Complaint Policy

Official complaint policy for the university

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In a spirit of continual improvement, Cardinal Stritch University recognizes the value of information provided by students, employees, and others in assessing the University’s performance.  Most issues of concern are resolved informally and relationally, consistent with our Franciscan values of caring community, compassion, and peacemaking.

When addressing a problem or issue informally and relationally, individuals are asked to speak to the person most directly responsible for the matter.  If the issue cannot be resolved at that level and an individual wishes to pursue the issue further, he or she may move up the “chain of command,”  one step at a time, from individual faculty or staff member, to department chairperson, and finally to the appropriate dean or vice president. The dean of students office is available to advise students and members of the community as to the appropriate people and procedures.  The human resources office is available to advise employees regarding resolution of concerns. 

When concerns cannot be resolved informally, or additional review is required or requested, complainants are invited to file the grievance procedure best suited to their particular situation. Links to specific grievance procedures are provided below.   

The formal complaint process is reserved for times when the complainant believes that informal processes have not yielded an appropriate resolution and there has been a significant violation, or exists a significant flaw, in the University’s standards, policies, and procedures such that the complainant believes he or she is not being treated fairly and/or the situation creates unnecessary hardship.  Where there are grievance procedures, the complainant is expected to utilize those first, engaging in a formal complaint only when a relevant grievance procedure does not exist, or when the formal complaint process is the final step of the grievance procedure.  

The University has established grievance processes for the following issues:

Academic-related Grievances, Appeals, and Concerns

• Appeal of admissions decision - your admissions counselor will guide you through process
• Appeal of dismissal from one’s major - undergraduate or graduate catalog: "Academic policies-academic grievances"
• Grade appeals - undergraduate or graduate catalog: "Academic policies-academic grievances"
• Appeal of academic dismissal from university - undergraduate or graduate catalog: "Academic policies-academic grievances"
• Appeal of Plagiarism findings - undergraduate or graduate catalog: "Academic policies-academic grievances"
• Academic residency requirement waiver (asking to waive the requirement that the last 30 credit hours must be taken at Stritch) - form available through registration office
• Appeal to take course at another university and transfer it to Stritch, after one is a Stritch student - form available through registration office
• Appeal to register with an account balance - contact accounting manager in CBM, one stop counselor in other undergraduate programs
• Medical withdrawal - contact dean of students office

Financial Appeals, Grievances, and Concerns

• Appeal of charges (CBM): Non-medical - Academic counselor will guide through process
• Appeal of charges (All Colleges bu CBM): Non-medical - Academic counselor will guide through process
• Appeal of charges: medical withdrawl - contact dean of students office
• Financial aid appeal for failure to meet satisfactory academic progress
• Scholarship appeal - contact associate director of financial aid
• Appeal to participate in commencement with an account balance - contact business office for non-CBM, accounting manager for CBM students
• Financial aid concerns not covered above - contact director of financial aid

Program Integrity Rule/Consumer Protection

• Alleged violations of State consumer protection laws that include but are not limited to fraud and false advertising
• Alleged violations of State laws or rules relating to the licensure of postsecondary institutions
• Complaints relating to the quality of education other State or accreditation requirements 

Ethics/Treatment of Self and Others

• Harassment
• Disability accommodation or grievance
• Sexual abuse/assault
• Whistleblower’s policy
• Veteran’s benefits
• Title IX complaint: Accommodation of medically required pregnancy-related needs, gender equity in athletics or other programs - contact the dean of students office
• Discrimination - contact the dean of students office

Student Life Appeals, Grievances, and Concerns

• Appeal of student conduct sanction - director of residence life for residence hall matter, dean of students for non-residence hall matter
• Residence hall residency requirement waiver - contact admissions counselor
• Medical waiver of meal plan - contact the director of residence life
• Housing assignment - contact the director of residence life
• Appeal to participate in co-curricular activities while on probation - contact the dean of students office

Complaints Process

The on-line complaint form goes automatically to dean of students office. Complaints cannot be made anonymously.  The dean of students office determines if a grievance or other resolution process more appropriately applies.  Cases are referred back to appropriate grievance coordinators as appropriate, with clarification and support to the complainant.

If a formal grievance process doesn’t apply, or is exhausted and doesn’t preclude a formal complaint, the issue may be referred to the complaint committee, which is comprised of a broad range of academic and administrative areas of the University.

Filing a Complaint

Individuals must follow procedures as outlined in the University’s Student, Faculty, or Employee Handbooks, and University Catalogs. The University regularly reviews its policies and procedures in each of these areas to ensure their clarity and consistent application, compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, as well as best practices.  It is the complainant’s responsibility to familiarize him/herself with these policies and seek further clarity and assistance from the appropriate University department, where necessary.   The dean of students office is available to assist students and community members in determining the appropriate process; the human resources office serves this function for employees.

Grievances and complaints must be in writing, and must not be anonymous, using the electronic submission form or by printing and mailing a completed copy of the complaint form.

Whether through a grievance or complaint process, an impartial examination of the situation will occur and a response to the complainant will be provided in a timely manner. After the decision is rendered, an analysis will be done by the department(s) involved to clarify or improve processes as appropriate.

An aggregate report, containing data from formal complaints and grievances, will be prepared semi-annually by the Vice President for Student Development.  This report will highlight trends, and potential areas requiring further review. 

Individuals filing a complaint will be treated with dignity, and their privacy honored to the extent possible to investigate and resolve a complaint.  Retaliation against an individual filing a complaint in good faith is strictly prohibited, and will result in disciplinary action for any employee or student engaging in such retaliatory behavior.