final resolution of the problem.  

The student may choose to have the Vice President for Academic Affairs or President decide the disposition of the grievance; or the student may choose to have one of the appeals/review committees to investigate the case.