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Effective Date

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Last updated September 2019

I. Purpose

The purpose of this document is to outline avenues by which students may make appeals or lodge complaints or grievances at the University of Colorado Boulder. This introductory section provides some general overview information and the rest of the document is broken into several sections that address the most common categories of student issues and grievances, although there may well be overlap in particular cases. It is our aim, with this guide, to provide students with general information and specific contact strategies; it does not attempt to catalog the specifics of any particular procedure as they are numerous and may vary in details among departments, units, schools or colleges and the like.

It is an express Boulder campus policy that all students at all times have the right to lodge a complaint or grievance which they deem important without fear of retaliation of any sort or any other adverse consequence as a result of doing so.

The recommended general strategy is to first contact the specific individuals or units most directly connected with the issue at hand unless there are good reasons for not doing so such as a desire to maintain anonymity (see section 1 below). The  generally provides contact information for all the campus units, departments, Dean's offices, etc. from which an individual can usually determine where to go to make a complaint or lodge a grievance. All of the main campus entities also have contact information via web pages.

II. Issues wherein the student wishes to remain anonymous with respect to an instructor or staff member or where the student otherwise chooses to avoid directly discussing the problem with that individual

If, for whatever reason, a student does not want to personally or directly contact an instructor or staff member to discuss a complaint or grievance, the student should begin with the next highest level of responsibility, which would commonly be the department chair (or unit director). The student can request an appointment to meet with the chair or director and/or send a written description of the issue or problem and request that their identity be kept confidential. That request will be honored unless there are over-riding reasons to do otherwise. For example, if a student alleges sexual or protected-class harassment or discrimination by a faculty member to a department chair, the chair must forward that information, to include the identity of the complainant, to the campus Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance. 

A student may also utilize the 'Don't Ignore It' website at  to learn more about options for reporting concerns or seeking support.

Alternatively, or in addition, students also have the option of getting counsel and advice from the campus Ombuds office (303-492-5077), Center for Community, Rm. N440. The Ombuds office can often suggest strategies and mechanisms for addressing whatever the problem or issue at hand. They do not have authority or responsibility for mandating changes or corrections. The website at  constitutes a rich source of helpful suggestions.

III. Issues about academic advising

Begin with your specific advisor which may be departmental (common in Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Athletics, ROTC) or with the advising office of your school, college, or program (Music, Journalism, Business, Architecture). Rooms, telephone numbers and names of the appropriate individuals can be found in the campus directory under the specific school, college, department or unit. Appeals and grievances begin with your specific advisor and may continue to their supervisors in each school or college. Normally, supervisory level issues are by a written process.

IV. Issues about grades, exam procedures, excused absences, class policies, etc.

Individual faculty members have primary authority and responsibility in all these areas and are charged with carrying out those responsibilities in a professional manner. Dean's offices have the authority and responsibility to deal with changes of grades in special cases such as those which might involve faculty who have left the university or unprofessional faculty conduct in assigning the grade. Students should be aware that neither Chairs nor Deans can require an instructor to change a properly assigned course grade. Issues of disagreement about whether, for example, a given essay was worth, say, a B or an A is decided solely by the individual instructor in charge. The campus has standing policies on faculty accommodation for religious and disability reasons and if a student has a complaint in these areas, they can contact the department chair to ask for a resolution (see also sections 14, 15 and 16 below). If the student is unable to resolve the problem at that level, they may contact the appropriate Dean's office for specific instructions. The Dean's office is the final arbiter of academic grievances of this type within our campus structure. Here are the direct web links to each school and college:

V. Issues about faculty performance or faculty behavior

If reasonable and appropriate (see section above about cases which may need to start elsewhere) students should begin with the individual faculty person to discuss and resolve the problem together, if possible. Students may refer to this .

If this direct effort fails, students may then contact the department chair. If a student is unable to resolve the problem at the Chair's level, he or she may contact the appropriate Dean's office. Most of the Dean's offices have a formalized process that typically requires written filing of complaints and grievances and students usually do not personally address these issues with a Dean, Associate Dean or Assistant Dean. Appeals by students regarding academic decisions made by a Dean's office may be referred to a faculty committee for examination. This step typically constitutes the end of the formal appeals and grievance process. A student may individually choose to take the issue to the Provost's, Chancellor's, or President's office but those appeals typically go back to the Dean's office. If the faculty behavior in question involves allegations of sexual harassment or discrimination students should contact he Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance at  or via telephone at 303-492-2127. If the allegations involve discrimination or other civil rights issues, students may also contact the Office of Equal Opportunity at 303-492-6706; if the allegations relate to disabilities, students should contact the Office of Disability Services at 303-492-5614.

VI. Issues about course content, teaching methodology, etc.

Students should first discuss the issue with the individual faculty person (see exceptions in section 1 above) to resolve the problem there, if possible. Faculty members have primary authority and responsibility in all these areas. If the student deems it necessary, he or she may then contact the department chair. If unable to resolve the issue with the Chair, the student may proceed to contact the appropriate Dean's office where a written process of complaint or grievance will be employed. A student may also continue the process to write the Offices of the Provost or Chancellor or President but those offices will typically refer the issue back to the Dean's office.

VII. Issues about academic probations, suspensions, etc.

Academic probations, suspensions, etc. are handled through the relevant Dean's office of each school or college and their phone numbers and locations can be found in the Campus Directory (paper and online). These processes normally require written communication only.

VIII. Issues regarding academic integrity and the Honor Code

Honor Code Office
303-735-2273
honor@colorado.edu

The Honor Code promotes academic integrity and uses a judicial process to resolve disputes over acts of academic dishonesty. Contact the Honor Code council if you have questions about the process or how to file an appeal, the form to file an appeal can be found under forms & resources on our website.

IX. Issues relating to the Graduate School or Graduate Academics

The Graduate School Process and Procedure establishes and describes the process through which graduate students can communicate concerns related to academic issues or academic conflicts.  The processes outlined in the Process and Procedure guidelines apply to  graduate students outside of the Leeds School of Business MBA program and the School of Law. Grievances covered by the Process and Procedure guidelines include problems related to academic issues.  In cases where an informal resolution cannot be achieved, graduate students may submit a grievance but must first do so with their graduate program. If the issue is not resolved at the graduate program level, then the student may subsequently submit an appeal to the Graduate School.

Additional information, including the Graduate Student Grievance Form, regarding Graduate School Policies and Procedures can be found at www.colorado.edu/graduateschool/current-students/graduate-school-policies-and-procedures or by contacting the Graduate School at graduate.school@colorado.edu or 303-492-8220

X. Issues about transcripts, credits, degree classification, etc.

For general questions of this type, please contact the Registrar's office at Regent 105, telephone 303-492-6970 or visit their web pages at 

1. Concurrent Bachelors/Master’s Program
   Please visit: 
2. College Opportunity Fund Waiver
   Undergraduate in-state students who will use more than 145 hours toward their first degree may apply for a waiver to this limit by visiting .

XI. Issues about class availability, times, etc.

Contact the appropriate departmental office first. The student may then contact the relevant Dean's office if he or she so desires.

XII. Issues about residence hall life

Generally a student should bring their issue to the attention (in order) of the: Residence Hall Advisor, the Residence Hall Director, the Associate Director of Housing, and, as a last resort, the Director of Housing. The main housing number is 303-492-6871 and specific numbers for each residence hall (to contact the appropriate Hall Director) are listed under Residence Halls in the campus directory.

XIII. Issues about online and distance education

The University of Colorado Boulder encourages students initially to address complaints and grievances relating to academics, consumer protection or other university policies with the specific individuals or units most directly connected with the issue at hand unless there are good reasons for not doing so, such as a desire to maintain anonymity. Current university policies and procedures on Student Appeals, Complaints and Grievances can be found in this guide.

Students residing outside of Colorado: If a student residing outside of Colorado has a complaint that involves distance learning education offered under the terms and conditions of SARA, the student must file a complaint with the institution first to seek resolution. If the person bringing a complaint is not satisfied with the outcome of the university’s internal processes, a complaint may be filed with university’s SARA portal entity at the .

Examples of types of student complaints that may be brought to the SARA portal entity include veracity of recruitment and marketing materials, job placement data, accuracy of information about tuition, fees, and financial aid, accuracy of course transfer information. Complaints and appeals involving grades or student conduct violations will not be reviewed by the SARA portal entity.

Although the SARA state portal entity is the correct location for out-of-state students to file a complaint, the University of Colorado Boulder also provides the list of  for filing complaints should the student wish to inquire there.

Further information on SARA and the SARA complaint process:

If all other avenues provided have been exhausted, unresolved complaints may be filed with the , the university’s regional accreditor.

Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604
Telephone: 800-621-7440
info@hlcommission.org

XIV. Issues about off-campus housing

Contact off-campus student services at 303-492-7053

XV. Issues about violations of the Student Code of Conduct

The Office of Student Conduct provides an appeals process for students that are found responsible for violating the Student Conduct Code and are sanctioned to the following:

Suspension, Expulsion, or a Termination of Housing Contract. For additional information regarding the appeal process, please see the Student Code of Conduct: /osccr/student-conduct/students/after-conduct-pr....

You may also contact the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance. See section 1 above.

XVI. Issues about possible crimes

Generally the student should contact the ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Campus police. For non-emergency situations telephone 303-492-6666; for emergency situations always dial 911. For grievances related to the police department contact the campus Director of Public Safety at 303-492-7311.

XVII. Issues regarding discrimination and/or sexual harassment

Contact the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance at 303-492-2127 and see section 1 above.

XVIII. Issues regarding civil rights violations

For concerns related to discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, intimate partner abuse, and stalking, contact the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC), 303-492-2127.

XIX. Issues regarding disabilities

Contact Disability Services at 303-492-8671 or the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) if the allegation involves discrimination (303-492-2127).

XX. Issues about health

Counseling and Psychological Services and the Wardenburg Health Center are the primary campus places to contact with health issues. Their telephone numbers are, respectively, 303-492-6766 and 303-492-5432. For issues about these units themselves, contact their respective Directors.

XXI. Issues about parking, parking tickets, etc.

Contact the ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Police department at 303-492-1538

XXII. Issues about student legal concerns

Contact ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉäSG student legal services office at 303-492-6813

XXIII. Issues about tuition, fees and other charges

Student financial billing is handled by the University Bursar's office located in Regent Hall, telephone 303-5381. Appeals and grievances go to the Bursar.

For appeals of denial of in-state status for tuition purposes, please visit: 

XXIV. Issues about scholarships, financial aid, school-sponsored loans

The Office of Financial Aid, Regent Hall 175, handles most all of these issues. Telephone 303-492-8223. Appeals and grievances go to the Director of Financial Aid.

XXV. Issues about student employment

Contact the Office of Student Employment at 303-492-7349.

XXVI. Issues with ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉäSG campus events and programs

Contact the relevant ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉäSG office at 303-492-7473.

Content provided by the Office of Undergraduate Education, Division of Student Affairs, Registrar's Office, Bursar's Office, Office of Financial Aid, ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Police Department, and University Communications, Office of Discrimination and Harassment and others.